Tips And Works

Apart from the bathroom, the kitchen can be one of the ugliest rooms in a guy’s place. But assuming you don’t need to buy your own fridge and stove, it’s actually one of the easiest rooms in your pad to revamp on a budget. For just $500, you can alter the look of your kitchen significantly -- so much, in fact, that you might end up trying to spend more time in there.

Even if you don’t wind up using your kitchen all that much, girls will certainly be impressed that you took the time to dress it up a little, and your decoration skills may just induce them to stay overnight if you throw in the promise of some pancakes for breakfast. And if you already have a girlfriend, a newer-looking kitchen will definitely prompt her to spend more time cooking meals for you.

To reap the benefits of a stylish kitchen, the first thing you’ll need to do to liven up this room is decide on a color scheme. Black, white and silver are a sleek and modern combination that will never go out of fashion. Once you’ve got the basics down, just add a few punchy colored accents and you’re done. For our suggestions on the perfect items to kit out your kitchen, read on.

All prices are listed in U.S. funds.

tables and chairs

Ikea Billsta bar table

Give your kitchen a funkier, more modern look by ditching the old, clunky dining table your mom gave you and installing a bar-style table and stools. You’ll save space in your kitchen and give it a more spacious, streamlined look. This bar table from Ikea has a melamine top that’s heat- and scratch-resistant, and is an absolute breeze to clean. In addition, since the table conveniently comes equipped with hooks, hang your bag or jacket here after a long day when you just want to slouch over a bowl of something warm.

Cost: $109.99

Ikea Julius bar stool

If you’re like most guys, you probably just grab quick meals alone, or occasionally entertain your girlfriend or a mate. For this reason, you can do away with your other kitchen chairs and free up even more space in your kitchen by having just two bar stools to complement your table. At just $59.99 each, these leather-covered bar stools from Ikea will really swank up your kitchen, but they’re easy to clean with a damp cloth. The stainless steel footrest also allows you to sit comfortably and ensures your legs don’t dangle.

Cost: $59.99 x 2 = $119.98

cabinets

Home Depot Liberty knob

Swapping the old knobs and pulls on your cabinets and drawers is super simple, and can be done even if you’re renting. For only $3.99 per knob, these accents will give your kitchen a subtly stylish upgrade.

Cost: $3.99 each; total approximate cost is $25.00

accessories

Urban Outfitters Wall O Photos

Personalize your kitchen by installing a collection of photographs. This Wall O Photos from Urban Outfitters is essentially a long plastic sleeve, meaning that it will stand up to heat in the room if you do a lot of cooking, and can also be wiped clean. It holds up to 28 photographs, and changing your pics every now and then will generate conversation amongst your visitors as well as give your kitchen a mini makeover.

Cost: $15.00

Fusion wall clock

Keep track of time in fashion with this wall clock from Umbra. The clock’s face is classic, so it will never look dated, and the aluminum finish will continue the trend of urban metallics in your kitchen. This clock is a great buy since, priced at $26.50, it serves as another great piece of wall art in addition to having a functional purpose.

Cost: $26.50

dishes

Urban Outfitters Squircle plate

You don’t have to throw out all your old dishes, but do invest in a small number of new ones. A set of four, like these Squircle plates from Urban Outfitters should do the trick of adding an accent color to the room while dazzling guests with their unusual shape and punchy hue. Plus, eating off fun dishes will make your dining experience more enjoyable, and will make even microwave food seem more appetizing.

Cost: $15 x 4 plates = $60

Urban Outfitters graphic bowls

Avoid getting too match-matchy with your crockery and seem like an interior-decorating genius by going for something slightly different with your bowls. These black and white ceramic bowls with a graphic print from Urban Outfitters lend an Asian vibe to your meals, while the red accent complements the plates.

Cost: $15 x 4 bowls = $60

Umbra Metalla salt and pepper set

Use your salt and pepper shakers for their obvious functions, but it’s worth your trouble to pick up a cool-looking new set to display on your kitchen table and make the room seem a little edgier. This masculine metallic set from Umbra can be used separately, or joined together with magnets to create an interesting sculptural shape to sit atop your table.

Cost: $7.50

Umbra Joey kitchen soap pump

A new pump for your kitchen soap may seem like a silly idea, but it looks much more chic to put your soap into a high-gloss pump -- like this one from Umbra -- than to have a big bottle of bright orange dish detergent sitting on your sink. Conveniently, this pump also comes with a red scrubby and a holder at the back so you can keep your scrubbers clean and away from the germs around your sink area.

Cost: $14.00

appliances

Cuisinart CPT-120R 2-slice toaster

While purchasing large appliances can be quite costly, and perhaps not even feasible if you’re renting, investing in smaller electronic devices in bright colors will add instant cool to your kitchen and improve its look tenfold. This cherry red toaster from Cuisnart will set you back a mere $29.95, and has reheat, defrost and bagel settings that will make breakfast a whole lot easier. Amazingly, it also comes with a three-year warranty.

Cost: $29.95

Emerson microwave

Bring your kitchen into the 21st century with this futuristic-looking microwave from Emerson. If you’re on the go a lot, a microwave can be your best friend for a hot meal in a jiffy. Functional features for this one include 10 power levels, a one-touch cook program, a timer, and a digital clock. But forget about all those features -- it’s the red stainless steel exterior that will really make this piece stand out in your kitchen

Cost: $59.99

what’s cookin’?

Redoing your kitchen can actually be fun instead of a pain in the neck. In fact, your effort in refurbishing this room should be quite minimal since pretty much all you have to do is visit a few stores and pick up some new items, or better still, just point and click your way to a new kitchen. Once you’re done, all that’s left is to figure out how to whip up a delicious meal à deux, and you’ll have girls lining up for a visit to your place.

Total cost: $527.91