How can I improve my kitchen without spending a fortune??

[Seaviewsunshine]

We’ve lived in our house for 18 months and spent a lot of money upgrading heating/electrics/roof etc and now run out of money to do the kitchen. One day we would love to do an extension but that’s a pipe dream at the moment. Anyone got any good but cheap ideas how I can improve it...it’s dark and uninviting at the moment.

We're having our kitchen done cheaply next week. We're keeping the cupboards and worktops, and having the outdated red tiles removed and some sage coloured tiles added. This is being done by a handyman who doesn't charge the earth. He's then going to repaint the room in kitchen paint - an absolute godsend if you have children that like putting mucky hands on the wall! Will be replacing the manky red blinds with something modern from Dunelm Mill. Then we're getting new lino for the floor.

I'm also going to replace our stainless steel kettle, microwave, bread bin and toaster for some cream appliances. I hate how dirty stainless steel always looks!!

Hope that helps!

Your kitchen looks big but not that inviting, better lighting needed tiles replaced/painted, fresh Lino cupboards look in good nick and nice colour, plenty of good about the place

The only thing that stands out to me is the floor. If you get a lighter Lino it would look better.

If it was my kitchen I'd have a new floor, replace the tiles and possibly new handles for the cupboards. New, brightly coloured appliances is a good way to spruce it up, perhaps new lighting.

You need better lighting and the floor made a lighter colour.

If the floor is lino that would be cheap to change.

The lighting could be a problem to do cheaply depending on the current light fittings you have and number of plug sockets you have.

Problem is if you have better lighting it may show up defects in the cupboards and work tops if they are any.

Layout seems good and cupboards look fine.

New flooring.
New more modern tiles.
New handles.
Better lighting.
Paint job.
Take all the child stuff off the fridge.

Replace link, paint tiles with white tile paint. Look into new handles for doors. Fresh paint on all the walls.

Lighter floor
Fill in the gap to give a streamline look.
Fit led strips under the cupboards, they can go into normal sockets.
A bit of colour ( subtle) on the walls.

I would get a new lighter coloured flooring, and cover up the window that is showing the garage or outbuilding with a nice blind. The cupboards look alright, I wonder v how much it would cost to put spotlights in the ceiling? And just have it "dressed" ie nice accessories on show, a couple of pictures on the wall, a fruit bowl, cheap flowers in a vase.

A couple of things stood out, the fan in the window (which I would remove and replace the glass) and the odd gap above the cooker unit, could you explain that a bit?
I think its fine but un-cosy.
I would add colour with fresh flowers or plants on window sill,. fruit bowl and some nice accessories, good toaster, kettle, chopping boards, blind, nice bin etc.
Floor is dark but I think adding a pale floor could make it all look a bit insipid.
Can you post any more pics?

Thank you lots of great suggestions! The gap in the units is from the old boiler which we took out. The walls & tiles are in bad condition so definitely will need some plastering. I’d love spot lights but again we fear the ceiling might fall down!!

What colours would people suggest for wall paint? It’s very dark in here so scared to make it feel worse!

I like the idea of different kitchen appliances. The steel is making it feel hard and cold.

COuld you embrace the slightly old fashioned charm rather than trying to make it modern?
I would add a small lamp on the windowsill and and patterned blind and perhaps pastel fridge?
Will see if I can dig out a photo for inspiration

This kind of look perhaps
www.thekitchn.com/scotts-creative-renovation-kitchen-tour-170204#_

I'd just replace the floor. You can get some lovely vinyl floorings

Or here
findinghomefarms.com/summer-home-tour/

Better lighting - track lighting or lights on wires would mean you could have lights all the way along without rewiring or punching holes in the ceiling.

Paint the tiles if you can't afford to replace them - a good decorator will be able to do this so it last.

Lighter floor - maybe a light laminate if you can run to that or a wood plank effect vinyl if not.

Replace the handles with small black or silver knobs

Nice blinds for the windows (Roman blinds, fix right up at the ceiling so they don't cover much of the window when they're up) go for a bright pattern on a white / off white background, maybe in a royal blue or strong green.

Pick up the accent colour from the blinds with some prints.

You need to lighten the floor for definite.

Re tile
Paint walls a light colour
Box in gap above cooker
Get rid of magnets on fridge
Try and find new handles for units that would fit.

What is the room with the storage boxes that can be seen through the window? Can you knock through? That 2nd room looks really bright and airy.

This would look great but isnt cheap sadly
blog.harveymaria.co.uk/your-fabulous-floor/#jp-carousel-2763

Definitely redo the floor but I'd consider a dark paint on the walls and aim for a general feeling of cosy/dramatic/vintage. I have similar issues with my kitchen, it's north-facing with a small window, it's never going to be "light and airy" no matter how white I paint everything. And could you maybe get some plug-in spotlights up to increase the lighting?

Some of these are quite OTT but you get what I mean!

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/452259987572531508/

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/138345019783420561/

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/303781937340974000/

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/197243658661152833/

Great suggestion about lights on wires, blinds etc. I was thinking a lighter wood effect limo. I have a black lab so don’t want to go too light otherwise all you see is dog hair 🙈!

The room you can see through the window is the utility room. One day we want to punch through and do a kitchen extension. At the moment it’s not in good enough condition to do that as it’s basically a single skin outbuilding! Will post another photo in a mo!

I had a gap between the units in my kitchen and I made a curtain from some nice material to cover the gap, I keep the bin behind it now.
Perhaps you could lighten the flooring and get some colourful appliances, accessories?

I would put some "etched glass" plastic film over window into utility room.
The lighting looks very dated but I realise that the low ceilings limit what you can install

Id get rid of the wall cupboard and the cupboard over the cooker. Would the oven stand on the floor? If not, Id also get another oven (or range you have space) that would then open up that long run of cabinets/worktop and allow more light through the windows.

And if money allowed, build floor to ceiling cupboards along that fridge wall and put the fridge inside. They could be MDF and painted ie light blue.

Move everything off the window sills, take the fan out and replace glass (less than £50).

Wouldnt necessarily bother changing the floor.

Utility room. Excuse the mess!