Achieve a standout kitchen aesthetic on a modest budget

Whether you’re transforming a house into your dream home, or upgrading an investment property, wise decisions about which elements to splash out and where to a stretch your budget can make all the difference to the end result.

Here at All Done Design, we have many projects under our belts and have really honed our ability to get the most from our budgets without compromising on a top-quality finish. In this piece we’ll explore some inside tips on how to get your budget to work hard for your property.

The age-old adage goes that ‘the kitchen is the heart of the home’ and it is something that I couldn’t agree with more. It is also the room that my clients most often want to modernise or refresh as part of wider renovation plans. Like bathrooms, updating a kitchen can really eat into your budget, but smart tweaks can help you achieve an entirely updated feel.

My first recommendation is to breathe new life into the kitchen cabinetry. There are three ways to do this: repainting the cupboards, replacing the cupboard doors, and changing the ironmongery. Any of this can change the styling completely and as most doors are usually a standard size, even opting for a different design is usually a straightforward swap.

If you’re thinking of switching your ironmongery, I would implore you to co-ordinate your electrical sockets to the same finish. From stainless steel, to copper, polished or hammered changing the sockets to a co-ordinating finish will give a cohesive feel to the interior as well as a premium finish.

Splash out on a new splashback. Adding a splashback that showcases a feature tile can not only set the style tone for your kitchen, but it will also create a focal point that is hardwearing and will look fantastic for years to come.

If you’re looking to do something more drastic then installing an RSJ to create a kitchen dining space comes very high up my list of recommendations. Not only does this open plan style suit busy modern lives it also elevates the role of the kitchen from a room prep area to an entertaining space where many an evening can be spent with friends. If you opt for structural changes, it’s vital to send drawings and engineering calculations to building control and get a certificate of inspection. This will help prevent issues in the future if you ever choose to sell your house.

For an instant ‘wow’ factor, invest in some artwork. This could be something that enhances your interior styling, or adds a bold pop of colour in a neutral property that you are prepping for sale.

In recent years the popularity of houseplants has soared, and no home is complete without a hint of greenery. But these little potted beauties can offer more than just aesthetic benefits. An Aloe Vera plant is great for instant relief from a burn, a selection of herbs can work hard for your home and your food, or edible flowers can add a pop of colour to both your interior and your meals.

Replacing your flooring can be costly but opting to add a rug on the floor is a really viable option for making your budget go further. Rugs are a brilliant way to enhance your interior styling and come in thousands of colours, patterns, and sizes so there is guaranteed to be something to suit the space. If you opt for a rug, remember to secure it properly on the corners to avoid any dangerous slips or trips in the kitchen.

An easy win for any properties with wooden flooring is to re-sand and re-finish the floors with a darker stain. Although it is simple, the results are not to be underestimated. Nicely finished floors will smarten up the feel of an interior without breaking the bank. And what’s more, if the flooring runs throughout the property, it can add a cohesive feel that will elevate the interior styling.

Lighting is a feature that I speak about time and again and has the ability to completely transform the space and the mood within it. Carefully selected lighting will help you create pools of light or design statements that add ambience to a home. Under cabinet lighting adds practicality for food preparation, whilst pendants above a kitchen island or dining table will make the space feel beautifully presented.

My final tips are very much aesthetic enhancements. De-clutter your surfaces and de-cant your kitchen goods. Our kitchens are full of must-have items, which we need for practicality, however they aren’t always the most aesthetically pleasing. In my own home, I have a gorgeous olive oil bottle sitting upon my worktop. I re-fill it with basic oil from the supermarket meaning that it’s both practical and beautiful to look at.

The addition of a decorative shelf can be a space to add your personality into what can otherwise be a very functional space. Filling the shelf with a plant, a vase, your treasured keepsakes, or a gorgeous picture helps to create a focal point that isn’t an appliance or unit in what can be a busy room.

These tips are based on years of experience and their simplicity means that they can be used alone or alongside one another to suit any budget. But most importantly they can help you to transform a space and create a space that can meet your exacting brief.