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10 wow hacks to totally transform your kitchen (budget-friendly, too!)

What's cooking, good looking! - by Franki Hobson
  • 18 Jun 2019
10 wow hacks to totally transform your kitchen (budget-friendly, too!)

You don’t need to spend a pretty penny for an impressive kitchen. From door handles and cupboards to drawer liners and benchtops, appliances, feature walls and splashbacks, these easy, creative and cost-effective kitchen hacks will transform your space.

1. Brilliant benchtops

The three most popular materials used for benchtops are laminate, timber and stone. But, laminate is around a third of the price. Even better, it’s hard-wearing, durable, water resistant, easy to wipe down and clean, and you can get anti-bacterial and finger-print proof finishes – great for grubby little fingers eating afterschool snacks!

laminexau View Profile
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The perfect surface for entertaining - new Essastone Unique Calacatta, a durable engineered stone, featuring exquisitely scored deep mineral veins, for a look that rivals the world's most striking natural marble. . . #Laminex #Essastone #Marble #Interiorinspo #kitchendesign #interiorideas

Today’s laminates come in a whole spectrum of finishes, from mattes to glosses, marble and mineral looks to woodgrains, metallics and a plethora of accent colours to suit – and transform – any kitchen space.

laminexau View Profile
454 likes - View Post on Instagram
We love everything about this Natural space. It' a perfect example of a luxurious Australian design, built for both rural and urban environments. This beautiful project was created by Rural Building: www.ruralbuilding.com.au/

2. Colour splash

Add a lick of paint to your door frames, cupboards, splashbacks or even a few bold accessories like a bright red wall clock. Paint, or colour, can instantly brighten your space and transform the look and feel of your kitchen. Use bright colours for energy and a fun or quirky feel. Softer pastels tend to create a sense of calm, whereas warmer tones like terracotta and earthy tones create a welcoming and warm ambience.

britishpaints View Profile
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Throw open your doors and welcome Spring time! Create a colourful statement in your home with British Paints Red Alert to really make those doorfames pop. #britishpaints #spring #colour #paint #style #interior #statement

3. Feature cupboard door panels

Swapping out kitchen cupboard doors is a cost-effective way to revamp your kitchen minus the complete cabinetry fit-out – a great solution of water-logged chipboard doors ruining your kitchen look. Today’s doors come in a range of widths, allowing you to create skinny broom cupboards from awkward corner spaces, as well as materials, finishes, textured looks and colours.

You can choose door frames, frosted glass doors, use wire-mesh, timber or metals, and even paint your own doors!

threeofakindfurniture View Profile
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Instagram post by Three Of A Kind Furniture * Apr 27, 2018 at 5:44am UTC

You can even paint your own doors, buy DIY flat pack doors, have doors cut-to measure, buy single doors, pull out drawer doors and more!

kaboodlekitchen View Profile
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It's often what's on the inside that counts...like this 300mm 3 tier pullout basket! Convenience never looked so good. #kaboodlekitchen #kitchendesign #diy #interiorsinspo #interiordesign #storage #kitchenwireware

4. Statement door handles

This small detail can have big impact! Cupboard door handles can bring cohesion to a kitchen look, add quirk, personality or interest, and make a style statement.

mysticworldfinds View Profile
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𖤒 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Design inspiration. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐 #handpainted #knob #doorknobs #knobs #travelindia #makeinindia #exploreindia #india #incredibleindia #instaindia #indiapictures #indianhandicrafts #indianphotography #Explore #Exploring #Explorer #Wander #Wanderer #Wanderlust #instatravel #travelgram #picoftheday #photooftheday #marketing #streetphotography #market #indian #color #design #interiordesign 𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐𖣐

You can choose art deco handles, urban-industrial look clamps in galvanised steel, hand-painted porcelain and fine China knobs, kooky motifs, metals from contemporary brushed black metal to shiny silver, rose gold and aged-0look bronze and more.   

sibellacourt View Profile
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Tomorrow is our LAST day to order online and get you your Christmas presents on time @thesocietyinc Don't miss out on all the cool thoughtful presents! [see stories for present ideas around the shop]

5. Trendy drawer and cupboard liners

Perhaps one of the easiest, cheapest, most practical and yes, super effective ways to transform your kitchen cupboards! Laying contact paper, butchers paper, wrapping paper other heavy duty card will not protect your cupboard surfaces from scratches as well as look amazing.

boyleindustries View Profile
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Our PVC Self-Adhesive film are a best seller and great for lining of drawers & cupboards, book covering, wall covering & art and craft/school projects. Available in Bunnings stores Australia wide. #pvc #selfadhesive #selfadhesivevinyl #bestseller #drawer #cupboard #bookcover #wallcovering #home #homedecor #artandcraft #schoolprojects #homeimprovement #homeimprovementproject #homedecor #bunnings #bunningswarehouse #bunningsaustralia #wholesale #boyle

6. Personality plus walls

Get creative in the kitchen! A peg board is a great way to add a bit of personality to your space. Hang your favourite recipes, photos of family, shopping list or images of delicious desserts (or healthy salad inspiration!). Other great ideas include chalk boards, to ensure you never forget milk and bread, or lunch order day, again.

