Home décor and design trends come and go from one year to the next. It’s a challenge to keep up with them, especially when you’re considering selling your home. You want to appeal to the broadest audience possible but the audience (the homebuyer) is fickle.
Which is why we trust builders and designers to give us the straight scoop on what home features are most in demand right now.
Since the kitchen is one of the more popular rooms among buyers, we decided to break down some of the trends to help you get yours in shape so that the home will sell quickly and for top dollar.
Decide on a color scheme for your kitchen
Designers are rejoicing over the death of the all-white kitchen, calling it too “sterile.” Kevin Isbell, owner of Kevin Isbell Interiors tells Lucia Tonelli of MSN.com that he sees more clients moving “… towards more personality and color in their homes,” and that includes the kitchen.
From wall color to the color of your kitchen cabinets, it’s time to get creative.
And, since the cabinets are the focal point of the kitchen, it’s a good idea to start the color selection there. Some of the most in-demand cabinet colors, at least according to designers, include:
- Dark blue
- Deep green
- Charcoal
“We’re seeing a move toward colors that are darker and moodier, but also grounded in nature,” Sherwin William’s Sue Waddin tells Monique Valeris at Elle.com.
When choosing a color scheme, take a tip from designers. “… the way designers incorporate color follows a certain pattern. Big colors in small quantities, with small colors as the base,” according to Scott Hochuli at DesignAndRemodelingTeam.com.
Hochuli goes on to explain that you’ll need to coordinate the color of your cabinets with your countertops.
“For example,” he says, “if you are looking to install Calacatta [sic] marble countertops with those amazing veins of gold running through, you will need cabinetry that coordinates with gold. Navy blue or even black might be the perfect hue to provide a balance against that pale warmth.
Shop for new hardware (drawers and pulls) to go with your newly-painted cabinets to pull it all together.
Painting your cabinets is time consuming, but it adds an instant update to a dated kitchen. For tips to get you started, check out Lowe’s video at YouTube.com.
How are those countertops?
Nothing dates a kitchen more than old countertops.
Countertops, however, are homebuyer bait so if you can afford to replace them, check out the latest trends.
“Granite countertops are a thing of the past,” designer Lonni Paul tells ElleDecor.com’s Lucia Tonelli and Kelley Carter.
Quartz is the new granite, “… because of its durability and ease of maintenance,” according to Paul.
For the budget-minded, consider faux marble countertops, “porcelains and man-made materials,” according to designer Hilary Matt.
While faux marble countertops are listed as “in” on Elle Décor’s 2020 list, real marble countertops are “out.”
“No one wants to worry about staining or etching which is inevitable,” Matt said. “There are many fake marbles on the market that look so real that no one would ever know it’s a reproduction.”
New countertops can get pricey but changing yours isn’t out of the question if you’re on a budget.
Check out Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations for a DIY solution. Reviewers claim that although it’s time consuming, the process is quite easy. Check out this YouTube walk-through.
Sure, you won’t end up with a natural stone countertop, but the solution is ideal for the low-to-mid priced home.
Consider replacing that above-the-range microwave oven
It’s convenient to have the microwave over the range; you’ll get no argument from us on that. But consider this:
“Why would you want to install a microwave in a space that is one of the main focal points in your kitchen? Find a space for your microwave that is tucked away, but still accessible,” designer Darla Bankston suggests to the folks at ElleDecor.com.
Homebuyers are craving the aesthetics of decorative range hoods, according to builders and designers. It’s the perfect replacement for that not-so-attractive microwave oven.
Take a trip to the local big box home improvement stores to see the various styles and finishes. Best of all, they come in a range of prices (we saw one at Home Depot for only $138).
Homeowners on a budget may want to read the Wirecutter reviews at NYTimes.com. And you’ll find tips on how to shop for a range hood at ApartmentTherapy.com.
Remember, the kitchen is the most important room in the home to most homebuyers. Even on a tight budget you can whip yours into shape and get it on the market.
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