A kitchen is the part of a house that holds the most sway with potential buyers. Follow these five pointers when updating yours to ensure you’re adding real value to your home.
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1. Have a good look at your lighting
Lighting can turn an ugly duckling into a swan and give a sense of class or character to suit the overall style of your home. Feature hanging lights above a breakfast nook, lighting within glass cabinetry and lights in the bulkheads add flair.
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2. A coat of paint works wonders
Historically the most popular paint colours in South Africa are cream and beige and you can’t go wrong with them. Grey is a real hit at the moment and paint departments can’t mix enough of it in light to mid tones. You could spray old cupboards to give them a fresh appeal or paint your kitchen walls to bring them into the more buyer-friendly neutral zone.
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3. Countertops are probably the most critical component
Buyers get excited by granite, Caesarstone or quartz counters, so it’s worth spending the money on new countertops.
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4. Cupboard doors make an impact
An affordable value-add is to replace cupboard doors, but retain the original design and framework of the kitchen. This will work wonders on first impressions – which count a whole lot when a house is on the market. Cupboard doors are available in a variety of colours, styles and sizes, making it easy to come up with a whole new look.
Stylish idea: Give your kitchen a trendy twist by combining cabinet doors of different colours or tonal variations. For example you could have the upper cabinet doors in one colour and the lower ones in another.
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5. Think carefully about wild colours
People’s tastes differ and your bold colour schemes may not appeal to everyone. Colourful accents that can be changed easily and cheaply – such as a painted feature wall, accessories and appliances – may be the best option if you’re anticipating a move in the near future.