7 Ways to Refresh a Kitchen

Find 7 easy ways to refresh a kitchen without paint or wallpaper! Small details make the biggest difference.

Here's the thing: kitchens can be hard to decorate or give personality to. Unless you have a big budget for new appliances or are ready for a full gut job, it can be tough to make the space your own.

Traditional White Kitchen with Rich Hardwood Floors — This is how the kitchen looked after I painted, before I changed anything else.

But adding some fresh decor can take a space from blah to personal in no time! (Or, in my case, a year … ha!)

When I first saw photos of the kitchen in the online listing, I wasn't excited. The layout looked odd to me, and I wasn't inspired by all the yellow.

Yellow Kitchen before updates — The original listing photos.

But since we moved in, I've come to love and appreciate this kitchen. The natural light is beautiful. The white cabinets, neutral countertops, glass-front cabinets and wood floors are all elements I love (or can work with).

I was a little sad at first that the kitchen isn't open to the living room, but I've come to love the layout. The island is wonderful for making lunches and cooking breakfast at the same time. My girls love the little counter bar by the sink, where they can play or do homework while I cook dinner.

I wasn't thrilled about another corner sink (or the oddly shaped triangle behind it), but I love that it looks out the window, lets me see the backyard, and keeps an eye on whatever is going on at the kitchen table.

When we moved into this house, I knew I wanted to make the kitchen my own. First, the yellow walls had to go.

But the kitchen connects to the hallways, stairwell and entryway, so I needed an overall neutral paint color for the refresh. (Learn how to choose a whole house color palette.)

I chose Edgecomb Gray and I love it! It was a huge improvement right away!

After that, it was just a matter of adding decor and swapping out the easy things! Let's look back at my original plan. I wanted to add texture, color, beauty and function to the space. This is the kitchen design board I started with.

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Naturally, it has shifted a bit over the YEAR it took me to make these changes. But I love that I kept the light blues, greens and brass accents.

The long timeline was partly due to my budget and indecisiveness, and partly due to slow shipping and other people's mistakes.

I've already shared my eat-in kitchen reveal, where I explain how I turned the drop zone between the door and our garage into a functional spot for the family. You can check it out here if you haven't read it yet.

7 Simple Ways to Add Personality to a Kitchen Without Gutting It!

I knew I wasn't going to rip out the appliances, paint the island or add wallpaper. So I set out to update my kitchen with simple decorating! I love how it turned out!

I'll share all the sources for my kitchen refresh, plus more before & after photos, at the end of the post!

By the way, I finally figured out what to do with the weird triangle behind the sink, and now it's one of my favorite views!

1. Lighting

Lighting is a simple way to change the whole look of a room! It isn't always cheap, but it can be affordable.

Most of the lighting in our kitchen is recessed, but the fixture over the table had seen better days. It was broken and not my style, so I bought an affordable chandelier to replace it. I love it!

Here's what was there before.

And now, the after!

Another way to think about kitchen lighting is to add lamps! I love soft lamplight in the evenings. When the kitchen is closed and cleaned for the night, I love that only the lamp is on, and it gives me all the cozy feels.

White Sink, Marble Soap Tray and Lamp Behind Sink

I struggled for months to figure out how to use the odd triangle of space behind the sink. I tried a bunch of options, but in the end I LOVE the lamp, real pothos plant and candle combination. The pretty soap & lotion dispensers on the marble tray make the everyday routine of washing our hands feel special.

2. Hardware

I love a pretty new knob. It's like jewelry for your room, and it's an easy way to update your kitchen! It isn't always budget-friendly, but it can be. There are lovely hardware options at your local hardware store or Hobby Lobby.

This was the only room in the house where the previous owner had swapped the brass hardware for polished nickel. So I changed it all back!

I love this doorknob and hope to replace all the doorknobs in the house with something similar, one at a time.

I also swapped the brushed nickel cabinet knobs for these beautiful brass mushroom-style knobs. The custom dishwasher panel got a matching pull handle too, where I hang my drying towel.

Aged brass appliance pull — This picture was taken before I changed the rug in front of the sink.

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I even ordered my Le Creuset Dutch oven with a matching brass handle.

3. Rugs

Rugs are an easy way to add comfort, texture and pattern to a space. I originally wanted a rug under the kitchen table, but my kids are still little, and the crumbs and spills are a lot.

I have a small seagrass rug in front of the sink, with a smaller rug underneath for extra cushion. These rugs get dirty quickly, but seagrass is great at hiding stains and dirt. I keep it from sliding with a little carpet tape under each corner.

I also added a runner between the stovetop and the cabinets, and it's washable!! I shared all about my Ruggable rug in this post.

Finally, I added a lovely runner to the stairs that lead into my kitchen. I love how it softens the stairs and adds another touch of style.

You'll notice I moved the mirror from my dining room into the hallway. (Sadly, it's no longer sold.) New dining room furniture meant it no longer worked there, and I needed a large piece of decor for this hallway. I LOVE how it mirrors the cutting boards, and I'm so happy with how it works here!

4. Window Treatments

Ahhh, window treatments. So often a room feels like it's missing something, and it's usually curtains, blinds, shades, or a mix of all three!

