Buying a house in Austin is like playing Russian roulette. Even the most beautiful kitchen with the gorgeous custom cabinets and countertops you saw on House Hunters can hold unwelcome surprises. What do you do when the kitchen that looked so great on the walk-through turns out to be someone else’s dream kitchen, but your nightmare? Here’s a few changes you can make without taking out a second mortgage right behind the first one.

Change the hardware on your kitchen cabinets

A hardware change is the quickest and easiest way to add your own touch to the kitchen. If your cabinets don’t already feature hardware, keep in mind it’s a permanent change.

Pro tip: If you’re unsure about making a statement with hardware, consult with an Austin custom cabinets design expert at KitchenFX to figure out whether hardware, or something more, will get the job done right.

Liven things up with a little bit of light

You can make dramatic changes to your kitchen, and the look and feel of your kitchen cabinets, with a little bit of light. Add under-cabinet lighting and in-cabinet lighting to make your kitchen seem bigger, to bring more function to the form, and to make every inch seem more inviting.

Pro tip: There are dozens of options for under-cabinet and in-cabinet lighting. Your personal design team at KitchenFX can help you make all of the right choices so that your kitchen becomes YOUR kitchen.

Replace or refinish some or all of your cabinets

The idea of replacing or refinishing kitchen cabinets right after moving into your “new to you” home might feel overwhelming, but it will change the way you feel about your kitchen. Even replacing a few solid cabinet doors with glass ones can make a marked difference in your relationship with this central space in your home.

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. While other designers want you to have a kitchen that’s easy for them, the designers at KitchenFX want your kitchen to bring you joy every time you walk into it.

Buying a home isn’t easy, especially when you’re inheriting someone else’s hard work and dreams. As long as the layout of your new kitchen works for you, small and cost-efficient changes could be exactly what you need to make this kitchen YOUR kitchen.