Since 1997, HomeTips has guided millions of homeowners with original, expert advice for DIY home improvement and repair. Founder Don Vandervort, a nationally recognized authority, has written more than 30 books and countless magazine articles, been a host on HGTV, and served as MSN's home improvement expert. MORE
Regardless of whether your kitchen is country, contemporary, or traditional, the creative use of color represents a budget-friendly way to rejuvenate this hard-working, all-important family space.
Renovating with color can be as elaborate or as easy as you like, depending on whether the intention is a complete overhaul of color or simply introducing splashes of additional hues into the space.
Examine existing kitchen surfaces to determine what needs sprucing up or modernizing.
Painting cabinetry can take the form of an array of innovative, decorative finishes. Soft, whitewashed cabinet fronts can lend the aura of a coastal cottage. Deep-toned, distressed decorative finishes can make a mountain retreat out of an ordinary kitchen.
The introduction of an innovative backsplash can provide a focal point and tie other design elements together. Create a monochromatic color scheme by choosing like colors for cabinetry, countertop, and wall coverings.
Or, introduce contrast by painting the backsplash a dramatically deeper color than cabinetry and personalizing it with stenciled motifs in a theme. Customizing kitchen surfaces with painted freehand techniques can highlight a specific color scheme and reflect a designated repetitive pattern such as stripes.
Do not overlook the obvious, such as ceiling, floor, molding, and trim, as opportunities to add dynamic color to the kitchen space. Explore the possibility of painting the chandelier that hangs over the dining table, drawer pulls, or an unfinished wooden microwave cart.
Perk up inexpensive shelving by painting exposed edges, or highlight hanging plate or pot racks with the application of an unusual finish. Unexpected painted furnishings and accessories can be manipulated to unify the space or create a powerful focal point in the kitchen. So varied are the effects you can achieve that refreshing your kitchen with color can make it feel like an entirely new space.