this_little_savage_life View Profile
505 likes - View Post on Instagram
Evening! Totally wiped out (and with croaky voice to boot) from our weekend away without the kids, but had a blast! Very thankful to my past self for booking tomorrow off work too though. Usually I have many a reason to berate past me, she is usually a bit of a dick, but on this occasion, girl did good! . . #shelfiesunday #shelfiedecor #shelfie #myfabhome #myhomevibe #dailydecordetail #spotlightonmyhome #eclecticdecor #eclecticallycool #deliciousdarkdecor #styleitdark #bluewalls #interiormilk #myseasonalrevamp #nesttoimpress #rockininteriors #myeclecticmix #fafffriday #mycreativeinterior #styleithappy #myspaceanddecor #walltowallstyle #homedecor #openshelving #kitchendecor #kitchenshelves #myrustic #smallbizshelfie #styledupinterior #myinteriorvibe

7. Open shelves

No space for a personality wall? Use open shelves to express your personality or to feature your favourite collectables – from your teacup collection to fine china and spoons collected from worldly travels. Or, make it more practical! With utensil holders, knives and hung saucepans.

the_happy_space View Profile
66 likes - View Post on Instagram
Its always nice to display your fave kitchen pieces as art on a shelf 👌🏽😍 . . . . . . . 📸@lazymoms #homedesign #amazinghomes #luxuryhomes #luxuryliving #luxurydesign #homeinterior #luxurybedroom #bedroomdecor #lounge #interiors #contemporaryliving #contemporaryinteriors #cushions #hyggeinteriors #cosyinteriors #calminteriors #cutleryinspo #kitchenshleves #kitchendecor #kitcheninspo

8. On-trend splashbacks

Who would have thought that splashbacks would become a style statement?! The oil splatter-catcher? The spaghetti bolognese sauce canvas? But it is! That wall, that frames all those fancy (and expensive) kitchen appliances is, in fact, a feature wall that can transform the look of your kitchen. Laminates that are easy to wipe down and clean. Glass splashbacks. Bright colours like read, blue or green. Marbles featuring veins, mineral-effects. For a contemporary look, try reflective surfaces – black glass or stainless steel.

laminexau View Profile
708 likes - View Post on Instagram
We are excited to announce the launch of the new Laminex Colour Collection this month, our most comprehensive update to the laminate and decorated board product range in over 25 years 🙌 - The Laminex Colour Collection can easily be navigated using the following colour groupings: 1) Whites & Neutrals, 2) Accents, 3) Woodgrains and 4) Minerals. - Designer: @gia_renovations Stylist: @natjstyling Photography: @derek_swalwell Feature tiles: @nationaltilesau - #Laminex #ColourCollection #design #designer #designinspiration #interiordesign #interiordesignideas

9. Illuminated lights

Lighting can totally transform space. And we’re not just referring to the brightness of the globe here.

rayna_interiors View Profile
24 likes - View Post on Instagram
The white, gold and black chandeliers paired with the gold and white barstools are everything! .➡️Follow @rayna_interiors . . @whitelanedecor . . . #interiordesign #interiordecorating #homedecor #inspiredliving #classyinteriors #elegant interiors #luxury #luxuryinteriors #luxuryrealestate #interiorstyling #interiorinspo #beautiful #housedesign #designideas #homedecor #instagood #dreaminteriors #style #design #homeinspo . . #kitchendesign #barstools #pendulumlights

Pendulum lighting makes a huge impact, but you can still have a lot of fun with flush-mount lights (the typically dome-shaped light fixture that's mounted flush to the ceiling).

britishpaints View Profile
36 likes - View Post on Instagram
Make your dark walls pop by pairing with light coloured furniture and metallic accents to reflect any natural light. #interior #paint #dark #shades #contrast #complement #style #trend

10. Art work benchtop appliances

Perhaps the opposite of a butler’s pantry, where kettles and toasters and other appliances are neatly hidden away … artwork appliances are made to be seen.

smegaustralia View Profile
197 likes - View Post on Instagram
Join us today at 1.30 on @tvsn we'll be putting our award-winning espresso coffee machine and hand blender through their paces and introducing the 🇬🇧Union Jack🇬🇧 toaster - a new icon with the perfect blend of Smeg's signature Italian design and the bold spirit of the UK #homeshopping #tvsn #handblender #coffeemachine #retrostyle #designicon #smeg50style #smegaustralia #smeglove #smeg

Often a permanent benchtop feature, you can now get kettles, toasters featuring Dolce & Gabbana artworks, retro style designs and colours ranging from pastel pink, powder blue, cream and mint green to bright red and blue.

kitchenaidausnz View Profile
2,314 likes - View Post on Instagram
Tropical greens to ink blue and golden pine berries. Mix and match one of our limited edition custom bowls to suit your style. Watch our stories to explore the range! Link in bio to shop ❤️

Main image: SMEG.com.au

  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Better Life
  • Kitchen Designs
Franki Hobson
Franki Hobson
Franki Hobson is a women’s lifestyle journalist and editor with more than twenty years’ experience. Her areas of expertise include homes, parenting and health and well-being.

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