The kitchen is the most valuable room in a house as it has the highest rate per square metre to finish. Since everyone wants a great kitchen, it can make the difference when buyers are unsure regarding the purchase of a house.

The kitchen is one of the most popular rooms for purchasers to scrutinize, but that doesn’t mean you have to re-gut the whole thing. If you have a small budget, the following can be done to update a dated kitchen without the expense of refitting it:

  • the kitchen at least needs to be clear and clean, so de-clutter the surfaces and just leave a bowl of fruit out;
  • update old lighting fixtures with bright and more energy efficient ones;
  • use tile paint on wall tiles;
  • repaint cupboard doors with a lime wash or cupboard paint;
  • replace door handles with more stylish modern options and
  • replace the kitchen taps.
If your kitchen cupboards are outdated or in need of attention and you have a larger budget, keep the units in the same place to keep your costs down and employ a company to add brand new doors and drawers, or simply replace the cupboard doors yourself. This is much cheaper than installing new cupboards and often just as effective. Upgrading kitchen counter tops can be expensive, but can make a world of difference.