The average cost to renovate an upscale kitchen costs around $80,000 with the average kitchen coming in around $30,000 . For some, it’s worth doing a complete rehaul in their kitchen.
Sometimes the look or materials are so dated that it’s necessary to start from scratch. If your kitchen just needs a little extra something to make it more modern, then updating your kitchen cabinets makes the most sense, but choosing which style isn’t so easy. You’ll have to consider your budget, style, and needs.
To help you out, here are six ideas for your next kitchen renovation.
1. Try Stainless Steel To Complete Your Modern Kitchen
Stainless steel has become so popular that designers now consider it a neutral tone. It also blends well with other colors and provides a sleek, modern look.
Imagine how polished, sleek, and high-end your entire kitchen will look if you add accents of stainless steel to your modern kitchen as well as your appliances.
Of course, there are a few ups and downs when choosing stainless steel. Obviously, those with children may not appreciate how easily fingerprints show up or how easily stainless steel gets scratched. However, some stainless steel fabrications claim a high resistance to both of these problems. The perks are that steel also easy to clean and extremely sanitary.
Stainless steel is also durable (not counting the scratches).
For those who love the look but not the cost, try looking for other options of MDF cabinets that are layered with steel over the top.
2. Lacquer Is A Great Look For Modern Kitchen Cabinets
Lacquer transforms kitchen cabinets because they are rich in color, shiny, and bright. That’s because the manufacturing process applies several coats of lacquer, along with polishing and waxing.
Good quality lacquer finishes are durable and scratch-resistant. However, it can chip which may not be the perfect choice for those with young children.
If chipping isn’t a concern then you’ll open yourself up to a wide array of colors that are available in lacquer. Just beware that if you plan to maintain that wonderfully glossy sheen, you’ll have to clean your kitchen cabinets properly.
Fortunately, there are plenty of products to choose from that easily clean lacquer. Just make sure you buy a product specifically made to clean lacquer as certain chemicals will eat away at the finish.
3. Replace Cabinets With Floating Shelves
A modern kitchen is usually envisioned with clean lines. But a modern kitchen is also designed to make life easier. One way to do that is by ripping out the old kitchen cabinets and installing floating shelves instead.
Floating shelves offer the ability to easily see and grab everything you own in your kitchen. Many people enjoy the look of floating shelves for the upper cabinets while keeping their lower cabinet doors for the bottom half of the kitchen.
This way, you get a sleek, clean look above while being able to store large, bulky, and unsightly appliances below away from sight.
The downside to choosing floating shelves as your modern kitchen cabinets is that unless you’re highly organized, chances are your kitchen will look cluttered.
The upside is that wooden floating shelves will create a beautiful, contemporary look in your kitchen.
4. Choosing All White Versus Color
When choosing kitchen cabinets, choosing a color is often the most difficult decision to make. Once you choose, you’re stuck with it for a long time or you can just stick with all white.
Why White Works
Imagine glistening white cabinets that when reflected in the sunlight make your kitchen shine. White is a neutral color. It matches with everything. White also is easy to clean and still manages to pull off a clean look even when there’s clutter. You can achieve a great white look using paint, glossy lacquer, veneer, or melamine. And it works with any budget.
Why Color Works
Choosing the right color can make your kitchen pop. You can even use colors along with your contemporary decor. Warm your kitchen up or cool it down by choosing the right color theme. Use bright cobalt blue to make your kitchen cheery. Cherry red lacquer provides a sleek, modern look.
Get imaginative by only using color on some of the cabinets. Either way, color makes a big statement on modern kitchen cabinets.
5. Create A Warm Look With Veneer
Veneer cabinet doors can add warmth and depth to any kitchen. Veener kitchen cabinets are a great choice for those looking to incorporate natural products and a natural look into their home. Veneer has long been popular in Europe and is now only beginning to gain in popularity in the US. There are differing qualities of veneer cabinets. For best results, find a highly-skilled, reputable dealer.
If veneers are done poorly, the edging or banding that holds the veneer in place peels or the laminate starts to peel or chip. Buying from a reputable dealer ensures you’ll enjoy these beautiful kitchen cabinets for decades.
6. Use Stained Wood For A Modern Look
Sometimes a little can go a long way when it comes to kitchen cabinets. Perhaps all white is too much for you. Yet, so is committing to colored cabinets. Thankfully, there’s a solution to meet your needs. Try staining wooden cabinets with a bit of color. You’ll achieve a beautiful and unique contemporary design.
A touch of color allows the historical grain of the wood to take center stage. Suddenly, the texture of the wood is what catches your eye rather than the style or the color of the cabinetry. Incorporating a stained style allows you to mix nature with the modern life. Solid wood slab doors can be tinted to match any color you desire.
Beware that certain wood grains are knotty. If you don’t like the look of wood knots, discuss this with your cabinet maker before the work starts. Staining the wood will only highlight the knots even further.
Start Planning Your Remodel Today
There’s no time like the present to get started on remodeling your kitchen, and we can help. Whether it’s helping you choose a color, a style, or which cabinets will work best, we’re here for you. We offer free help with kitchen and bathroom design.
Tell us more about your project by clicking here.