Whether you consider yourself a gourmet cook or your idea of dinner is ordering takeout, the kitchen is a place for gathering and making memories with family and friends. If your kitchen feels dated and could use a facelift, here are some great options for modernising your space.

Upgrade your countertops

When someone walks into your kitchen, the first thing they may notice is your cabinets and countertops. If your countertops look tired and old then replacing them can have a huge impact on the overall look of the room. You may also find that you are able to save a lot of money by installing a tile or granite veneer over your existing counters for a new look at a fraction of the cost. 

Clear the clutter

If you want your workspace to feel clean and streamlined, reducing clutter is key. Store small appliances when not in use and put cartons, sugar bowls, and other items in a pantry or behind a closed door.

In addition to improving appearances, decluttering has health benefits too. Kitchens and baths are the rooms in your home most prone to bacteria and other health risks. Keeping counters clean and gadgets put away will make cleanup easier and eliminate potential sanitation problems.

Invest in modern appliances

Next to installing new countertops, upgrading your appliances is the most obvious way to modernise your kitchen. If you refrigerator and oven are more than 10 years old, you’re in for a treat when you see all the new options and energy saving features. And they’ll look great too.

Today’s ovens are designed to make cooking faster and more efficient. Steam and convection ovens cook food quickly and are more versatile than a microwave. Induction cooktops offer precision cooking but use 60 per cent less energy than a gas stove. Once you get used to these conveniences, you’ll wonder how you ever made dinner without them.

The latest trend for refrigerators is the French door. These models feature a pull out freezer draw on the bottom and two top refrigerator doors that open wide enough for just about anything you’d want to store. 

Change your cabinet doors

If your cabinets are still in good shape, you can alter the look of your kitchen without replacing them but instead by changing just the doors. A modern trend that looks attractive and will help you stay organised is to install glass doors. Or an even cheaper option is just to remove the doors you have and leave your cabinets open. Both options will help your space feel more light and airy.

Check out these modern kitchen gadgets

Belkin Crock-Pot WeMo and Mr Coffee Smart Optimal Brew: WeMo is Belkin’s brand name for its series of home automation products, items such as outlets, light bulbs, and heaters. Now Belkin is taking this technology into the kitchen, offering a slow cooker and a coffeepot that let you operate them via your smartphone.

Prep Pad: The Prep Pad looks like a cutting board but is actually a high tech digital scale and nutrition station. An iPad app lets you specify the item you are weighing, and the Prep Pad will measure a specific portion and tell you the nutritional content of your serving.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Kitchen Edition: If you like to cook from Internet recipes (and who doesn’t), odds are that you’re paranoid about spilling something or making a mess around your iPad. With this tablet you won’t have to worry at all. Sony’s Xperia is specially designed for kitchen clean up and can be washed in the sink and even submerged for up to half an hour.

The range of options for today’s modern kitchen can be mind blowing. Whether you are looking to make a few inexpensive changes or want a complete kitchen overhaul, an infinite range of materials, technologies, and varieties awaits you.