New Year’s resolution: don’t spend another year in a kitchen you don’t like

The kitchen is the heart of the home and, according to Health.com, families who eat at home together enjoy a multitude of benefits, from less money spent eating out to having kids who are more likely to eat vegetables, less likely to do drugs and more motivated to do well in school. If your kitchen isn’t in working order, however, you could be missing out on those important benefits because making a home-cooked meal is more likely to end in slammed cupboards and marital strife than family harmony.

Say goodbye to that kitchen you don’t like this year with a New Year’s resolution to invest in a remodel that will turn your kitchen into a haven, rather than … the opposite. Here are some top kitchen upgrades every family thinking about renovation should consider.

Install soft-close hinges and drawer slides

Rid your kitchen of the sound of slamming cupboards with soft-close hinges. Pick them up from any hardware store and install them yourself or hire a professional who can pick the right hinge for your cupboard and the right soft-closing slide for your drawer. These pieces of hardware work on a hydraulic system that catches the hinge or slide as it closes and eases it silently shut for you. This also protects little fingers that might otherwise be caught in a quickly closing cabinet or drawer.

Paint or replace cabinets

For a quick, superficial face-lift on cabinets that still have life in them but are starting to look worn, paint your cabinets and immediately brighten your kitchen. A light color is often the best choice, as it will reflect light to add warmth to your space and make the room appear bigger.

If, however, your cabinets have outlived their usefulness and a new hinge or splash of paint can’t revive them, investing in new, well-built cabinets can save a lot of headache in the long run. The cost difference between repainting and replacing makes the replacement option sometimes more desirable considering the labor-intensive work it takes.

When you shop for cabinets, Starmark Cabinetry suggests looking for cabinets made with real wood, rather than particleboard, as these will hold up best over time. Check cabinet joints to be sure they’re held together with more than staples and glue and look for cabinets that are fully enclosed on the bottom to protect cabinet interiors from rodents, dust and bugs. Look for cupboards with adjustable shelving, as well, to take advantage of greater flexibility in your cupboard space.

A good rule of thumb that never goes out of style: You get what you pay for. If you want cabinets that last, consider what you spend on them an investment in a hassle-free future. Find a design consultant to give good recommendations and advice on the best route for your kitchen.

Change up light sources

The type and color of your lighting fixtures will greatly affect how you perceive your kitchen. A dimly lit kitchen with old or dirty fixtures will never compare with a kitchen with updated lighting, not to mention the savings you’ll discover when installing updated bulbs.

Today’s lighting trends offer a variety of styles to choose from, including drum lighting, lanterns, globe or crystal chandeliers, or multiple small pendants hung over the island.

Update your countertops

Like your cabinets, your countertops serve as a major focal point for your kitchen space. They serve both functional and artistic purposes.

“Replacing your outdated countertop can enhance the overall beauty of the space,” according to TraVek, Inc., a Scottsdale-based remodeling business.

The most popular finish for new countertops continues to be quartz, an alternative to granite that is less expensive and made even more attractive by being nonporous, meaning it is stain-resistant and one of the most hygienic countertops on the market.

When you’re ready to fulfill your kitchen renovation New Year’s resolution, you’ll want contractors you can trust. Contact TraVek, Inc., to schedule a free in-home consultation where experienced contractors can help make your vision a reality.