6 Ways to Update Your Dingy Kitchen Appliances, According to Designers

When it comes to a kitchen’s design, one dingy appliance can distract from the coolest of cabinets and most eye-catching countertops. A yellowed refrigerator or scratched dishwasher can create a serious sore spot in your kitchen.

No need to worry though—there are simple and budget-friendly ways to remedy your current appliances. 

How do you cover up scratches, dents, and overall ugliness? We tapped two interior designers for their thoughts on how to instantly update dull appliances.

Whether you’re a renter who can’t replace your appliances or simply want to stretch out the lifespan of your working (but not-so-pretty) appliances, there are plenty of both permanent and temporary fixes. All you need is a little bit of creativity. 

Read on for six of the best (as well as easy and inexpensive!) tips to update your dingy kitchen appliances.  

Meet the Expert

• Courtnay Tartt Elias of Creative Tonic Design is a Houston-based interior designer.

• Heather Knight-Willcock of Heather KW Styles, who is based in southern California, is an interior designer and expert for ShopGoodwill.com.

Paint Your Appliances

Never considered your kitchen appliances pieces of art? Think again. Courtnay Tartt Elias of Creative Tonic Design, a Houston-based interior design studio, is fond of using colors and patterns in creative ways. Exhibit A: she transformed her refrigerator into a masterpiece. 

Painting a playful, bright pattern on her refrigerator simultaneously draws attention to the design while camouflaging a simple everyday appliance. 

“Playing off of the vibrant, large-scale chinoiserie roman shades in the kitchen keeps the bold, unexpected artwork from overwhelming the space,” Elias says. “Instead, it harmonizes.”

Swap Handles and Hardware

Dated hardware is a clear sign of seen-better-days appliances. Good thing they’re a breeze to change—even for the most DIY adverse out there. Refreshing the handles or hardware of your appliances is a simple and budget-friendly way to enliven the look of your entire kitchen.

“Opting for modern, sleek handles or even experimenting with vintage designs can instantly update the overall aesthetic,” Heather Knight-Willcock, interior designer and ShopGoodwill.com expert, says.

Get Creative With Washi Tape

For a colorful burst of pattern, design a geometric pattern with washi tape across your refrigerator, dishwasher, or any other not-so-new appliance. Washi tape comes in endless varieties of bright colors and patterns, and is an easily removable option, making it especially alluring for renters.

“Treating the appliance face like a blank canvas makes the kitchen a reflection of the homeowner's personality,” Knight-Willcock says.

Add Appliance Decals and Stickers

Didn’t know appliance decals were even an option for camouflaging your drab appliances? You’re not alone.

“Most people don't know these exist, but they’re just like car decals,” Knight-Willcock says.

Not only are decals and stickers a breeze to apply, but they also bring abundant character to otherwise dull kitchen appliances. Whether you veer more minimalist or vibrantly maximalist, there are copious options to explore.

Create a Custom Look with Faux Finishes

For an upscale look in your kitchen, experiment with faux finishes, such as marble or wood grain, on your appliances. Shop for a peel-and-stick option—they will cover up imperfections with just one easy step, instantly upgrading a dingy appliance into one that looks custom.

“This technique is not only budget-friendly but also allows homeowners to tailor the appliances to match their preferred style,” Knight-Willcock says.

Uniformly Display Photos

It’s tempting to mask dingy appliances with a collage of wedding invitations and takeout menus. That is, unless the couple in the invitation has since celebrated their fifth anniversary and that Chinese restaurant has been long closed. Sound familiar?

For a similar approach with a more methodical, personal touch, consider decorating with uniformly placed photos. Instead of a smattering of random papers and pictures, arranging photos neatly feels more intentional and elevated. 

To still see your loved ones’ faces without displaying a holiday card year-round, try placing dozens of Polaroid pictures in a precise grid on your refrigerator door. It makes scrounging around the shelves muttering “What’s for dinner?” much more appealing.

Read Next: Park Your Kitchen Essentials in One of These 15 Appliance Garage Ideas

Read the original article on The Spruce.