You’ve moved into a new home whose kitchen was renovated by the prior owner. It has sleek stainless steel appliances, gleaming granite, and tile in like-new condition. It’s beautiful and state of the art, but let’s be honest: it’s not your taste. The cabinets, etc. are relatively new and it would be a waste to tear them all out and start anew, not to mention expensive. So, what can be done to make the kitchen your own without spending a lot of money? How can you change the overall look without wasting essentially new products?

There is a variety of ways to dramatically alter the way a kitchen looks. The first, and likely the least expensive option, is to change the paint color. The previous owner favored boring beige. Find a color in the granite that you like and match it to the paint. If the walls are too dark or a color is not your taste, find a neutral tone that matches.

Another option is accessories. Is there a soffit? Open shelves? Cabinets with glass doors? Arrange vases, picture frames, decorative plates, or any other accessories that reflect your taste. Place an interesting bowl or flower arrangement on the island. How about adding some wall art? There are many resources where great accessories can be found inexpensively.

Still not enough change? If you are willing to spend a little more money there is much more you can do. Replace the light fixtures or add fixtures where there are none. Do you have an island? You can add pendant lights, which can run as low as $20 per light. Replace the drawer pulls and knobs for as low as $3 per knob.

There are other options that are a little more costly. Change the backsplash. Is the tile that’s already there too traditional or too contemporary or just plain ugly? Select an inexpensive field tile (the background), for as little as $2 a square foot and add a mosaic accent. Mosaics are usually sold in 12” x 12” sheets and come in a limitless array of colors, shapes, and sizes from natural stone to glass to metals for as little as $10 a sheet. Depending on your budget, do your entire backsplash in a mosaic or use them as an accent amidst a field of less expensive tile. Specialty tiles (read expensive) can also be scattered in a simple field. A back splash can completely change the look of your kitchen.

Change the window treatments. If you don’t like a too-simple Roman shade, change it to a Bavarian shade. Don’t like wood blinds? Change them to a woven wood shade. Yes, window treatments can be expensive, but not as expensive as a new kitchen.

With a little creativity and clever purchasing you can turn your beautiful, state-of-the-art kitchen into your beautiful, state-of-the-art kitchen.

Ora Penn Design is a full-service Interior Design firm catering to all design aesthetics. Visit her website orapenndesign.com or follow her on Houzz, Pinterest, or Facebook.

By Ora Penn