We all know the kitchen is the heart of your home.
So what do you do if your kitchen island, the centerpiece of the kitchen, needs an upgrade? Kitchen island update options abound if you’re willing to use a little elbow grease and flex your creativity muscle. Cook up the perfect kitchen island update with some of these ideas.
1. Change The Cabinet Color
For the easiest way to upgrade your kitchen island, change the color of the cabinets. Use paint or stain depending on your cabinets.
Solid wood cabinets can be stained after sanding or using a chemical stripper to remove the varnish.
Painting is generally an easier method to change the color of your kitchen island if your cabinetry is free of obvious wood grain or knots. Be sure to sand off the existing finish or use a primer to ensure the paint sticks to the surface.
Chalky finish paints or latex paints are both good options when painting cabinets. Let your personality shine when choosing paint colors, like Nancy Christopher over at Artsy Chicks Rule did.
You can also purchase cabinet painting kits, which are designed specifically to ensure a durable, long-lasting result when refinishing cabinets. They usually involve a deglosser, which eliminates the need for sanding, a base coat, and finish with a glaze.
2. Update Countertops
Changing your kitchen island countertop is another easy way to make a big impact. You could opt for a variety of counter surfaces from the more traditional granite or Corian to the more statement surfaces, such as concrete or butcher block.
If switching countertop surfaces is out of your price range, you can always update the surface you have. That’s what Julie Fiato of Redhead Can Decorate did.
Consider sanding and staining wood counters or painting laminate surfaces. Think outside the box — What about chalkboard paint counters? You’re only limited by your creativity!
3. Try Open Shelving
Open shelving is very popular in kitchen design lately, and removing cabinet doors from your kitchen island is a free and easy way to hop on the trend! Simply remove the cabinet doors and hardware and fill any holes with wood filler. Be sure to touch up the paint if needed. Take the time to style the shelves to show off your decor.
4. Add Kitchen Island Legs
If your island has an overhanging countertop, adding decorative legs can go a long way to adding personality to your kitchen. Depending on your personal style, you could choose industrial metal legs, midcentury modern hairpin legs or more traditional farmhouse-style legs.
With so many easy, affordable options for updating a kitchen island, there’s no excuse to keep an eyesore at the center of the kitchen Get creative, add personality and make your kitchen your own!
Have you updated your kitchen island? If so, tell us about it in the comments section below.
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