Although many claim that they’re willing to undertake minimal cosmetic fixes, the typical homebuyer wants a home that is move-in ready. Two rooms in particular are important to them: the bathroom and the kitchen. Outdated, worn and unattractive kitchens and bathrooms drag down the value of the home and may make it harder to sell.
Pressing the buyer’s kitchen “hot button” may not necessarily require a complete remodel of the room, but merely a freshening up. Even the smallest of budgets can provide some attractive updates to everyone’s favorite room.
Paint Dramatically Transforms the Kitchen
When redecorating any room, fresh paint on the walls is the best place to start. Paint adds an instant transformation, and, depending on the color, can make a room appear larger. It also provides you with a base color on which to build the rest of the kitchen’s color scheme.
Most real estate staging experts caution homeowners to use neutral paint colors to provide a broader appeal. One designer, however, claims that green is the new neutral color on which to build your color palette.
Benjamin Moore, on the other hand, claims that Lemon Sorbet is the trendy color of the year. If you’re confused, play it safe and use Sherwin-Williams “color visualizer,” which allows you to actually picture the paint color before you slap it on the walls.
Update Your Kitchen Cabinet Hardware
If you’re lucky enough to have attractive kitchen cabinets that don’t require painting or refinishing, replacing the hardware may be all that’s needed to give them an updated look.
Home improvement stores offer the kitchen-decorator a mind-boggling array of hardware for your kitchen cabinets. From stainless steel to hand-forged pewter, there’s a handle or knob to match any kitchen decor.
Accessorize to Add the Final Touch
Kitchen accessories include not only the decorative, but the functional as well.
Let’s start with the decorative: New throw rugs, window coverings and linens that compliment your new wall color will tie the room into a cohesive whole.
Artwork isn’t something a lot of people think about when decorating the kitchen. Be on the lookout for interesting pieces, such as plates, tapestries and sconces.
Lighting is not only necessary but can add a distinctive decorative touch. When creating House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Year, designer Robert Stillin used table lamps on the kitchen counters to soften the “laboratory” feel of the kitchen.
Under-counter lights add a soft glow, while sleek track lighting is a must for an industrial-style kitchen.
Add a new kitchen faucet that coordinates and compliments the new décor. Try to match the finish to the new cabinetry hardware to pull the room together. Again, your local home improvement store offers an array of faucets.
Stuck for ideas? Model homes are staged to sell, so if there’s a new home community nearby, take a tour of the models and bring your camera to photograph kitchen ideas that you’d like to replicate.