How to Decorate a Kitchen on a Budget
The kitchen is always one of the most popular rooms in the house. Usually filled with great smells and warm memories, people want their kitchens to be stylish, welcoming and functional. Although you may be on a budget, that doesn’t mean you can’t redress your kitchen to freshen its look and make it the centerpiece of your home. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Frame it up. Get old recipe books from resale shops or yard sales and use some of the images or rare recipes for artwork in the kitchen. Inexpensive frames and a nice grouping can make for an interesting focal point and conversation area in your new space.
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Buy mismatched pieces of colored glassware at thrift shops or yard sales and even during clearance sales at nationwide stores such as Pier 1 Imports. Use the glassware to decorate a bright window or ledge or to display on narrow shelving.
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Utilize your collectibles. If you collect something, show it off in your kitchen. Kitchens are always a gathering area, so let your friends see your teapot collection, framed stamp collection or even your gathering of unusual chicken statues! By gathering them together on a shelf or wall, within limits (five is usually good), you can dress up your space and express your passions.
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Add some kitsch with a blackboard. You can find one at a resale shop or simply paint a wall with the new chalkboard paint to create a restaurant look in your eating area. Put the chalk in a teacup on the table and print out the weekly menu for the family.
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Clear out the drawers. Do you have mismatched silverware or unusual kitchen utensils? Pick up a shadow box frame and highlight some of your more interesting kitchen-related items. Shadow boxes are a great investment, and you can switch out the display every few months as you like.
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Unclutter. You can’t create a beautiful kitchen if it is covered in clutter such as mail, coupons and items from your grocery shopping trip. Everything has a place, so think about creating a small mail space and putting your groceries in their place.
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Solve storage problems on a budget. Go to a resale shop such as Goodwill to find plenty of items you can use for storage units, such as bookshelves or sideboards that may just need a little TLC. Sand and paint a neutral color, and you are on your way to solving your storage issues.
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Dress the table for a fun dinner party when you are ready to show off your hard work. If dishes are mismatched or cracked, play up the shabby chic look by picking up even more coordinating dishware at your local thrift shop and layering it with color-matching napkins, candles and flowers from your garden. Dim the lights, and you are on your way.
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Tips & Warnings
Tell your friends. Chances are they may have some unused items you could add to your decor for free.
Don't try to do it all at once. Part of the fun of redecorating is gathering the items, so start off slow and enjoy the treasure hunt.
Resources
- Photo Credit Konrad Mostert sxc
