14 Top Kitchen Ideas That are Timeless & Increase the Value of Your Hom

Since most of us spend a good portion of our time in our kitchens, which means it should be a place that's comfortable and where you can create your best dishes.

Yes, so many hours are spent in the kitchen from preparing and eating breakfast to family dinners and holiday celebrations; the kitchen is surely the heart of the home and should be a modern kitchen.

But is your kitchen outdated? Are your countertops bruised and battered? Has the kitchen overall seen better days? Are the cupboards the old-fashioned brown fabricated wood from the 1980s?

It may be time for an update.

The two primary reasons that people choose to remodel their kitchens are to update an outdated design and to create a more functional space.

Many people may own a home and initially feel satisfied with their kitchen, then a couple of decades later decide that it no longer suits their style or meets their family's needs. But this can be remedied, so don't fret.

Add Value

When opting for a modern kitchen to replace the outdated one, think about creating a space that better serves your family and makes life simpler. Even if you plan to sell your home to potential buyers in a few years, a kitchen renovation can help maximize its value.

In most housing markets, you will not get back everything that you paid for a kitchen remodel, regardless of the size of the project or home. The best way to increase its value is to maintain it with updates and complete home repairs.

But if your home is older or you are ready to update the kitchen a remodel is one of the best ways to make your home more modern.

According to "Remodeling Magazine’s 2020 Cost vs. Value Report," kitchen remodeling does have a better than average rate of return. Although it's dependent on the size of the kitchen improvement project, you’ll probably get back 60% to 80% of what you shelled out.

Minor kitchen remodels have the best rate of return (generally around 80%) and from 2017-2020 the project consistently ranked in the top 5 home improvement projects for best investment and return value.

Your kitchen’s return on investment depends on the location, condition, and selling price of your home. Most kitchen remodeling projects begin at around $10,000 and increase in price up to several hundreds of thousands.

According to "HomeGuide," the average kitchen remodeling cost is between $12,800–$21,200 at a range of $100-$250 per square foot. The price of kitchen remodeling and the value that results from those changes is unique to every kitchen design project, but there are a few ways to get the most value for your money.

Start by touching up damaged paint, replacing worn fixtures, filling gaps in tile grout, and tackling any other small repairs that could keep away buyers when and if you decide to sell the home in the future. 

Source: kdcfairfax.com

Minor, Mid, or Major Updates

Minor Remodel

With a minor modern kitchen remodel, the focus is on updating older aspects and creating a new face for the kitchen for minimal cost.

From painting and replacing hardware to new appliances or lights, significant updates should bring new life into the space without high costs. Here's the list to create a dream kitchen:

Update the paint color scheme.

Swap out cabinet hardware.

Install new light fixtures.

Maintain current kitchen footprint.

Newer matching appliances.

Midrange Remodel

Swap out older fixtures and appliances. Typical price range costs are from $25,000–$65,000.

A mid-range dream kitchen remodels often consists of updating cabinets, countertops, and outdated kitchen appliances. A smaller kitchen can install higher-end modern fixtures for this price range. Here's the target list:

Install new cabinets.

Create a kitchen island.

Install backsplash.

New light fixtures.

Install vinyl or tile flooring.

Upscale Remodel

A complete kitchen remodel can cost from $65,000–$120,000+.

For an upscale remodel this is the time to create your dream remodeling. Some remodels include a full kitchen gutting and remodeling, while others opt for a few luxury items for a true dream kitchen. Here's the target list:

New cabinets.

Updated countertops.

New hardwood, tile, and slate.

Altered floors.

Replace plumbing, and design work.

Much More

Here are 14 more top kitchen ideas that are timeless & increase the value of your home:

1. Replace Countertops

Anyone planning to remodel their kitchen with kitchen updates is aware there are many different countertop options to choose from; however, the top three materials are quartz, granite, and marble.

Quartz: For cleanliness, ease of use, and durability, quartz is a natural and timeless choice.

Quartz countertops require less upkeep than other stones but typically leave you with only variations on white stone countertops.

Granite: For stone details and colors, opt for granite countertops. Granite offers deep hues and tones for a rich color that many homeowners want for their kitchens.

Marble: For luxury and that one-of-a-kind aesthetic that marble is known for, select marble countertops for an updated kitchen and another timeless choice.

Keep this in mind and follow his rule of thumb methodology:

Quartz is the most durable, and popular countertop choice.

Granite has middle durability, with lots of color and style options.

Marble is the softest stone of the three and is prone to scratching. 

2. Open Kitchen Layouts

Closed-off kitchens are so yesterday, and they aren't likely to come back. An open kitchen layout lets you cook, entertain, serve guests, and combine living and dining spaces.

An open kitchen is more functional for most homes, but it also helps the kitchen and living space feel larger, even if they maintain the same footprint as before opening the divide between the two rooms.

3. Tear Down Walls

Do away with any non-load-bearing walls to open up the kitchen and create a more inviting environment. If you have a wall that can't be taken down, consider removing a half wall or creating a half-cut out or window through to the kitchen.

