If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard the words “crazy times” over the last week, I’d have almost £100 in my pocket by now. There we were, just going about our daily lives, when the Coronavirus decided to barge into our existence, disrupting it to its very foundations. No doubt you’ll be sat at home – like me – reading this right now, where we will be forced to remain for the foreseeable future.
Despite being self-employed, working from home is a new situation for me and it’s taking me some time to adjust to it. Like many other freelancers, I usually prefer working from coffee shops and co-working spaces as opposed to at home, as I tend to be more productive. Now, forced to stay at home, I’ve found myself becoming distracted by household chores and admin, noticing little things that need fixing or improving around the house. That small crack in the wall, the peeling wallpaper in the dining room or perhaps just that spot of dirt on the countertop.
My kitchen has always been a focal point in my life, but now even more so. From cooking breakfast in the morning to lunch and dinner in the evening, I spend a lot of time in this room of the house. The desire to redecorate is growing stronger and stronger as each day passes! So, with all the extra time I now have on my hands (due to my reduced workload), I’ve started thinking about how I can make small changes to spruce up my kitchen without having to completely overhaul it and rip out all the worktops and appliances.
Here are my tips on how to revamp your kitchen without blowing your budget:
What would I like to improve about my kitchen?
At first glance, my kitchen doesn’t look too shabby or in need of redecorating. The worktops and appliances are still in an acceptable condition. Nothing is broken or in need of repair. Aside for a missing lightbulb, there’s nothing requiring immediate intervention.
What is the problem then, you might ask? Well, it’s just that, after years of constant use, I’m a little bored of how it looks at the moment and I’ve always longed to replace the gloomy, black tiles with something brighter and crisper as I’m sure this would benefit my food photography. So, I’m not looking for a brand new kitchen as such – just a bit of refresh – a redecoration project that’ll bring a fresh new look to my kitchen without breaking the bank.
Normally, there are two areas you can work with in the kitchen when it comes to redecorating: either you change the tiles, experiment with mosaic tile crafts or you repaint the walls. While there are some gorgeous tiles available, they can be expensive and I couldn’t fit them myself, so I’d also need to fork out for the labour costs. Tiles are out of the question.
The other option would be a fresh coat of paint. I started looking into this but I soon realised that there are downfalls to going down this route too. I’m not sure if I a lick of paint is going to provide the change I’m really aiming for; within time, the paintwork will require another coat, which could be really inconvenient. I therefore started looking at a third option: wallpaper. Wallpaper is a much cheaper option to go for as opposed to tiling a wall, it doesn’t necessarily require professional expertise to fit and it comes in a variety of patterns and materials.
Many of us associate wallpaper with childhood memories. I remember my aunt’s Sophie’s living room with its peeling red wallpaper, for example, where I spend countless afternoons as a kid. A quick look at some lifestyle magazines soon taught me, however, that the 21st century has inspired a new range of stylish wallpaper designs printed onto all kinds of materials.
This new generation of designer kitchen wallpapers, with features that were unthinkable until only some time ago, is now available for purchase online. Up-and-coming designers from both the UK and Scandinavia, as well as established fashion houses in Italy and France, are producing jaw-dropping designs that’ll change the way you think about wallpaper forever. , both up and coming talent from Scandinavia and the UK as well as established fashion houses from Italy and France are producing fantastic new models. What’s more, kitchen wallpaper is easy to install, can withstand humid environments and can be cleaned with ease when the inevitable dirt stain settles on them.
Which wallpaper to choose, then?
Not all wallpaper varieties are suitable for use in a humid environment like that of a kitchen. As you’ll be cooking in your kitchen, you’ll no doubt end up with splashes of water and food on the walls at some point too.
Having done my research, I know that any kind of wallpaper you intend upon using in your kitchen will need to be able to withstand humidity, be wipe-able, heat-resistant and robust.
Luckily, all of these criteria are met by the option of vinyl wallpaper: wallpaper with a vinyl coating which seals the surface, protecting it from heat and dirt. These models can be easily wiped off with a damp cloth too – exactly what I’m looking for.
Stay tuned to the blog to find out how I get on with my transformation!
What are your top tips for revamping your kitchen on a budget? Share your ideas with other readers below.
If you liked this post, check out these articles before you head off:
- How to Choose the Right Kitchen Flooring
- How to Modernise Your Kitchen
- How to Blend Your Kitchen and Garden into a Relaxing Living Space