Ottawa’s real estate market has been and remains strong even through the pandemic.
2020 caused some people to ditch their condos in the city and move to the more affordable country and surrounding areas for more living space. More people are also shopping for larger homes with extra features that will make their homes more comfortable. The most popular extra features for home buyers include home office space, more square footage and an open-concept modern kitchen.
Those who don’t want to move or can’t afford to do so are considering other options like upgrading their current home. You can update your home without spending a lot of money and without stress.
The best place to start is the kitchen, the heart of the home and everyone’s favourite room. You can make a big difference in your day-to-day and add value to your home with these easy updates.
Read on to find out how you can easily reinvent your kitchen without breaking the bank and have a fresh home for 2021.
1. Light it up
Lighting can completely change the look of a room and changing the fixtures is a great way to refresh and change the feel of a whole space. Installing statement lighting such as a pendant light can add lustre to your kitchen and create a nice vibe to your space. You can find inexpensive light fixtures online or locally.
2. Painting Cabinets
Changing the colour or finish of your cabinets can be enough to create your dream kitchen. There are many options to paint cabinets without spending a lot. It’s not a difficult job and can be done in a short amount of time.
3. Upgrade your Hardware
You can update a kitchen easily by replacing electrical outlets, cabinet handles, knobs and sink faucets to create a stylish and fresh look. You can opt for brass, polished gold or black for a modern feel. If changing hardware completely is too expensive-consider spray painting what you have already.
4. Open Shelving
Popular with modern kitchens, open shelves can instantly open up an area. If you don’t have space, you can simply remove a cabinet door or upper cabinet and install open shelving.
5. Backsplash
Changing a backsplash can do wonders for a kitchen. People think you have to spend a lot of money to get amazing results, but there are low-cost DIY ways to make a charming kitchen space. Adding wallpaper or a stick-on backsplash will instantly refresh your cooking space. Your wallpaper should be waterproof or durable to withstand water (vinyl is a good choice). Another cost-effective choice is stick-on backsplash, but make sure you test out patterns and colours schemes before committing. If you are a pro DIY-er, try tiling your backsplash yourself to save on the cost of labour.
6. Buy Used
You can find many deals for appliances on local buy and sell apps like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. Search for trusted brands like Kitchen Aid, Bosch, Whirlpool and Miele and search often to get the best deal on mint condition second-hand appliances.
7. Marie Kondo your Kitchen
Many people have embraced their inner home chef which means more things to store in the kitchen. Decluttering your kitchen space and keeping all your items organized will help create a more user-friendly and functional kitchen instantly. Do this by incorporating kitchen accessories such as inserts or garbage pull outs.
8. Reface Cabinets
Instead of replacing or painting your cabinets, re-facing them can also reinvent their look. Swapping out some (or all) doors will leave your kitchen looking fresh. Even swapping one or two doors with a glass or detailed door can transform a space. If you don’t have a passion for DIY, Swedish Doors is a local Ottawa company that does budget-friendly refacing.
9. Showcase your style
Work with what you have and add it to your kitchen space. Show off that painting you made during lockdown or that set of dishes you got at a flea market. Eclectic spaces are very chic and will create a space that is uniquely yours.