In many Australian households, the kitchen is considered the heart of the home. After all, this is a place where you spend time preparing meals, and eating and drinking. In that sense, the kitchen provides the perfect alone time for some people and the ideal family time for others.

In this guest post, Mike Johnston looks at why it’s so important to get your kitchen to look exactly how you want it while keeping it as functional and comfortable as possible.

Everything is in the planning

Since your goal is to transform your kitchen into a dreamy place for you (and possibly your family) on a budget, it’s essential that you give some serious thought to the planning aspect.

For starters, you need to calculate your budget properly, and this may take some time. You want to see just how much money you make and spend on a monthly basis so that you can see where and how you can save for your kitchen remodel.

You also need to decide which points of your current kitchen need to be changed.

Planning out these two aspects will allow you to proceed with your project effectively, safely and frugally.

The issue of storage

Most people find that their biggest issue in the kitchen is the lack of storage space.

And sometimes, unfortunately, declutter doesn’t help, especially if all you have are essentials without their designated space.

But, there’s always a way to organise your kitchen without throwing things away. The key is in installing open shelving and maximizing the space. These are all the projects that you could DIY in order to stick to your budget.

And don’t hesitate to use little storage hacks as well. For instance, you can nail or glue jar lids to the bottom of the shelves so that you can easily attach your jars filled with spice, tea, etc. without actually taking up more space. The same can be done for hanging kitchen utensils.

Don’t fear the pop of colour

There are many ways to refresh the look of your kitchen and make it feel more modern, but one of the easiest and most cost-effective definitely involves the pop of colour. While your main colour scheme should stay natural, adding a vibrant shade where possible will lift up the whole room atmosphere and help you keep up with the popular Aussie décor trends.

Obviously, this is also a project that you could do on your own. You may want to repaint your kitchen cabinets and shelves or you may be interested in playing with replacing a few random wall tiles for ones that are more colourful.

One of the simplest things you could do is to place a cover featuring bold colours over your countertops or maybe create a backsplash with bright self-adhesive vinyl wallpaper.

Make sure everything works

Aside from adding more storage and a pop of colour, it’s paramount that the plumbing and the wiring are in proper working order. No kitchen can be dreamy if this aspect is poorly handled and neglected.

You may want to consider a thorough inspection, before you start doing other work just to be on the safe side. Luckily, it’s possible to repair pipes using the efficient pipe relining technique without the need to demolish anything. So, even if you do have a plumbing issue, you won’t have to spend more money on extra repairs.

Lighting makes all the difference

Lighting solutions will always be a huge part of a proper and effective remodel when it comes to any room in one’s home, and especially the kitchen. If you can’t see well in the kitchen, it won’t feel warm, cozy or inviting – nothing like the heart of the home. That said, aside from accent lighting that should fit your preferred décor style and taste, you have to install effective task lighting as well. If you’re interested in a cost-effective solution, LED light strips may be the perfect option for you.

Remember that there’s no need to rush things; you’re allowed to take things at your own pace. What’s more, this will definitely make the end result a lot more satisfying and successful. In that respect, deal with one issue at the time and don’t hesitate to always strive for your own ideal solution.

About the author: Mike Johnston is a home improvement blogger and DIY enthusiast. He is a regular writer at Smooth Decorator and contributor on several lifestyle, real estate and eco-friendly blogs. Mike’s goal is to create and share meaningful content that helps and inspires people.