10 Signs You Need a New Kitchen

Do you need a swanky new kitchen?

It’s the heart of your home and often the hub of family life, not only do you deserve a kitchen you can be proud of – but you’re really missing out without one. So, look no further for an excuse to revamp your kitchen, here are the tell-tale signs that it’s time for a change…

1. You call it ‘shabby chic’

Fess up, you never intentionally made your kitchen look worse for wear. It just sort of happened – whether grease built up on the walls, your worktops are scuffed or years of spillages took their toll on your cupboards. Your kitchen looks worn out, because it’s taken a beating as one of the most used rooms in your home. Show it some love.

Besides, the big trend for 2017 isn’t ‘shabby chic’, but ‘industrial’ – draw inspiration from the exposed bricks and pipes in factory spaces.

2. Your splashback tiles are really retro

Birds, animals, flowers – nothing says you need to update your kitchen quite like patterned tiles. Not only are they easy for your local tiler to replace, but it’s a fun way to inject personality into your kitchen while bringing the room up to date.

Think grey, black and white tiles, if you’re after a truly contemporary update. And play around with shapes and materials. Your glass, stone or ceramic tiles could come square, rectangular or round – but no one said you have to tile them vertically or horizontally onto your splashback. Experiment with herringbone patterns, for example.

3. You take a knife to your worktop

Install a worktop you can be proud of, replacing a scuffed, chipped or scorched worktop can make all the difference to your kitchen – without costing the earth.

Your local kitchen fitter should know that speckled granite worktops fell out of fashion last year, but if you don’t want natural stone or trendy quartz, ask them to recommend affordable alternatives – like laminate.

4. You’re jealous of your friend’s kitchen

Next time your friend’s gorgeous kitchen turns your eyes green, remember that you could have one as good as theirs – and when your new kitchen is fully installed, you can invite people over without feeling embarrassed.

5. Your cupboards don’t shut

And not because they’re full to bursting, but because the hinges have given up or you hung the cupboards at an angle – that’s the price to pay for bad DIY jobs.

However, if your units are simply out of style and not out of order, you could give them a lick of high gloss paint or try staining them a darker colour. Alternatively, swap the cupboard doors for glass panels for a new look.

6. You can’t cook for clutter

Clear worktops create the illusion of a larger kitchen. So if your current storage situation is failing you, you might want to try a new kitchen layout – think cabinets, sliding doors or downsizing appliances to free up space. Two top hobs, instead of four, for example

7. Your floor isn’t level

Lumpy lino floor, wobbly floorboards or loose kitchen tiles are dangerous to say the least, especially when you’re cooking!

8. You’re struggling to get around

Are your plugs and switches in awkward places? Is your kitchen island too big, making it a tight squeeze to get around? Time to rethink your layout and install a new, carefully considered kitchen.

Your modern kitchens are typically divided into three areas, of course – for cooking, dining and sitting. Above all, ensure you have enough worktop space to prepare and store food.

9. You’re peering into gloom

Now, you could rearrange your kitchen from scratch, to maximise the natural light you have. But lightening your kitchen and changing the feel of it, can be as simple as hanging LED lights along cabinet doors or more ceiling lights such as spotlights above your appliances.

10. Your kitchen isn’t digital

Unless your oven texts you when your dinner is ready or you can work your coffee machine from bed, it seems that your kitchen is fairly out of date by modern standards. Are smart kitchens gimmicky? Perhaps, but don’t knock WiFi enabled ovens or fridges with cameras that show you what’s inside, until you’ve tried them.

Let’s not make life too difficult – call your local kitchen fitters to help you cook up a plan for your new kitchen.