Top tips from interior design blogger Anne Marie

This is a guest post from Anne Marie Stoltman, an award-nominated interior design blogger at Very Me Interiors.

If there's one room in the house where maximising the space seems to be more important than its decor, it's the kitchen. They are probably one of the most expensive rooms to decorate so can be left untouched for years. But, just because you're saving that money for the kitchen of your dreams and the space you have still works, doesn't mean it can't be appealing in the meantime. There are many ways that you can improve your kitchen on a budget. Working to a tight budget can make us be more creative. Who knows? You might be so happy with your 'new and improved' kitchen, you could spend that money you saved on a nice holiday!

1. Upgrading kitchen cupboards 
Swapping your handles for something a little bit more 'sassy' is probably the easiest way of updating your kitchen on a budget. You can pick up new handles from your local DIY store or try finding something a bit more unique online. Prices will vary depending on the style you're going for but they guarantee to make a huge difference to your kitchen. Not to mention - it will literally take minutes to swap all your handles, depending how many cupboards you have!

Painting the kitchen cupboard doors may require some elbow grease and it is definitely more time consuming than swapping the handles, but if you decide to follow this path you will be rewarded with a completely different kitchen. If you're planning to do both your handles and painting, it makes sense to start with painting. There are lots of special paints out there. Some of them don't even require any preparation, meaning this could be a weekend job. If your kitchen cupboards are in a decent shape, try this as opposed to buying new ones. You will be surprised by how different your kitchen can look - not to mention that you can pick up any colour you want.

2. Change the worktops
This might be a little bit more pricey than painting your cupboards but the impact new worktops will have on the look of your kitchen is undeniable. Of course prices of a new worktop vary depending on the material, but laminate worktops tend to be the cheapest option. The prices of the wooden worktops depend on the wood but you could try using a reclaimed wood. This will not only improve the look of your kitchen on a budget but also add some character too.



3. Use wallpaper instead of tiles
Changing tiles in the kitchen doesn't have to cost a fortune. In fact it could be a rather budget-friendly way of improving the look of your kitchen. But if your budget is very tight and there's no spare cash for new tiles, you can fake the look by using a wallpaper instead. It can be done without spending much money if you use wallpaper samples, or, it'll cost as little as one roll of wallpaper and some glue. If it is a steam and damp free area the wallpaper will be absolutely fine without any special protection. But if you're worried it may get damaged, you can protect it with a coat of clear varnish. This will also make the wallpaper wipeable and easy to clean.

4. Add free-standing units and cupboards
Gone are the days when everything in our homes had to match. The eclectic look has been on the rise for the past few years and it's definitely not going anywhere just yet! Instead of splurging on a new kitchen just because there's not enough storage look for some older pieces of furniture like dressers and cupboards that can be picked up from vintage fairs or charity shops. If they're in a good condition leave them as they are to add a bit of character to your kitchen. If old pieces of furniture are not to your liking you can always paint them in a stand out colour to add the wow factor to your kitchen. Not to mention it will save you a lot of cash.

5. Don't think of your kitchen as a kitchen
Decorate it as you would any other room in your house. Add plants, pretty accessories and pieces of art. This way you're drawing the eye to all the nice features and making an outdated kitchen almost disappear in the background. This is the easiest and probably the most fun way of improving your kitchen on a budget.