Remodeling can be expensive, time-consuming, and life-disrupting.
If you don't like the look of your kitchen, or you want to improve it to sell your home quickly, there are two ways to improve the look of your kitchen without the expense and time.
In this article, you will learn about improving your kitchen's look with just two simple hacks, plus we'll also share a few design tips along the way.
Let's get started.
2 Inexpensive Ways to Improve Your Kitchen Without Remodeling
The two best ways to improve the look of your kitchen without the expense and disruption of remodeling are replacing your existing freestanding refrigerator and range with a counter-depth refrigerator and slide-in range.
Counter Depth Refrigerators
Counter-Depth Refrigerator and Slide-In Range
Counter-depth refrigerators sit seamlessly in your 24-inch cabinet, so you don't see your refrigerator's black textured sides protruding.
A counter-depth refrigerator looks much better than the standard refrigerator, which can protrude into your kitchen as much as 8-10 inches.
Counter-Depth (Left) vs. Full-Depth (Right) Refrigerator
Counter-depth refrigerators will significantly improve the look of a smaller kitchen or an island. They are also a good improvement to consider if your refrigerator is centralized in your kitchen.
As I said in an earlier article, "3 Reasons to Never Buy a Counter-Depth Refrigerator," you lose space with the decreased depth.
You may need that capacity with a family of four or five or with heavy usage.
If you are remodeling and need a larger capacity, consider placing a standard refrigerator at the end or the other side of the kitchen.
Standard Refrigerator With Custom Cabinets Built Around It
You can build an enclosure around the refrigerator to match the look of a counter-depth refrigerator.
But aesthetically, counter-depth refrigerators are an improvement, and starting at $1,500 is far less expensive than demolishing your kitchen and starting over.
Front Control and Slide-In Ranges
Slide-In Range
There is nothing wrong with your current freestanding range.
However, a range with controls on the front allows you to see your backsplash without seeing a range backguard. It just looks better.
Front Control Range
One word of caution: If you're replacing your range with a backguard, check the backsplash first. If it looks old or stained, you can always cut a piece of steel as your new backsplash and mount it from your hood down to the top of your range.
Like a counter-depth refrigerator, a front control range will cost around $1,500, so together, you will spend $3,000 or more depending on if you want some options.
Here are two tips to save money: Wait for a holiday like Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, or Black Friday to buy an appliance. Many manufacturers will promote 10-35% off.
Stay with one manufacturer to maximize any rebates. It is worth the wait if you don't need to replace your appliances immediately.
Overall, both options are excellent alternatives to remodeling for far less money.
Additional Resources
Get The Book of Bad Renovations to learn how to avoid a renovation failure. Well over 1 million people have read and trusted a Yale Guide.
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A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
