A kitchen is often the heart of a home, serving as a gathering place for family and friends. It’s also where we spend a significant amount of time preparing meals. With all the time we spend in the kitchen, it’s essential that it looks and feels comfortable, welcoming, and, if you wish, expensive.
The best way to make your kitchen look expensive is to upgrade the hardware. For instance, you can install new cabinet handles and drawer pulls to update the look of your kitchen. For a luxurious look, choose high-quality materials, such as stainless steel, brass, or oil-rubbed bronze.
Read on for insights into 12 easy ways to give your kitchen a high-end makeover.
1. Update or Upgrade the Kitchen Hardware
Upgrading your kitchen hardware is a surefire way to give it a polished and expensive look without breaking the bank.
In that regard, here are a few items you should consider upgrading:
- Cabinet handles
- Drawer pulls
- Light fixtures
For a high-end feel, go with hardware with a metallic finish, such as brushed nickel or chrome.
Extra Tip: Consider installing quartz or granite countertops to give your kitchen an expensive, high-end look.
2. Use Lighter Colors To Brighten Spaces
Another way to make your kitchen look more expensive is to use lighter colors. As the Spruce notes, lighter colors make a space brighter and more open, giving the illusion of a larger kitchen.
So, consider painting your walls a light shade of:
- White
- Beige
- Pale blue
Extra Tip: You can also use light-colored backsplashes and countertops to brighten the space further.
3. Replace Cabinet Doors
Suppose your kitchen cabinets look dated. In that case, consider replacing the doors. Getting new cabinet doors can be a pricey undertaking, but it can drastically improve the overall look of your kitchen.
Be sure to replace the doors with ones made of quality materials, such as solid wood or glass, or opt for a unique design. Either way, new cabinet doors can add a touch of luxury to your kitchen.
But don’t feel like replacing them is your only option for a more luxurious looking kitchen. A simple lick of colour can work wonders in making your kitchen look more modern and updated! Click on the image below for more examples of updated kitchen cabinetry and how they transform the feel of the space.
4. Invest in Modern, Stylish Lighting
Often overlooked, good lighting is essential in any kitchen. Luckily, there are more than one ways of upgrading it for your kitchen. You can swap your old fixtures, providing the don’t pass the luxury vibe check, to give the space a more expensive look. Be sure to replace old and outdated light fixtures with something more modern and stylish. There is a great variety of sandblasted or clear glass options, in a vast variety of shapes. Pair that with a dark wood or a metal finish depending on your style kitchen and you have changed the whole feel of the space.
You might also want to consider additional lighting, like under-cabinet lights or pendant lights, to create a more layered and luxurious look. Mood lighting, as is also known as. You want to aim for at least 3 layers of lighting.
- Ceiling lighting, like LED spotlights.
- Mid level lighting, like pendants or floor lamps.
- Under counter lighting.
- Under cupboard lighting.
- Hidden ceiling lighting.
You will need to consider the strength and temperature for each of those levels too. Warm to natural temperature lighting is appropriate for mood lighting, which is anything from eye level and below. This creates a more relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Cool toned natural lighting can be used for LED lighting, for when you need that extra boost of light in the room.
5. Use Artwork and textiles To Add a Touch of Sophistication
Adding some artwork to your kitchen can add a touch of personality and sophistication. Choose pieces that complement your kitchen’s color scheme and style, and hang them in prominent places, such as above the stove or sink.
Not only will that add some visual interest to your space, but it will also make your kitchen feel more stylish and high-end.
6. Paint Your Appliances Stainless Steel
Giving your kitchen appliances a paint-on stainless steel finish can make your kitchen look more expensive because the finish is typically associated with high-end appliances.
That can create the impression that your kitchen has been upgraded with more expensive appliances, even if you haven’t purchased new ones. The paint-on finish can also give your appliances a sleek and modern look, enhancing your kitchen’s appearance. You can also find peel and stick vinyl to coat your appliances in a steel finish.
Another common feature in luxury kitchens is a wine fridge. Those are usually found as part of a kitchen island or as part of a set in a wall dedicated to appliances such as fridges and stoves.
7. Add Window Treatments
Window treatments can add a touch of luxury and sophistication to any kitchen. Some options for window treatments that can make your kitchen look expensive include:
- Roman shades: These classic window treatments can add a timeless and elegant look to your kitchen. For starters, try these Artdix Roman Shades Blinds from Amazon.com. They’re cheap, versatile, and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can rest assured you’re getting the best treatment for your kitchen window.
- Plantation shutters: Shutters can give your kitchen a traditional and high-end look, particularly if they’re made of wood.
- Valances: Valances are a type of window treatment that hang above the top of the window and can add a touch of opulence to your kitchen.
- Draperies: Long, flowing drapes can give your kitchen a luxurious and grand feel, especially if they’re made of rich, high-quality fabric.
8. Style Your Breakfast Nook
If you have a breakfast nook or breakfast bar/island in your kitchen, make sure to style it in a chic and cohesive way.
That might involve adding:
- Stylish lighting fixtures
- Statement chairs or table
- Decorative accents, such as vases or flowers
By putting some effort into styling your breakfast nook or breakfast bar/island, you can create a cozy and stylish space that looks high-end.
9. Replace Old Decorative Elements
If you have old, tired-looking decorative elements in your kitchen, such as outdated backsplashes or countertop decorations, consider replacing them with something new and more stylish.
That can be as simple as adding a new backsplash or as involved as replacing your countertops entirely. Choose materials and finishes that are on trend and look expensive, such as marble or quartz.
10. Hide Small Appliances
You will never see a luxury kitchen full of tired old blenders and colourful boxes lying around. Small appliances, such as coffee makers and toasters, can clutter up your countertops and make your kitchen look disorganized.
To give your kitchen a more expensive, polished look, invest in storage solutions, such as appliance garages or under-cabinet organizers, to hide these items when they’re not in use.
If you have the space, and the budget, you can invest in a piece of furniture specifically dedicated to hiding away all the things that make your kitchen look cluttered, like a built-in or freestanding larder. This piece is having a revival at the moment, as it is as practical as it can be stylish.
If on the other hand you are short of space and cupboards, not unusual in rentals, make sure whatever is on display is at least presented in a cohesive and organised way. Use containers of similar style instead of boxes and invest in similar looking appliances that will match your larger ones.
Here you can find inspiration and some more creative ideas on how to style your kitchen shelves if you need to keep things on display- or not!
11. Incorporate more natural materials
Natural textures always inspire an air of luxury. Incorporating materials such as:
- Glass or crystal
- Metal such as iron
- Exposed wood like oak
- Stone, quartz or marble
- Leather
Avoid using all the same of one thing, as this can make the space appear too “matchy-matchy”. Try experimenting with tonal variations and different textures, like brushed and polished versions of metals. Don’t be afraid of mixing your metals, like the example below where they have paired a polished chrome tap with warm brushed brash island lights.
12. Use Plants To Add Life to Your Kitchen
If you’re looking for a simple yet effective way to add some life and greenery to your kitchen, plants are the way to go. Not only do they look beautiful and bring a touch of nature indoors, but they also have the added benefit of purifying the air.
Choose low-maintenance plants that are suitable for your kitchen’s lighting conditions, and display them in stylish planters or pots to add some visual interest to your space.
That said, here’s a video that may come in handy if you need more tips for making your kitchen look polished and expensive: