We’ve all seen the multitude of home remodeling shows. The pros make any task, big or small, look like it can be accomplished with a snap of the fingers, especially since it’s all packed into a one-hour episode. But believe it or not, there are some home remodeling projects that really are that easy, as easy as one, two, three! Don’t think you’re handy enough around the house to do a home renovation project yourself? Trust me, you can; Keep reading!
look at your kitchen
You’ve probably heard the phrase “home is where the heart is.” What the phrase should really say is “your kitchen is where the heart is”. After all, doesn’t most things happen in that same room? No matter how small your kitchen is, you and your family members spend most of your day eating, cooking, preparing food, doing homework, or coloring (depending on your age). It makes sense, therefore, that your home renovation project should take place here. Since it is used so frequently, it should require the most maintenance.
Trust your sense of touch
A recent commercial focuses on how much we touch things every day. Think of everything you touch in your kitchen. From pots and pans and raw meats to a child’s artwork, we constantly touch things without thinking to wash our hands between each activity. More often than not, we’ve touched our cabinet handles with greasy, sticky, dirty hands. Don’t you think it’s time you showed your cabinet knobs some TLC, love and care?
Evaluate your knobs and pulls
The first step in any home renovation project is to examine what you already have installed. Using your sense of touch, assess your cabinet units, handles, and all. Are any of the surfaces rough to the touch, loose, off-center, or unsafe? Write down the number of cabinet handles, hinges and screws you think you need to replace. This will save you time and perhaps eliminate the chances of a headache later on.
update your style
French, Spanish, contemporary or rustic, no matter what style of kitchen you have, you should consider updating your accessories. By simply replacing a few pieces of home hardware instead of completely dismantling and renovating your kitchen, you’ll give the room a facelift without the exorbitant costs and general inconvenience of a major renovation project. When choosing or updating your style, home accessory options for cabinet pulls include the following materials: chrome, nickel, brass, copper, pewter, stained glass, and stainless steel. Corresponding finishes include matte, polished, satin, distressed, iron, burnished, or antique.
mix and match
Instead of choosing simple cabinet options, consider being bold and mixing a few styles to create one that is truly unique to your home. Choose a material and a variety of finishes ranging from dark to light for your cabinet knobs. Starting with cabinets at hip height and below, install darker finishes. Working toward the ceiling, overlap the cabinet fixture finishes with the lighter, brighter finish closest to your light fixtures. This layered look can also be achieved with colored glass cabinet pulls. Stained glass accessories allow you to perfectly match your existing or new style. However, if you choose to decorate with multiple colors, limit your colors to two or three; too many colors can seem chaotic and distracting.
Show it
The best part of any home renovation project is getting it done! Updating your kitchen design yourself has not only saved you money that would have otherwise been spent paying a professional, it also instantly increases the value of your home. Show off your hard work by hosting a party to not only celebrate your time and effort, but also your newly designed kitchen and accessories. Invite friends, neighbors, and family to admire your handiwork.