#50 cheap and chic kitchen perk-ups - Style At Home

Organizing, styling and mini-makeover ideas to transform the hub of your home.

Photography by Stacey Brandford

1 Elevate the everyday – invest in a set of handmade cereal bowls.

2 Granny Smith apples – a stylist's secret weapon – are a pretty countertop accent and a healthy snack all in one.

3 When was the last time your toaster made toast the way you like it? If you can’t remember, it's time for a new one.

4 Use a bench with storage as a kitchen banquette.

5 Treat yourself to a fresh set of dishtowels. Reuse the old ones as rags to polish silver, shine shoes or wipe up paint spills.

6 Display a vintage dishware collection on open shelves.

7 Hot-glue a seldom used vintage kitchen utensil in a shadow box and start a collection to adorn your walls.

8 Overhaul the area under your sink cabinet to make room for garbage, recycling and composting.

9 Bake a pie or layer cake – your kitchen will be transformed in less than an hour.

10 Hide the counter clutter of keys, cellphones and sunglasses inside a Moroccan tajine.

11 Remove everything from the tops of cabinets. Thoroughly clean the area. Do not replace the items!

12 Get rid of any chipped plates or cups – they're getting you down.

14 If you have glass door cabinets but can't keep what’s inside looking tidy, line the glass panels with wallpaper or fabric, or apply frosted window film .

15 Install energy-efficient under cabinet lighting.

16 Use crystal flutes for your orange juice tomorrow morning. Champagne optional!

17 Create a photo wall of family members with their birthday cakes over the years.

18 Conceal scratches or dents on an old fridge with decorative wall decals.

19 A rough-hewn wooden bowl looks just as great empty as it does filled with rustic breads, artichokes or newspapers.

20 If there isn't a window above your sink, hang a mirror there.

21 Add French flair: opt for a rustic table and chairs in the centre of your kitchen rather than an island.

23 Tall ceilings? Install a large nontypical central light, like a chandelier. lantern or industrial pendant.

24 Cook up some natural air freshener: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of apple cider to a simmer. Add a few slices of lemon, cinnamon sticks and 1 tsp whole cloves. Simmer for a couple of hours, adding more cider as it evaporates.

25 Hang a fabric blind with an elegant swag for a touch of grandeur.

Photography by Robin Stubbert

26 A potted orchid in a white ceramic pot is a sophisticated living accessory that lasts longer than cut stems.

28 Use a shallow baking dish to store cooking essentials by the cooktop or stove. It will keep everything exactly where you need it and save your counter from oil rings and pepper grinder debris. Decant olive oil into an opaque or dark glass bottle to protect it from light.

29 Treat yourself to a new set of canisters.

30 Say no to paper napkins and switch to a colourful fabric set.

31 Switch out your dated kitchen chairs for black Windsor chairs. They're a design classic – great with mod or trad tables.

32 Remove a pair of cupboard doors and style the open shelves with your prettiest things.

33 Install invisible touch-latch hardware for a sleek, modern look.

34 Hang wallpaper as a backsplash. Protect it with acrylic or glass panels custom cut and installed by a glazier.

35 Leave only your chicest small appliances on the counter.

36 Conceal an ugly backsplash behind peel-andstick Smart Tiles.

37 Banish old knobs in favour of sexy new ones.

38 Conquer the junk drawer.

39 Get a handsome mortar and pestle. When you aren't using it to muddle mint for a mojito, press it into service as a bookend for cookbooks.

40 Paint your cabinets nature's neutral – green. It will look great with all your fruits and veg.

41 Display a pineapple when you're expecting guests – it's the universal symbol of welcome.

42 Make a pretty message board by placing fabric or decorative paper behind the glass of a large frame. Then use a dry erase marker to write on the front.

43 Add shaped brackets along the toe kick to make your cabinets look like fine furniture.

44 Install decorative casing trim around your pass-through.

45 Banish the smelly dishcloth hanging over the faucet! Organize your sinkside essentials on a rectangular dish or tray. The must-haves: dish soap in a pretty container (or decant some into a translucent white squeeze bottle), an all-natural cellulose sponge for dishwashing, a scrub brush and a plastic scrubber for pots.

46 Install a plate rack. Use it to display a collection of platters or cookbooks.

47 Splurge on a marble-top dining table for your best friend.

48 Keep utensils contained and at the ready in a plain white pitcher – it goes with any kitchen.

49 Perk up a family table with cheerful oilcloth that you can wipe clean in a flash.

50 The next time you buy groceries, bring home a bunch of daisies for the kitchen table.