The old saying goes that the kitchen is the heart of the home.

Considering many of us have spent more time at home this year than ever before, our kitchens have probably been well used and well lived in. Over the past few months we may have had our eyes opened to the need for a stunning kitchen update.

Now, there are countless things you can do to radically improve your kitchen space. But here are just a few suggestions that can make a truly profound difference.

Carry Out Necessary Repairs

The first area of your kitchen you need to tackle is any necessary repair work. Kitchens are well used spaces and, as a result, tend to go through a little more wear and tear than other rooms in your home.

Now, many of us will choose to ignore minor repairs that need to be carried out in the kitchen until they render a certain aspect of the space unusable or until they pose a threat to expensive appliances. Leaky taps, for example, will often be ignored until the point that a pipe bursts or the tap is flooding the kitchen.

Instead, it’s best to do a full survey of your kitchen, note down any repairs – even the smallest of repairs – and ensure that they’re dealt with as soon as possible. Not only will this prevent further damage from happening, which can result in major issues that are costly to repair, but it can make the space a lot nicer to spend time in too!

Carry Out a Deep Clean

Next, you should consider carrying out a deep clean. All of us are well aware of just how much work is required to keep a kitchen clean, hygienic and in good condition. These tasks tend to be pretty routine, whether that’s doing the dishes, wiping down worksurfaces, cleaning the hob or anything else.

But there are more in depth jobs that need to be tackled every once in a while too. People tend to ignore them because they require a little more effort than mopping the floor or running a duster around. But they are just as important!

Clean the inside of your oven carefully. Clean the inside of your microwave. And clean in your cupboards and drawers. Simple steps make all the difference!

Replace Your Countertops

Next, you may want to consider some more significant changes. Where shall we start? Your countertops! Now, countertops tend to receive relatively little attention in kitchen spaces. They’re taken for granted. But when you look at any kitchen, you’ll notice that the countertops form a huge percentage of the space and surface area of the room.

If your countertops are old and battered, it may be time to consider replacing them. Sure, this may feel costly. But when you think of just how long countertops generally last, and just how much use you will get out of them, you’ll realize that it’s an investment well worth making.

Here are a few popular options that you might want to try out:

Glass

Now, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have all of your kitchen countertops made out of glass and glass alone. But you may want to consider having an area covered with glass. These types of tables and countertops can be greatly appealing, adding an extra modern touch to the space.

Granite

Granite countertops is one of the most popular countertop materials. You’ll notice them in many kitchens of all different designs. Not only do they look great, but they’re hardy and durable too. Bound to stand the test of time, you can rest assured that this is a solid long term investment.

Quartz

Another popular choice for kitchen countertops is quartz. Now, quartz is a high-end material of choice, so you may need to prepare to fork out a fair amount to secure a quartz countertops. But if you’re looking to make a real statement, this material is classy, sophisticated and will tick all of your boxes. It’s often considered a higher-end alternative to granite.

While granite makes a great surface, it is a porous rock, which means liquids like water, wine, or oils can seep into it if it isn’t sealed properly. Quartz, however, is non porous. This means you don’t have to have it sealed and it will still easily wipe down.

Add Shelves

All kitchens should have plenty of storage. Why? Well, most of us have a whole lot to store in them. Whether that’s pots, pans, ingredients, spices, tinned goods, electrical appliances, handheld appliances, cutlery or anything else.

If you don’t have much storage in your kitchen and aren’t willing to undergo significant renovation work, consider shelves. Having shelves fitted will ensure that you have a whole lot more storage without encroaching on your workspace.

You should be using your countertops to chop food, weigh out your ingredients, prepare meals or even serve up meals. They shouldn’t be a storage space that ends up cluttered and overwhelming. Now, when it comes to fitting shelves, it’s generally best to use a professional. They’ll be able to ensure that any shelves that are put up are securely fitted and will be able to recommend what weight can be placed on them without them breaking.

Add a Few Houseplants

Now, you don’t need houseplants in a kitchen. But they can bring a touch of nature to this otherwise indoor space. They can add color. They can also help to purify the air, drawing in toxins and pollutants. Just make sure that your plants aren’t placed anywhere where they could catch flame, or where their pollen or leaves and flowers could fall into your food.

Popular choices of plant for kitchens include: Madagascar Jasmine, Winter Jasmine, African Spear, Goldfish Plant, Calamondin Orange, Purple Rubber Tree Plant, and Heartleaf Philodendron.

As you can see, sprucing up your kitchen can prove pretty simple if you go about it the right way. Hopefully, some of the above suggestions will appeal to you and you can try them out in your own space!