6 Quick and easy kitchen renovation ideas

If you’re looking to add interest to a bland kitchen, tiling the area behind your sink or cooker is a straightforward way to instantly change the look and feel of the room without a hefty price tag.

Whether you choose to tackle this project yourself, or enlist the skills of a professional, this simple change can have a big impact and really help to lift a drab interior.

Patterned tiles are seeing a spike in popularity and designs range from quaint country-style motifs to bold, geometric shapes, so there’s something to suit any style of kitchen, whether traditional or more contemporary. Coloured tiles are ideal for injecting personality into a plain kitchen and remember to consider texture too; craquelure or crackle glaze will bring a rustic finish to your look, whereas high gloss is well-suited to a modern feel. Fitting your shiny new splashback may seem tricky at first, but it is in fact a very simple DIY project. Check here for more info about glass splashbacks as well as DIY instructions.

Savanna gloss tiles in petrol, £39.60 per square metre, The London Tile Co.

Just like replacing kitchen benchtops, changing the handles of your kitchen units is a quick-fire way to give your cabinetry a fresh new look. 

Metallic T-bar pulls or geometric handles will give your kitchen doors a contemporary finish or go for a cup handle design to suit a country-inspired scheme. 

Just be sure to carefully check the size and spacing of the existing holes in the cabinet doors, to ensure the new handles will fit neatly.

GoodHome Saffron cylinder knob handle in brushed brass effect, £5 for a pack of two, B&Q

As well as standard cabinets, fitting an open shelf not only provides additional storage, but it allows you to display your favourite pieces of kitchenware to help bring your kitchen to life. 

Rather than hiding away pretty crockery, stack it on open shelving, along with herbs, house plants and vases, to create a personal display. 

If your existing kitchen is feeling cramped with too many wall cabinets, consider removing one or two of these and replacing them with a series of open shelves which are less imposing and will help to open up the space. Shelving is also considerably cheaper than purchasing new kitchen units so can work out as a budget-friendly solution as part of a bigger kitchen remodel. 

Recycled glass carafe, £8; recycled glass tumblers, from £3; contemporary matt white kettle, £45; contemporary matt white toaster, £45; bamboo utensils, £8; Colleen glass pendant light, £35, all Dunelm

For a simple solution to change up your kitchen scheme, why not replace existing lights for something new? Pendant lights above an island or dining table, for example, can add wow-factor to any kitchen if you choose the right design and they’re normally easy to install if you’re replacing existing fittings. 

Remember to consider the size and drop of any new lighting before making the purchase and always choose suitable bulbs that will emit the right amount of light.

Trio of Hoxton cone pendant lights in satin nickel, £150, Garden Trading

Replacing fixtures and fittings in your kitchen is a budget-friendly way of refreshing the look without the need for a complete remodel. Changing your existing sink and tap, for example, can help your whole space feel new again, particularly if your previous pieces were dated or limescale-ridden. 

Depending on the tap and basin you choose, you may be able to install these yourself with basic plumbing knowledge but, if in doubt, call in a local plumber to take a look.

Cooke & Lewis Flinter chrome effect kitchen side lever spring-neck mixer tap, £124, B&Q

Alongside your fitted kitchen, furniture goes hand-in-hand with creating the overall look and feel of the room and so can be a good way to update the space if you want to avoid a large-scale refurbishment. 

Changing your bar stools, for example, can draw attention away from an unloved kitchen and make your breakfast bar or island the focal point instead. 

The same applies for switching up your dining furniture—a new table and chairs can take pride of place in an open-plan space and set the tone for the rest of your styling.

Dita industrial wooden bar chair with backrest, £99, Cult Furniture

Flooring is a big part of any room design, particularly in a kitchen where it needs to serve both a functional and aesthetic purpose. If your existing floor is looking tired or drab, replacing this part of your kitchen is a good way to lift the whole room and help it feel re-loved. 

Patterned floors, either in the form of tiles, vinyl or laminate, will make a big impact and will certainly make this part of the room a stand-out feature. Alternatively, new wood, wood-effect or stone flooring is a classic choice and can completely transform the feel of the space. 

Depending on how your current flooring is laid, you may need to get a professional to help cut around kitchen cabinetry or awkward layouts to remove and refit your chosen surface.

GoodHome Alpinia matt ivory painted wood-effect shaker style kitchen, from £998 for an eight-unit kitchen, B&Q

Read more: Home renovation: 5 top tips

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