Spring cleaning means more than just dusting the cobwebs in our household. Part of spring cleaning is Marie Kondo-ing every room in the house. Sure, it’s an exhausting job, so I treat myself to a special treat at the end of this brutal time: I give each room one uplift. I know it’s not a traditional Kondo step, but it is my backswing of thinking how I can spruce up each cleaned-out room? If you read my 25 Best Rustic Cabin Ideas on Amazon listicle, you know I am all about delivering WOW on a tiny budget. In that spirit, today we are talking cabin kitchen.
So, here are some game-changing tips on how to give your cabin kitchen a pick-me-up without breaking the bank or cluttering your cabin.
For the Cabin Kitchen Facelift:
1. Paint
It is obvious, but freshening up your cabinetry with paint is one of the most budget-friendly ways to deliver a WOW impact! Especially if you are going with the current trend of white cabinets (which maximize your space) or choose a flashy color.
- Select your color scheme based on what will complement your cabin’s wood grain/walls. (You know I love swatches from Home Depot.)
- Pics, or it didn’t happen! Before and after pics help you enjoy your work.
- Timing: make sure you aren’t expecting foot traffic from visitors or kiddos. Give yourself (and your home) time to air out.
- Remove and label all cabinet doors clearly to accelerate the process and keep it stress-free.
- Scrub down your cabinets before starting the process. I like to use Dawn dishsoap that I get in bulk from Amazon or big box stores. Clean, clean, clean to make sure there is nothing that will get stuck to the paint! Get them slick and dust-free.
- Use a fast-drying primer like this one. (Two coats go a long way.)
- Sand or scrub between coats. Again, this is keeping your cabinets clean and slick.
- Use a mini roller before brushing the trim with a traditional paintbrush. This time-saver will maintain the overall look. Check out this paint tools set if you don’t want to drive back and forth to order what you need.
2. New Lighting
This can be anything from hard to put your finger on what is different to splashy new lighting fixtures that become the center of your cabin kitchen. Whether you are going the stealth route with perhaps modernizing your lighting or getting dramatic lighting fixtures, change the tone of your cabin kitchen.
Remember: it is ALWAYS worth the cost to hire a professional electrician instead of winging it. Be safe, friends.
3. Furniture Juggle
For the low cost of FREE, do the most straightforward way of transforming a space without adding a single thing – a classic furniture juggle! Can you swap stools from somewhere else in the house? What is your dining room furniture vs. your kitchen pieces? What if you moved the table to the other side of the room? Is there a better spot for your coffee maker? Get playful! You may be surprised!
4. New Sink
Replacing your old sink with a premium modern look is an exciting, eye-catching change! No need to remodel everything when replacing what you are working with with a deep copper tub sink will shift the room’s entire mood while being remarkably utilitarian.
Budget-friendly option: try a sleek new sink fixture to your liking instead. Still a notable change from a useful cabin kitchen piece.
5. Surface Inspection
Let me break this one down: what are the items that are regularly on your kitchen countertops? Should each piece be there? Yes, this is part of the Marie Kondo step. Here is where it fits in with the backswing – what if you are looking at a critical or daily component that is just a little too tired for your liking?
For some reason, my family is hard on soap dispensers. Plus, I like to switch these around when I play with different color schemes or for holidays. (I can’t resist a Christmas-themed anything!)
To Make You Cabin Kitchen Cozier:
6. Create a Breakfast Nook
Make a bench, or purchase a corner bench like this one, to create a functional little space. If you cook as much as I do, it’s nice to create another cozy spot for your friends to gab with you or your kiddos to do their homework. Don’t forget plushy cushions and blankets! And speaking of plushy…
7. New Stool Cushions
Don’t buy a new stool when you can save a caboodle by giving yours life. Whether square and neutral or a fun style piece, try cushions to liven up your cabin kitchen. Also, bonus points if you select memory foam to treat yourself. As my grandma always said, take care of your tushy!
8. Place Settings
Nothing gives a fresh face like these little touches that are budget-friendly for your cabin kitchen! I tend to keep my placemats out as a time-saver, but this time of year is a nice reminder of whether I want to swap things around or try something fresh and new! I’m digging the look of these indoor and outdoor friendly place mats that feel summery and fresh to add into my rotation for less than $20 – proving that cabin kitchen ideas don’t have to break the bank.
9. Window Sill Herbs
I am all about functional and natural, so this one makes me so happy. Steak needs rosemary, my salad dressing needs mint, and basil is a pasta sauce MUST for me. I can never get enough herbs, so cheering my window sills with these little happy reminders are as simple and fragrant as my next little tip…
10. Get Fresh with a Flower Focus Cabin Kitchen
Use the season! Pull out your vase (or pick a couple up at your local thrift shop) and make little bouquets for yourself! Bonus points if you also support your local farmers’ markets and farm stands every once in a while with bouquet treats to brighten your morning, afternoon, and evening.
No plans to vase? The mason jar motif is a classic for a reason, y’all. Keep it functional in your cabin kitchen.
To Up Your Cabin Kitchen Cooking Game:
11. Pots and Pans Hanger
I have recommended it before, and I will recommend it again! My pots and pans hanger adds style and functionality that changed the tone of my cabin kitchen effortlessly. (High five if you recognize this recommendation from my 25 Best Rustic Cabin Ideas on Amazon story.) So, get thee a pots and pans hanger!
12. Kitchen Gadget Hanger
Depending on the location of your stove, this nifty little tool that just came into my life has made things significantly simpler! I seem to keep getting new ladles or wooden spoons to hang and nowhere to use them neatly. Thankful for this little find on Amazon.
13. Creatively Cast Iron
You may have exchanged iron gifts for anyone blessed to have celebrated their sixth anniversary. And if your partner is as obsessed with cast iron cookware as mine is, you might have gotten creative. Homey and enticing, or cast iron cookware, keep our cabin kitchen inviting.
What if you already have all the standard pieces of a skillet and a dutch oven? Try this cast iron casserole dish by Lodge. You can never have enough casserole dishes, and we use ours to make Detroit-style pizzas and finish dishes like baked pasta and potatoes au gratin or fruit cobblers for dessert. Holler at me if you see a recipe in there you want me to share!
Need another suggestion? How about this Lodge carbon steel pan that is great for griddling up breakfast for your own circus? Treat this pan like your skillets, and this beauty will sing for you!
14. Color Pop in Your Cabin Kitchen With a Tea Kettle
This gorgeous Kate Spade tea kettle was a wedding present that has kept me in turquoise kitchens, and I absolutely adore it! Using a piece like your tea kettle as inspiration, add complimentary towels, floor mats, rugs, and pillow fixtures to refresh your cabin kitchen subtly.
15. Go Thrifting For Your Cabin Kitchen Upgrade!
Get your inspiration for little touches in a budget-friendly way by going thrift shopping. You may find an incredible new dining set, funky sugar, and flour canisters, or spot an incredible new fruit bowl to add a fresh and inviting display in your own cabin kitchen. All of my platters come from thrift stores because it is an easy place to save pennies when so many people donate them in their spring cleaning sessions.
Environmentally friendly and a fun day out, take inspiration where you might find everything from a new pot to a wicker rocking chair that will fit just right in your sanctum.
Full renovations cost more than we want to spend. Keep these little tips in mind to jog your creativity if you are looking for a budget-friendly way to spruce up your cabin kitchen all summer long. Happy cabin life, y’all!
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