My original inspiration for the room's design board came from this beautiful Fabricut Fleur Botanical Fabric in La Mer. I knew it had to find its way into my room!

I had Martha and Ash make a custom Roman shade for the window over the kitchen sink. Their attention to detail is unmatched, and I highly recommend them for custom window treatments!

This view of the counter stools, lamp, pothos plant, scalloped frames and Roman shade is my favorite view in the kitchen.

Tap the Images Below (and the Arrows on the Right or Left to Scroll Through) to Shop This Corner of My Kitchen:

I also swapped the blinds around the eat-in kitchen area with the ones from the living room. I wasn't a fan of the hunter green ribbons on the original kitchen blinds.

Then I added bamboo Roman shades to the French doors leading from the eat-in kitchen area to the back porch.

At first I thought I might add curtains to the other windows along with the blinds, but I didn't want to lose any natural light. I really like the bare windows as they are, with the beautiful transom windows above!

5. Plants

Whether real or faux, greenery brings a space to life! I love having a real pothos plant behind my sink. It has grown so much this spring and summer, and it's easy to water right by the sink. If you think you don't have a green thumb, try a pothos!

READ: The 3 Easiest House Plants

I also love using faux plants in my home, and I've shared where to buy the best fake plants before.

If you want a peek behind the pantry door, see how I organized my pantry!

6. Art

No room feels complete without art. Whether it's a small framed piece or an oversized wall hanging, it's the finishing touch for every room. Art comes in every price range, so while a custom painting can be a special splurge, you can also find free art.

The watercolor prints in my kitchen refresh are all from a local-ish print shop called Dogwood Hill. I love their classic prints, which come in all sorts of formats, from stationery and wrapping paper to wedding invitations.

The scalloped wicker frames were a splurge, but I couldn't resist! The moment I saw them online, I knew they had to be in my kitchen. They're pretty much perfection!

7. Bar Stools

Swapping the bar stools (or counter stools, in my case) can add a fun new focal point to your space!

Riviera Counter Stools from Serena and Lily

I searched high and low for counter stools that would fit my space. I wanted backs, swivels, a high weight limit and spill-proof seats. Those are surprisingly hard to find! I even ordered a different stool and sent it back before finally choosing these Riviera Swivel Counter Stools.

I didn't want them because so many people already own them, and I wanted to be unique. But there's a good reason everyone buys these stools! They're great for families and all sizes, and they look good in almost any kitchen style.

BONUS: Custom Dishwasher Panel

One way to elevate a kitchen refresh is to swap the factory dishwasher panel for a custom one. I tend to forget this change, because I made it right after we moved in.

Custom cabinet door panel for a dishwasher — This photo was taken right after I installed it, before I changed anything else in the room.

I know this update isn't purely decorative, since it can involve replacing an appliance. I had to replace our dishwasher when we moved in because the one that came with the house didn't work, so I bought one that needed a custom panel.

As the original kitchen photo above shows, the black dishwasher stuck out like a sore thumb.

So I wasn't too sad to replace it. It's worth considering if you ever have to replace your dishwasher. For me, it was worth the extra cost to buy a custom cabinet door and have it painted to match. I shared more about the process in this post.

My Kitchen Refresh Before and Afters

Who doesn't love a before and after?! I always want to see a side-by-side comparison, so I tried to shoot from the same angles as the original listing photos. I don't have quite the wide-angle lens the photographer had, but I did my best!

Sometimes I look around and wonder how it took me so long to get this room “done.” Then I start counting everything I added and changed, and it was quite a bit of planning and work.

The bright, airy feel, with wood tones and brass accents, makes me so happy. I hope you enjoyed this kitchen refresh tour and that it inspires you to do a little refreshing of your own!

Sources for My Kitchen Refresh

I think I've covered everything in this source list, but if I missed something, feel free to e-mail me (Laura @ TheTurquoiseHome . com) or leave a comment below.

Kitchen Table – Facebook Marketplace
Kitchen Chairs
Wood Tray on Table
Chandelier over Kitchen Table
Wall Calendar
Mirror with Cubbies on Wall – older model from Target
Clock – older model from Target
Wall Hooks
Entryway Storage Bench
Storage Bench Cushion
Block Print Throw Pillow
Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant
Trash Can – It's the BEST!
Fabric Roman Shade – Fleur Botanical La Mer Fabric – custom made by Martha and Ash
Scalloped Wicker Picture Frames
Fruit Tree Art
Lamp
Paper Towel Holder
Counter Stools
Marble Queen Pothos Plant
Candle Stand
Candle
Hand Soap & Hand Lotion
Marble Tray for Soap and Lotion
Dish Soap Pump
Cabinet Knobs
Cabinet Pull
Dishwasher
Custom Dishwasher Panel
Brass Door Knob
“Pantry” Sign
Rectangular Cheese Boards
Round Pizza Paddle Board
Footed Serving Bowl
Dutch Oven with Brass Handle
Runner Rug
Small Seagrass Rug
Stair Runner
Coffee Pot
Ceramic “Cane” Planter