Budget

 How much money can you pour into this 'creative' room?  Updating the kitchen can cost as little as £500 but can easily run into the thousands, so make sure you know your budget before you begin the revamp. 

 

Job type

 Are you thinking of a little face-lift or a major spruce?  This will all depend on your budget.  If it is going to be major works then you'll need to look into craftsmen to fit your new kitchen.

 

Theme

As with any room, you need to decide what theme you would like to have in place – contemporary, modern or classic, and from here you can decided which, if any of the current fixtures you’d like to keep.  The great advantage of today's market is that no matter what taste you have, there is a kitchen to suit your style with appliances to match.  Another consideration is how much time you spend in the kitchen and what you use it for.  The style changes considerably between those who mainly buy take-away or pre-prepared foods to those who cook from scratch.  Other questions you should ask yourself are: how big is the kitchen? What shape is it? How many does it serve for?

 

Places to search

As with any room, look around and don’t rush into any decisions; you'd be very upset to find a more suitable kitchen at a cheaper price.  Don’t forget about the January sales as you may find great deals there!  But the main point is not to search in just one place. There are so many various ways in which to find a new kitchen, so take the time to compare a minimum of two.  There are magazines, the internet, show homes, DIY stores and kitchen suppliers all of which have great ideas and variety to suit every purchaser.  If you are still unsure as to what to go with, find a local interior designer to help you create your new sanctuary.

• Change the work surface - depending on what you choose, it can alter the image of the room significantly. Change the colour or material but make sure you use a tradesmen as accidents and mistakes can be costly

• Change the lighting - down-lighters are very popular at the moment especially when extra lights are added under the shelving.  It makes the room lighter and brighter which always gives the sense of cleanliness and well-being

• Change cupboard handles or find new doors - it may be only a subtle difference that makes ALL the difference

• If the room still needs that little bit more, give the door and walls a lick of paint to get the brand new feeling

 

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