New looks for less

Shelf stacking

Display attractive crockery and cookware on shelving instead of hiding it away. By leaving some of the wall space free from cabinets, you’ll also create a more open feel, which is ideal in a smaller kitchen. Most kitchen companies and DIY stores offer chunky wooden shelves, which you could paint to match the kitchen or leave unfinished for a natural, rustic look. For an affordable and stylish example, go to Ikea. Its Stålig shelf is solid wood and comes in birch or oak finishes, from £15.65. Ikea also does free-standing kitchen shelves. Pictured: Harvey Jones kitchen painted in Dulux Forest Green. For more information, visit the website.

Paint the walls

It sounds obvious, but it’s surprising the difference a fresh lick of paint can make.  White is always popular but a feature wall in a bold colour makes a dramatic statement. Try Pots of Paint’s Granite Green (from £49.99 for 3 litres) or flat matt emulsion in Chawka Svart (pictured) from Beckers.

Paint cupboards

If your cabinets are in fairly good condition, you could update them by painting the doors. Plasti-Kote has a range of paints specially designed for the job. Remove the doors, take off the handles, rub with sandpaper and clean well before painting or spraying. The units above were sprayed in Cupboard Colours Soft Blue, £6.99 for 400ml. For a step-by-step guide and stockists, visit the Plasti-kote website.

Swap the handles

Changing the handles on cupboard doors and drawers is another way to add a new look. For example, swap brass knobs for stainless steel-effect square ones for a modern look, or keep things traditional with pewter knobs (pictured), £4.50 each, both from Homebase. Most DIY stores have a range to choose from, and you can buy them individually.

Hang new window dressings

Sometimes it’s just the windows that could do with sprucing up. Give them a good clean and hang a new roller or Roman blind. Try the Natural Curtain Company for the Broad Stripe blind (pictured), Hillarys or Novatec and choose colours to suit the season – fresh linens and creams would be just perfect for summer.

Revamp floorboards

If you have decent floorboards in the kitchen, why not give them a new lease of life with floorboard paint? Little Greene has floor paint in all 128 colours of its new Colours of England palette, so there’s plenty of choice with something for every scheme. This floor features Linen Wash paint, which costs £37 for 2.5 litres. Visit the website for stockists.

Etched glass

Etched glass panels are effective as part of a feature door on wall units but are usually expensive. If you currently have plain glass doors, you can get a similar look by using Brume’s etched window film. Its easy-to-apply vinyl film is cut to your own measurements and comes with fitting instructions. There’s a variety of different shapes and designs (the one pictured is C046) and prices start from £24. Visit the website for more details. It’s also ideal for an overlooked window or for jazzing up doors.

Get sticking

For a makeover in minutes, stickers are the latest trend in wall coverings. Brume sells a 60cm x 100cm blackboard panel (pictured) for £15. Visit the website for more details. It also offers a range of fun stickers such as ‘EAT’ for £15 and a spotty design for £39. Sticky Ups also has a good selection, including Papillon in Yellow for £29.99. Visit the website for more details.

Change the doors

Some companies specialise in making replacement doors for kitchen units, so if the carcass itself is still strong, you could swap the old doors and drawers for new ones. Just Doors will make them to your dimensions with prices from £45 for a 61cm wide by 76cm high door. It offers four styles – Tongue and Groove, Fielded Panel (pictured left), Plain and Flat, or Shaker – ready for you to paint. Visit the website to order.

  Splashback

Made from heat-resistant toughened glass, splashbacks go behind the hob, cooker or sink and are easier to clean than tiles. They’re also great for making an impact in a plain kitchen, especially if you opt for a coloured version like this one from Original Style, which costs £74.95 for a 60cm wide sheet. Visit the website for stockists.

More tips

Rearrange your drawers

We all have an odds-and-ends drawer, but it’s mostly full of rubbish. So turf everything out from a small, shallow drawer and lay spice jars flat with the labels upwards. You’ll be able to see everything at a glance, and avoid duplicate buying through not seeing what’s at the back of the cupboard.

Free sink makeover

Make the most of the bright, citrussy colours of washing-up liquid by pouring it into decorative glass bottles. You don’t even have to buy new ones (these had olive oil in them) – just save a pretty bottle from the recycling bin, give it a good wash and, hey presto, a striking alternative to pedestrian plastic bottles.

Install new lighting

Lighting can dramatically change the feel of a room, but its effects are often underestimated in the kitchen. Install some new lighting to inject character and charm. We love these Pendant Jelly Lights – made from reclaimed and transformed vintage jelly moulds, with small moulds as the rose and larger ones as the shade – blending an iconic kitchen classic with  retro style. £45, from Re-foundable Objects.

Add a splash of colour with kitchen cloths

Nowadays, we all live in a world where everything has been designed to within an inch of its life – and even kitchen cloths haven’t been left on the shelf (or under the sink). Add colour and fun to your kitchen with these brightly coloured (and virtually indestructible) microfibre cloths from the Sarah Smith splash of colour collection. There are tea towels, dusters, oven mitts and aprons to match, (kitchen cloths, from £3.45, from Sarah Smith).        

Brighten counters with a worktop saver

Investing in a colourful worktop saver is a great way to give work surfaces a budget makeover. We love this cheerful piggy design, made from toughened glass that’s dishwasher safe and heat-resistant up to 280°C. (£14.68, from Joseph Joseph).

Sort out your storage

Clear out any cracked crockery and out-of-date produce from your cupboards, then give your worktop a refresh with some new containers for tea, coffee and dried goods. Look out for classic designs like this smart, affordable set.of four tins. (£40 for four, from The Holding Company).