How to Update a 1970s Kitchen

A 1970s kitchen features a lot of dark woods and natural tones. The cabinets are probably dark with some rustic hardware. The colors in the kitchen are probably gold, avocado and burnt orange. It's time to replace that dated look with something a bit more modern.

Instructions

1. Lighten the cabinets. If you don't want to entirely replace the cabinets in your kitchen, you can at least give them a whole new look. Consider painting them white, whitewashing them or bleaching them. The heavy, dark look of those 1970s cabinets has to go.

2. Update the hardware. Remove all the cabinet handles, drawer pulls, and hinges and discard them. You can buy replacement hardware at any large home center or online. Look for something simple and light in color to match the look of your new cabinets.

3. Replace the appliances. If you have appliances in your kitchen from the 1970s, it's definitely time for an upgrade. You'll find that new appliances are more energy-efficient and will save you money in the long run. Go for something with a stainless finish to really get a sleek, modern look. If the price of stainless scares you, go with white-no avocado.

4. Focus on flooring. Pull out the old carpeting or linoleum flooring in your kitchen. Replace it with ceramic tile or pre-laminated wood flooring. If you go with wood, keep the finish light. With ceramic tiles, choose a warm neutral.

5. Paint what's left. When you put a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you could opt for a warm neutral or add a pop of color. Just be sure to stay way from those 1970s colors reflecting nature-gold, avocado and burnt orange.