CASH COW: HOW TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR KITCHEN


 

It is the highest traffic space of your home, and yet it never gets a second look from you. Scuff marks on the floor, spilled milk on the counter, and a tired-looking curtain covering the window defines the appearance of your kitchen. Remember the salad that you made for lunch last week. Well, it is still sitting in the same refrigerator you promised to replace a couple of years ago.

The kitchen is the heart of your home and like most hearts, it needs to be taken care of so it can pump energy into the rest of the house. You make dinner, have late-night talks, and host coffee klatches in it, but like Rodney Dangerfield, your kitchen does not get any respect.

According to an

HGTV says real estate experts agree that your kitchen is the most significant upgrade you can make for your home.

Your kitchen is a cash cow that is waiting to be tapped for its intrinsic wealth. Let’s how you can increase its value.

Replace the Cabinets 

Replacing the cabinets can turn an outdated kitchen into the contemporary marvel of your home. The key is to install cabinets that possess the same material that defines other design elements. For example, if the exterior door leading to the back yard is constructed with pine, you want to install pine cabinets to complement the design of the entry door.

Lowe’s offers a wide variety of kitchen cabinets that match the design elements of virtually every kitchen.

Speaking of Doors

As the heart of your home, the kitchen directly leads to other spaces in your house. Changing out an old door that leads guests and residents to the living room or entertainment room is an effective way to increase the value of your kitchen. From stained wood to well-buffed fiberglass, replacing an old interior door can make your kitchen shine.

Sliding barn doors have increased in popularity in recent years. The stylish doors come in kits that do not require an engineering degree to assemble and install. Pure Brazilian mahogany produces a rustic ambiance, while glistening stainless steel reflects the brilliant rays of the sun that push through the kitchen window.

Revitalize with Backsplash

One day, you are putting dishes away when you notice the stained, yellow grout that is exposed on the wall. The time has come to add a new backsplash to your kitchen.

Backsplash has made considerable progress since the introduction of mosaic tile back in the 1950s. It now is available in many shapes, sizes, and colors to let your imagination run wild. You can go with neutral tones for a conservative look or add a backsplash with a herringbone pattern to introduce an attention-grabbing appearance.

Replace Appliances

Old appliances can make your home look like it is on the set of That 70s Show. However, it is not just the out-of-date appearance that should motivate you to add new appliances to the kitchen. A broken-down refrigerator is a health hazard, as is a dishwasher that does not properly remove debris from plates and glasses. Then, we have the issue of energy efficiency.

Commercial grade appliances create panache for your kitchen, while adding a high degree of functionality. Best Buy offers a comprehensive inventory of the best brand-name appliances.

Add Stylish Lights

Sunlight generates warmth for what should be the warmest room in your home. However, you can do better than that. For a small investment, you can add customized lamps and pendant lights to warm up the kitchen. Adding undercabinet lights creates a high-end look that should increase the value of the highest traffic space in your house.

You can also save money by exchanging the current bulbs for energy-efficient LEDs.

Install a Countertop

You know that big, empty space located in the middle of your kitchen. It could use something that ties your kitchen together.

Why not install a countertop?

Long-lasting granite presents an attractive surface that resists the damage caused by heat and moisture. Sleek marble retains a cool surface temperature, which makes it ideal for entertaining guests. Quartz offers you the widest variety of designs that reflect both natural and artificial light.

Go online to search for the perfect kitchen countertop.

Not Your Ordinary Hoodie

If you have the money in your home improvement budget, putting in a new hood can do wonders for the appearance of your kitchen. You can give the highest traffic area of your home a fresh look, without having to replace the stove as well. Most hoods vent to the outdoors, but you can add a ductless range hood if installing new ductwork is a less than appealing home improvement project. Spend a little money on an electrician to ensure the installation of a new hood follows the toughest safety codes.

With the average kitchen remodel delivering an average of 81 percent of its cost, the time has come to remove the scuff marks, clean up the spilled milk, and remove the tired-looking curtain hanging over the window. You can go small by simply painting the walls or go big by replacing every appliance.

It all depends on how much your want to increase the value of your kitchen.