10 Clever Ways to Make Your Old Kitchen Feel New Again

White kitchens are often in need of a little energy boost. And for that there is fabric. Good-quality, fade-resistant textiles can really set your space apart from the herd. This is exactly what Shauna Beltramo, the blogger behind The House of Silver Lining, did in a vacation cottage using punchy roman blinds. The fabric was sourced from Toronto’s designer hotspot Tonic Living.

A bold backsplash is a foolproof way to give your tired cooking quarters new life. With its graphic punch and colour, this resplendent teal tile eclipses everything else in the space.

Carpet in the kitchen? Yes, yes and yes. It’s the perfect accessory to spruce up a cooking space. This runner lends cozy character and helps break up the room’s white palette.

Is your kitchen too crowded? Add storage by opting for an island on wheels. Have fun styling it with jars, cookbooks, baskets and fruit. This stylish piece from Lowe’s (find it here!) has industrial edge thanks to casters wrapped in rubber, powder-coated steel shelves and matching hardware.

Wake up boring kitchen walls with a unique piece of art. This mesmerizing limited-edition typography print (called “Roast Chicken”) is especially fitting. Designed by Brooklyn-based artist Elliot Stokes, you can buy it through Minted (the art lovers’ go-to) here.

An everything-in-its-place zone comes together with simple shelving from IKEA. Installing functional shelves like these units (complete with a towel bar and attachments) is an easy way to free up cupboard space. Plus, putting together the vignette is totally fun – display homemade cookies, attractive mugs and stylish utensils.

You could have zero DIY skills and still complete this wallpaper project in a few hours. Ok, you do need a steady hand and a friend to help out – but the payoff is so worth it. The removable geometric wallpaper is made-to-order, and will amp up any space. Bonus: it’s made of water-based inks and is PVC-free, which means no toxic off-gassing. Find it here!

Switch up the pendants above your kitchen island or dining table for a flashy new feel (keeping in mind you’ll have to call in an electrician or a handyman). It’s a relatively painless way to change the space’s vibe without having to take on a full-scale reno. These eye-catching Allen and Roth glass-jar fixtures from Lowe’s look amazing in clusters.

Swapping out tired old knobs for updated hardware can truly make a difference, so go for the highest quality you can afford. These copper beauties are from Forge Hardware Studio. The retailer ships worldwide, and their lucite and gold pulls are also pretty fantastic.

Dark wood often dates a kitchen. The simple solution? Paint. And yes, it’s okay to paint over perfectly good wood.