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The kitchen is the heart of most homes. That means it’s really worth making the effort to keep it looking and smelling good. If you want to make significant changes, then you’ll probably want the help of a professional kitchen remodeler. There are, however, plenty of budget-friendly ways to put spring into your kitchen. Here are some tips.
Give your kitchen a thorough clean
If there’s one season for cleaning, it’s spring, especially in kitchens. The weather is warm enough to get the doors and windows open (if you choose the right day). It is, however, still too cool for you to be troubled by summer bugs. This means you can literally get a breath of spring-fresh air into your kitchen while you do a standard deep clean.
Declutter and reorganize
Decluttering is a task most people need to do regularly. It’s particularly important in spring. You want to get rid of all the remnants of the festive season. If you’re not going to use it again, pass it on. If you are going to use it again, next year, move it into proper storage.
Just switching out your winter essentials for your spring essentials can be enough to make a kitchen feel fresher. It can also make your workflow easier.
Bring in some fresh scents
If you have space, then you can bring in some fresh plants. Herbs are the obvious choice, but you can bring in any robust plant. If you’re not green-fingered but still want greenery, succulents and air plants are virtually indestructible.
Plants with lemon and menthol scents can help to deter bugs and other pests (like mice). Keep in mind, however, that this will only work as long as you avoid encouraging them in other ways. For example, you need to be really strict about cleaning away all food spills quickly, especially sugary ones.
If you can’t have real plants, then find other ways to bring in the scents. If you have pets or young children, then you need to be careful with essential oils. You can, however, use scented cleaning products and regular air fresheners.
Refresh your fridge
Fridges (and freezers) can be real eyesores but they don’t have to be. There are lots of ways to decorate them. By far the easiest option is to use fridge stickers. These attach like regular stickers and stand up to everyday activities. For example, you can go ahead and clean the outside of your fridge with them on. When you’re ready to remove them, just add heat, e.g. with a hairdryer.
There are all kinds of fun designs to choose from. There are also practical options. For example, you could put a proper calendar on your fridge to help keep you organized. Alternatively, you could put up stickers with space to write notes and lists (e.g. shopping lists).
If you’re up for more of a challenge, you can cover your fridge with contact paper/peel-and-stick wallpaper. If you’ve done wallpapering before, you’ll probably find this really easy. If you haven’t, then it could be a good way to learn the basics. Choose a fairly random pattern so you can get away without it lining up perfectly.
You can also get paints for fridges. Painting a fridge is a really big job so you need to be ready to commit. If, however, you’re really up for ringing in the changes, it can make a stunning impact.
Update your textiles
It’s generally impractical to have carpet in a kitchen. Modern rugs, by contrast, will often do just fine. The key point is to choose one you can safely wash regularly. Also, be sure to use plenty of carpet tape so that it stays put firmly.
Spring might seem like an odd time to think about rugs. Actually, it’s the perfect time to put one in your kitchen. Nobody’s going to be trampling winter debris all over it. They are, however, very likely to be wandering around in their bare feet (or light shoes) and appreciate a bit of coziness under their toes.
If you’re not up for splashing out on a rug, then just update your regular textiles like your dishcloths. Feel free to get creative with this. For example, if you spot a really nice tea cloth, think about putting it on your wall (or one of your kitchen cabinets).
Add a few new recipe books
Even if you find all your recipes on the internet, recipe books still make a lovely addition to any kitchen. Plus they can always give you some inspiration. Make sure the ones on display are spring-appropriate.