There's nothing bad about neutral kitchens—features such as white subway tile or stainless steel appliances are classics. How did I figure out what to change to brighten up my dark kitchen?

With out see your actual countertop color, you could pick one of the lighter shades in the mosaic for the side walls, like the seagrass color or something in the background. Image: Tanya/Dans le Lakehouse If your kitchen has paneling, wallpaper or dark-painted walls, you need an update fast. Experts recommend at least 80 to 100 watts in your kitchen. If you want to take your makeover another step further, update the hardware to match your new light look.

Consider new kitchen countertops. This can be, say, your island, a block of cabinets, your backsplash (again), or even your sink. Consider new kitchen countertops. Continue applying stripper to each door and drawer front as well as to the cabinet bases until all finish has been removed.Going into 2019, wood stained kitchen cabinets will still be popular in more traditional kitchens, but white, gray, two-toned and even blue cabinets are on the rise.There are a number of ways to actually lighten the color of a piece of furniture, but applying a lighter stain over an existing darker color usually does not work.

Under-the-cabinet lighting is the best fix for a dark and cramped kitchen. Find out … But to be honest, these days many people thirst for color.. To clean the entire cabinet surface, mix 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of the oil soap into a gallon of warm water, the amount determined by the type of cleaning your cabinets need: mild or deep.Semigloss, gloss, or satin—the harder the finish the better. If you don’t want to commit to a total cabinet makeover, settle for a light backsplash instead.

(Learn how to do it here) 2. Get the same effect with metallic details like a stainless steel fridge or even just a brand-new teapot. A majority of people who update their cabinets choose to paint them white, according You might have noticed us mention the backsplash a few times already, so it really deserves its own item in this story. Install recessed lighting. Let these kitchen transformation tips be your guiding light (we know you see what we did there). In fact, a pigmented stain is actually a thinned down paint. Scrape the softened finish from the oak with a putty knife. Paint the kitchen walls a sunny color. And, no, we are not going to tell you to demo your entire kitchen and rebuild a minimalist white space complete with floor-to-ceiling windows. Bright accents provide a cheap and easy fix to a dark kitchen. Embrace the clamp lamp. 5 Tips to Brighten a Dark Kitchen. Leave the stripper on the wood until it begins to bubble. Stain sinks into wood pores under a sealed topcoat of lacquer. If you feel as if your too-dark kitchen is past the point of no return, channel your inner Bob Ross and add a few happy splotches of color. Refresh dark wooden cabinets with a coat of bright white paint, for an easy fix that will instantly change the tired tone of your kitchen. What are you supposed to do when overhead lighting is super minimal? Install recessed lighting. White tile works well in a kitchen with cherry kitchen cabinets and works as a way to brighten your kitchen if you have a dark countertop. Read more: 4 Ways to Add Lighting Under Your Cabinets for $35 or Less We all know that you can paint over a darker color using a lighter color paint.Dampen a clean, dry cloth with undiluted white vinegar, and wipe down greasy cabinets. Choose from puck lights, fluorescent light bars, or LED light bars to brighten up your space. Bright accents provide a cheap and easy fix to a dark kitchen. Paint the kitchen walls a sunny color. Replace or repaint old cabinetry. Generally, darker floors look better with lighter cabinets and lighter floors look better with darker cabinets. Dry the damp surfaces with a paper towel, but note any still-sticky spots that need a do-over.Apply a dab of Murphy Oil Soap on a damp sponge or soft cloth; then wipe the soiled area. Rinse your cloth with warm water, wring out most of the moisture, and use it to rinse the cabinetry.

Check the wattage on the lightbulbs you’re currently using. In an ideal world, we'd all be blessed with huge, magazine-worthy kitchens with windows and natural light galore.