16 Creative Ways to Update Your Kitchen in Less than an Hour

Quick Cushion Change-Out

Reupholster chair cushions with bright fabric to add a pop of color to your kitchen or breakfast nook. With only a staple gun and a little fabric, you can quickly update your seating.

• Take the Color Personality Quiz to find which color best fits you!

Outfit for Organization

Make over drawers or cabinets with can organizers and clear storage containers to keep contents fresh and help you find what you need. Add easy-to-read labels to help identify each container at a glance.

Create a Gallery Wall

Gather old frames in various sizes, and paint them with sample jars of latex paint -- they're perfect for small projects like this. Mix and match frame sizes and orientation to create an interesting gallery wall.

• See 5 ways to arrange art in a gallery wall.

Storage to the Ceiling

Add shelves to an unused corner of the kitchen for cookbooks, colorful dishware, or other kitchen accents. In a small kitchen, every inch of wall space counts.

Paint a Plain Shade

Add personality to a bland Roman shade with paint. Map out your design (here, a chevron pattern) with painter's tape, and use a roller or paintbrush to apply latex paint to the shade. Allow the paint to fully dry before operating the shade.

Add Undercabinet Lighting

Brighten up the dark area under the cabinets and show off the backsplash with easy undercabinet lights.

Keep Utensils in View

Keep the kitchen tools you use most in plain view. Add a magnetic knife rack and metal shelves for spices and cooking oils. Not only do these additions open up counter and drawer space, they accessorize your kitchen with your favorite tools.

Add a Colorful Rug

Spice up an otherwise neutral kitchen with a colorful rug. Protect your floors and add a dose of personality in minutes. For easy cleaning, try a flat-weave or indoor-outdoor rug.

Try New Shades

Give a tired chandelier a fresh look with new shades. Black shades were added to this chandelier to coordinate with the painted chairs and add drama to the room. Embellish existing shades with ribbon or paint, or swap them out for a completely different look.

Show Off Cookware

Hang stainless-steel or porcelain cookware on a bare kitchen wall. A simple rod and S hooks create the perfect pot rack.

Color-Coordinated Accents

Create a color-coordinated display in your kitchen for maximum impact. Accessories of one color, such as the all-white display here, are a simple way to add style and substance to your kitchen. Choose items with texture and varying heights to create an interesting display.

Open Shelves

Try open shelves in a small kitchen. Keep everyday dishware within easy reach, and keep the kitchen feeling open and airy.

Dress a Window

Use a tension rod and leftover fabric to make a simple window treatment. Sew or use iron-on hem tape to create a small rod pocket at the top and hem the bottom. Add decorative trim for extra pizazz.

Create a Wall Display

Use plate hangers to group dishes of similar colors on the wall as art. Hang sets of unused dishes, or buy colors you like at a secondhand store.

• Get other ideas for kitchen wall decor here!

Coordinate Appliances

Update existing appliances to match other stainless-steel appliances with adhesive film. The removable peel-and-stick product comes on a roll and can easily be trimmed to size.

Frame Free Art

Tear colorful pictures from books or magazines to create beautiful and practically free wall art. Look for recipe books at secondhand stores for beautiful illustrations or pictures.