11 Easy Ways to Update Your Kitchen Without Renovating

2. Update Your Cabinetry Hardware

Fast. Cheap. Easy. Swapping out the handles on your cabinets ticks a lot of boxes if you want to upgrade your kitchen without renovating. All you need is a screwdriver to take off the old handles and add in some new ones. If your old kitchen cabinets had two screws and your new ones only have one, don't forget to fill the hole, give it a quick sand and paint over it.

You'll be amazed at how different your kitchen can look by combining new cupboard handles with a fresh coat of paint.

There are lots of trends to choose from, including modern matte black - so why not find appliances to match.

4. Under Cabinet Lighting

Another way to make your kitchen feel lighter and brighter is to eliminate dark corners with under cabinetry lighting. If you're retrofitting under cabinet lighting then a strip light will be easier to install compared to downlights.

If you don't want to worry about re-wiring, the Philips Hue Lightstrip just plugs into a normal power point and attaches with double-sided tape. To access full control of the Philips Hue Lightstrip, add a Hue Bridge to your home set up for strip lighting with thousands of colours and shades.

6. Colourful Kitchen Appliances

Colourful kitchen appliances are a great way to create a kitchen that's full of personality.

If you're certain that a bold colour is right for you, larger kitchen appliances are also available in a range of colours, including Smeg's Portofino range with bright and bold ovens and rangehoods.

Like the idea of colour in the kitchen but don't want to commit to a red oven just yet? Why not try playing around with pops of colour with colourful kitchen appliances.

Small benchtop appliances like kettles, toasters and mixers come in plenty of colours that let you show off your style and add pops of personality in your kitchen. Whether you're after trending matte black mixers, or bold red toasters, you'll find a fun kitchen appliance that will stand out.

8. Functional Sinks & Taps

Sinks and taps are often an after-thought when designing your ideal kitchen but there's probably more designs to choose from than you thought. If you currently have an undermount sink (where the sink sits below the bench) then a new sink will need to be the same size. If you have top mount sink then, depending on your benchtop type, you might be able to go a little bigger (if you are happy to cut out a bit of your bench and the cabinetry below the sink can accommodate it).

Sinks don't have to be stainless steel - black sinks can almost disappear against a black kitchen bench for a seamless look, or create a stunning contrast on white benchtops. There are also white sinks or stone sinks which not only look and feel luxurious but are also quieter than stainless steel when the tap is running.

Taps are another easy way to add a modern touch to your kitchen. Pullout taps look modern, industrial and they're so functional you'll wonder how you ever cleaned that big roasting dish without it.

10. Switch Out Your Oven

This one is a bit of a splurge, but it doesn't have to be a huge one and if you're someone who enjoys cooking up feasts then a new oven is worth it.

Goodbye mission brown oven from the 50s, hello gleaming stainless steel and black glass. If you're upgrading your kitchen from something that's over 50 or 60 years old, you'll most likely see a difference in performance even with a more affordable new oven.