In this day and age, the kitchen has become the focal point of the home. Prospective buyers want to imagine themselves gathered around a massive island with their friends and family telling stories of the good old days. However, that is much easier said than done. A kitchen remodel can easily reach upwards of $60,000 and honestly, the sky is the limit. So we have come up with some ways for you to make your kitchen seem more expensive and luxurious without killing your bank account.

It’s All About Color

Choose a luxurious color palette and play around with textures. Look at the branding colors of luxury designers, they are mostly lightly muted and off the primary color. Things like charcoal, cream, and champagne versus a harsh black, white, silver, or gold.

As for texture, you will want to vary the complexity of the texture. Make the design more layered and high-end. Choose 2 or 3 very close colors and play with texture instead. Think white, cream, and very light beige as your colors, and then create visual interest by incorporating lots of texture in the room as your accent.

New Hardware

if new cabinets aren’t in the cards, take your kitchen from outdated to outstanding with new hardware. Replace all door pulls, handles, and even hinges with fancy pieces in unexpected hues. Just make sure to choose pieces that fit the holes in your cabinets, since traditional spackle or caulk can shrink. Don’t be afraid to mix metals, even if your sink or lighting is chrome, your hardware can still go brass.

Paint or Glass Cabinets

When it comes to old cabinets a good coat of paint can do wonders. A good paint to use is Ace Hardware’s Cabinet, Door & Trim Paint, a semi-gloss alkyd enamel paint that promises a smooth finish. It is also fairly easy to cut out the front of existing cabinets and put in glass for an open, modern look.

Update The Light Fixtures

Even if you don’t have the budget to change out some of the bigger architectural features updating your fixtures can be a big change. When in doubt, go with a globe fixture with polished nickel or brass details to keep it simple but chic.  Don’t forget about task lighting, particularly under-cabinet lights. Battery-powered LED lights are inexpensive and couldn’t be easier to install. Position them under cabinets in areas where you typically spend most of your time.

Recast the Backsplash

After cabinets, a backsplash makes the biggest statement in a kitchen. This is one place you want to splurge. It is a great place to showcase your personal style and taste. If your on a budget, reinvigorate your backsplash without mortar by using a simpler, adhesive-based product like SimpleMat.

Upgrade Your View

Window appliques are a great fake way to view outside a kitchen window. These also add visual interest if the area isn’t conducive to traditional window treatments. Another great trick is to hang ferns and flowers outside your windows to give the illusion of lush, verdant space.

Paint the Countertops

Innovative new products from companies like Giani Granite and Rust-Oleum let you paint your old wood or laminate countertops if a granite slab in not in the budget. You can go for a textured imitation stone or keep it simple with a simple color.

Incorporate Fruit

Bring life into the kitchen with a driftwood bowl filled with bright fruit and vegetables. They can usually sit for about two weeks, which is much longer than the lifespan of flowers. Fake fruit is fine, however, designers prefer the real thing. If you’re staging your home to sell consider adding fruit to your kitchen to give it an attractively livable feel.

Add Fragrance

Stop burning cheap candles, they are toxic and smell cheap. If you are spending $20 a month on candles that are $240 a year. Purchase a lightly scented luxury culti-diffuser instead, and get a couple of flameless candles. Your space will smell more expensive, elegant, and subtle. The diffuser uses perfume-grade oils, gives off more understated scent than traditional candles, and lasts an entire year.