Does your kitchen look like it came from an era long gone? While some may appreciate a traditional, historical style, many would consider something like this outdated. If your kitchen needs to get with the times, you may be wondering how to transition it to a more present-day look. These tips for making your home kitchen look more modern can help you update not only the style of your kitchen, but also its functionality.

Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint

Sometimes, all you need to make a room feel like new is a fresh coat of paint. For a clean, bold, modern look, opt for a neutral hue like white, gray, black, or beige as your main color, and a striking shade like gold, navy, or red as an accent. If you want your kitchen to truly stand out, you can even attempt painting a mural on one of the walls. Painter's tape can help you make stunning geometrical murals even if you're not much of an artist.

Minimize Clutter

When one hears the word "modern," they envision a clean, sleek, and minimalist home. Clutter can make a space look messy, unpolished, and maximalist—completely contradicting the style you're hoping to achieve! You don't need to pack away all your favorite trinkets, but cleaning items off tables, counters, and shelves can go a long way toward making your home look more up-to-date.

If you need somewhere to stow your cleaned-up goods, consider using storage cubes or placing your items in a curio cabinet—this will keep everything safe while also containing clutter.

Revamp the Cabinets

As a major focal point of the room, you'll want to give your kitchen cabinets plenty of attention during your remodel. There are several ways to revamp your cabinets without replacing them outright, including painting or staining them, swapping out the doors, changing the hardware, adding inserts, and using decorative trim.

All the above are easy ways to make your cabinets look fresh without spending too much money. That said, there are some circumstances in which you should look into replacing your counters entirely, such as when they're flimsy, severely damaged, or poorly placed. You may also want to replace them if they’re too small and you’re in need of extra room to store all your dishware and food items.

If you need to replace your cabinets, get the best bang for your buck by purchasing surplus unfinished cabinets. These cabinets cost less than most but are still very high-quality. And since they're unfinished, you can customize them to your heart's content, personally picking out the paint or stain to coordinate with new counters and hardware.

Replace Hardware

You'd be amazed how dramatically something as minor as replacing the hardware can transform your kitchen! New hardware is inexpensive, and quick and easy to install—it's a great way to make a maximum impact with minimal effort. You can find various hardware styles online or at your local home improvement store; crystal, glass, or metal knobs and pulls will add a new-world vibe to your kitchen.

Add Backsplash

This is a quick, cost-effective, DIY-friendly addition that makes a big difference, making it an ideal option for renovators with limited time or money. By adding a backsplash to your kitchen, you can create a unique focal point that stands out and sets the mood for the room. For a modern feel, we recommend glass, marble, metal, or stone material. Backsplashes come in a wide array of styles; choose one that suits your home and personality. Subway tile, faux brick, and herringbone pattern tile are popular choices for contemporary homes.

Swap Out the Floors

Changing the flooring can make your kitchen more aesthetically pleasing and functional. Hardwood is a popular choice for this room, but it can be lavishly priced. If you want the look and function without the cost, consider laminate flooring, engineered wood, or wood-look tiles as alternatives. Cork is another trendy flooring option for your home. It has a unique appearance and feels soft, warm, and springy, as opposed to hard and cold tile or wood! This makes it ideal for families with children or family members with chronic back problems. You may also want to consider concrete, which is inexpensive, extremely durable, and has an unmistakably modern look.

New Lighting

Lighting is an aspect that's easy to forget during the remodeling process, but don't neglect it—lighting can play a huge role in how your room looks and feels. The right light fixtures can illuminate your kitchen beautifully and take it to the next level. They can also improve your kitchen’s safety, functionality, and versatility. Recessed lights, pendant lights, under-cabinet lights, and chandeliers are all excellent contemporary light sources. For a modern aesthetic, look for pieces with smooth, clean lines that are made from modern materials like weathered wood, metal, or glass.

Gradually Replace Appliances

Replacing outmoded appliances with sleek, ultramodern ones can bring your kitchen into the new age, but rehauling the entire kitchen all at once is costly. For this reason, it's better to replace major kitchen appliances gradually. Start with smaller appliances like the microwave, toaster, and blender, and save up for more substantial purchases like a new oven or fridge.

Knock Down Walls

Removing walls is a major renovation project, and not all homeowners have the money or time to commit to it. But if you're able, it can make a massive difference in bringing a modern feel to your kitchen. Boxy, compartmentalized kitchens feel cramped and look outdated; by knocking down a wall or two, you can make your kitchen airier, brighter, and roomier.

Updating your home takes time, money, and commitment, but with a bit of hard work, you can make it look as good as new. Use the above tricks for making your home kitchen look modern to progressively transform the heart of your home into a place that matches the times.

At Surplus Building Materials, you'll find backsplashes, cabinets, counters, flooring, hardware, lighting, sinks, and more for your kitchen renovation. Our surplus products are high quality and budget-friendly, so you can get exactly what you need without breaking the bank. Shop our discount unfinished cabinets today to add a personal touch to your dream kitchen!