4. Integrated Appliances

These let you create a kitchen design where appliances can function as stylish statement pieces or simply merge into surrounding cabinets or countertops.

5. Single-Level Kitchen Islands

Modern kitchens often feature updated kitchen islands with one level for bar seating, additional space for food prep, a sink, and sometimes adding cabinets for additional storage.

A single-level island makes the kitchen feel more blended and the island feels integrated into the space, versus making it an afterthought. 

6. Get Assistance

If you're not a DIY'er work with a designer or remodeler to make sure the kitchen is large enough to add an island and the changes you seek. Some spaces can feel more cramped when you have to walk around an island or when an island cuts off needed space.

7. Integrated Appliances

Clean lines and hidden everyday elements are features of the modern kitchen, and integrated appliances can make your kitchen look larger and function better.

With clever panels and built-in nooks for appliances, modern kitchens can easily integrate appliances to stay flush with cabinets and countertops, offering more space in the kitchen as well as sleek design lines

8. LED Lighting

LED lighting helps with energy consumption and the overall appearance of the design. These adaptive lights are not only timeless kitchen design ideas but they can also brighten up your kitchen space at a fraction of the energy cost of traditional lighting.

Newer LED lights are more efficient and longer-lasting than traditional halogen and fluorescent light bulbs.

LED lights can be put into the ceiling, hang down as pendant lights, and serve as under cabinet lighting or ambient island light for illuminating the kitchen during the night hours.

9. White Kitchens

A white kitchen with white walls, and white kitchen cabinetry is a classic design that can accommodate a wide range of appliance choices and fit well into any home.

Using bold colors in the kitchen can enhance its style and your enjoyment of the space, but they are better expressed through temporary furnishings and other architectural details –such as small appliances, curtains, towels, cushions, and other small touches.

A range of neutrals or white colors on cabinets, appliances, walls, and other permanent kitchen features can help the kitchen stay timeless in the coming decades.

While some might think a white kitchen is dull, think of it as one that is clean and never goes out of style, accommodates any design, and offers tons of possibilities.

White cabinets are a timeless, classic design element that goes with different types of countertop colors and materials, floor types, and other design elements. Add your personality with different cabinet pulls or knobs and integrate other touches of white in the kitchen to pull the overall design together.

10. Open Cabinets/ Shelves

A slight imbalance of upper to lower cabinets is common in kitchen design and can improve the design of the space.

More open space near the top of the kitchen helps the room feel more spacious and less cluttered as well as offers timeless features. It also aids in more ample storage space along with open shelving, hanging lights, plants, and other design elements. Too many upper cabinets can make the kitchen feel dark and small.

If you need more ample storage space, consider purchasing cabinet organizers or using open shelves on upper cabinets to display plates and make the kitchen feel less old-fashioned.

If you are tired of your upper cabinets or think they detract from your kitchen design, remove door faces and turn them into open shelving. This change lets you display dishware and/or artwork on open shelves.

11. Subway Tiles

Horizontal subway tile is a classic way to create a terrific backsplash that aligns with most designs and is timeless. Subway tile is versatile and goes with a variety of kitchen design styles and is also easy to install, clean, maintain, and replace if necessary

12. Other Tiles

It can be tempting to select a flashy, bright backsplash to add color and texture to the kitchen, but these types of tiles are usually fads and don't usually go well with new design ideas or renovations.

Choose a simpler tile design that will be timeless versus the latest tile trend.

Mix things up by installing a subway tile backsplash in a different arrangement or custom style, either behind the kitchen range or an entire wall.

13. Shaker Style Cabinets

In terms of timeless kitchen cabinets, there are many different styles and options available, but shaker-style cabinets are always a safe bet.

Shaker-style cabinets work with more traditional designs and modern kitchen designs and won't go out of style or date your kitchen with regular maintenance and care.

Shaker cabinets are characterized by their recessed panel doors and simplistic design and have been around for 100 years.

They are popular in farmhouse-style kitchen designs, as well as look terrific in modern and timeless kitchen design styles.

Shaker cabinets are simple to style which means you can use almost any type of cabinet pull or handle to match the rest of the kitchen design and color of shaker cabinets.

14. Keep it Current

Kitchens that are 15 years or older can appear tired and dated, especially if what is in them is original to the home and/or have builder-grade materials. 

A well-designed kitchen remodeling project will provide value for a long time with the main idea being to have it last years without it going out of style.

Nobody can tell you when to remodel your kitchen to increase your home value the most.

Before you begin discussing costs and budget with the remodeling company or designer that will be completing the remodel.

A designer can help you stay within budget and suggest updates with the best return on investment, based on the current age and state of your kitchen.

Also, talk with your realtor about what aspects of the kitchen tend to sell best. They may even suggest DIY projects that can help boost your home’s value for showings and offers in the future.

Ta-Da

Once the kitchen has been updated you will be happy and most likely spend more time in it with friends and family creating even more memories than before the remodel.

‍