Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
3 Minor Kitchen Updates That Make a Major Impact
Article Originally Published: 4/30/23
Updated: 9/11/23
When most people think about the term “home renovation”, they think about having to knock down walls, re-doing floors, and lots of other costly things. Thanks to HGTV, this seems to be the norm in home renovations now days, which leads to many not doing anything at all. It all seems expensive, time consuming and difficult.
After renovating three homes now, I’ve learned that the word “renovation” can actually mean making small updates to your home. Even the smallest updates can make a major impact to the overall look of a room and potentially increase the value of your home.
Our mini American Eskimo dog, Johnny Cash, hanging out in our current Sanibel Island home kitchen
One room update that is worth considering is the kitchen. Having all new appliances, flooring and a tile backsplash installed are some things to think about, but those are quite costly. If you don’t have the funds or the know-how to update those items yourself, try my three simple kitchen update ideas below.
Our kitchen faucet before the update
1- Faucet and Soap Dispenser
My husband and I didn’t mind the stainless Delta faucet that was in our current kitchen, however it was getting ready to start leaking (it was looking quite “crusty”) so we decided to replace it.
Since we updated our cabinet handles from a stainless finish to black matte, so we thought it was best to update the faucet to a black matte too. We’ve been incorporating black matte items all around the house, including door hinges and handles, so it made sense.
Our kitchen faucet, after the update
We liked the quality of the Delta faucet that was already in the home when we purchased it, so we stuck to the brand and found a similar and updated version of it at Lowe’s. Since our home had a soap/lotion dispenser, we purchased a faucet that came with a matching dispenser so we could update it as well.
Our black matte kitchen faucet and handles
My husband has installed numerous faucets over the years, but at one time, he didn’t know how to do it. He’s not a plumber (he’s actually a computer guy that analyzes data all day), so after watching YouTube videos and reading the directions that have come with all our faucets over the years, he’s become quite a pro.
Our black matte kitchen faucet and our black matte dishwasher sign decor
If you still feel uncomfortable (after educating yourself with the directions and YouTube), call your local plumber. Most kitchen faucets are easy installs that can be done in under an hour, which will keep your plumber costs low.
Our kitchen handle update before and after photos
2- Cabinet Handles
Updating your kitchen cabinet handles can be a simple and inexpensive way to update the look of your kitchen. We recently updated our cabinet doors, which allowed us to install a new style handle.
If you are keeping the same cabinet doors on your cabinets, finding a new same-size handle isn’t a difficult task. You can either shop your local hardware or big-box stores, Anthropologie always has stylish handles, or try Amazon.com. We purchased our handles on Amazon and since we bought a lot all at once, we got a good deal due to being able to buy them in a set.
Our new black matte kitchen cabinet pulls
In our last home, when we painted the cabinets, we also updated the hardware, which we also purchased via Amazon.com. If you are wanting to update your own hardware, be sure to take lots of measurements so you get the correct size handles to fit existing holes.
We painted our kitchen white in 2022
3- Paint
Whether you paint the walls or the kitchen cabinets, this can make your home look cleaner and more updated. If you are thinking about selling your home, I suggest painting your kitchen in a neutral color. Neutral sells well because it can help a potential home owner see themselves in the home easier. Neutral paint colors match potential buyers’ home decor much better than bright or trendy colors.
I love a good Kitchenaid mixer
* Bonus IDEA *- Upgrade Your Small Appliances
The great thing about small appliances is that you only need to get the appliances that have the most impact on your lifestyle. Do you like making smoothies and soups? Then a blender is perfect for you. Do you bake a lot? Consider a Kitchenaid or a similar food mixer. Do you love coffee? Then a coffee machine might be just what you need for the perfect brew, every day.
Nespresso coffee machines are especially popular amongst busy coffee lovers who like being able to simply set the coffee away and come back to a nice cup of coffee, with minimum effort. Upgrade or update your appliances as and when you need to.
If you want to save some money, but your favorite appliance is playing up, you might be able to fix it yourself. You can find online guides to troubleshoot common problems, such as Nespresso dribbling out of your coffee machine, then either fix it cheaply or send it away for a quick fix.
A white neutral toned kitchen with a white backsplash
We have yet to paint our current kitchen, but it will be getting a paint job soon. We painted the kitchen of our last home right before selling it. We not only painted the walls, but we also painted the trim and cabinets. I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Chicago Gray to give them an updated look. See our video on how we did this below or via our YouTube channel “Carolyn Braden”.
As you can see, renovations don’t have to be complicated, costly or too time consuming to be effective. We sold our last house in ONE DAY with all these little updates completed in our home. We tried to sell it two times before all these updates were made, and it didn’t sell, so I can’t help but think those little changes truly did work.
IF you have the time and funds, a tiled backsplash can be a great update to try too. If you do it yourself, you can save quite a bit on labor.
2023 UPDATE: We installed a tiled backsplash in our home on the wall behind our sink area. We used a white subway tile and black grout. See our article about using black grout (the pros and cons) by clicking here.
My husband made a video on how he installed the tile backsplash in our last home. Check it out on our YouTube channel “Carolyn Braden” or view the video below!
Have you used any of my tips and tricks? If so, let me know by leaving a comment in the comment section below. Or, leave a DIY home update tip for others to read about. Sharing is caring!
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Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.