10 Updates to Make Your Kitchen More Livable
We spend a lot of time in the kitchen—cooking, cleaning, talking, packing lunches, you name it. So when the layout or setup doesn’t work, you feel it every single day. Making your kitchen more livable doesn’t have to mean a full remodel.
Small updates can go a long way toward making the space easier to use and less frustrating. Here are 10 updates we’ve made (or wish we’d made sooner) that helped our kitchen function better without draining the budget.
Add Under-Cabinet Lighting
Under-cabinet lighting makes a huge difference when you’re prepping food, especially in the evening. Overhead lights tend to throw shadows right where you’re working.
We added stick-on LED strips with a remote, and they’ve held up great. It was a small change that instantly made the kitchen feel brighter and more functional.
Install a Pull-Out Trash Can
A visible trash can in the kitchen takes up space and always seems to be in the way. We swapped ours for a pull-out version inside a lower cabinet.
It keeps the space looking cleaner, and it’s easier to access when cooking. If you’ve got an extra cabinet to spare, this is one of the most practical changes you can make.
Swap Open Shelves for Closed Cabinets
Open shelving looks nice in photos but is harder to keep clean in real life. We got tired of dusting dishes and constantly rearranging for it to look “put together.”
Replacing a couple shelves with simple cabinets gave us more hidden storage and cut down on the visual clutter. It made the whole room feel less chaotic.
Use Drawer Organizers That Actually Fit
It’s frustrating when every drawer feels like a junk drawer. We added organizers that actually fit our drawer size—no sliding around or wasted space.
We grouped things by how we use them, not where they happened to land. It made cooking easier and cut down on the time we spent digging for a spatula.
Install a Faucet With a Pull-Down Sprayer
Switching to a faucet with a pull-down sprayer made washing dishes and cleaning the sink way easier. It’s one of those upgrades that feels small until you use it every day.
We picked one that was simple to install and matched our existing sink. It didn’t break the bank and immediately made the kitchen feel more usable.
Add a Second Prep Surface
Our counter space was always maxed out, especially during meal prep. We added a small rolling cart with a butcher block top, and it gave us the extra surface we needed.
It rolls out when we need it and tucks away when we don’t. It’s also great for storing overflow appliances or baking gear.
Upgrade to Soft-Close Hinges
Our cabinet doors and drawers used to slam shut no matter how careful we were. Swapping in soft-close hinges and drawer slides made everything feel quieter and smoother.
It’s a small quality-of-life upgrade that makes the kitchen feel more finished. And honestly, it’s kind of satisfying not to hear things slam all day long.
Add a Tension Rod Under the Sink
The cabinet under our sink used to be a black hole of cleaning products. We added a tension rod to hang spray bottles, and it cleared up space fast.
It’s an easy fix that makes things more accessible and helps avoid that endless bottle pile-up on the bottom of the cabinet.
Keep a Dedicated Charging Station
Our kitchen used to be covered in phones, tablets, and stray chargers. We added a small charging station in a drawer and ran a power strip through the back.
Now everything charges in one spot, and our counters stay clear. It’s especially helpful during the school year when everyone’s devices need juice at the same time.
Mount Hooks in Unused Spots
We hung a few small hooks inside cabinet doors and on the side of our pantry for things like oven mitts, measuring spoons, and grocery bags.
It keeps the small stuff out of the way but within reach. These little hidden spots add up and make the kitchen feel less cluttered without losing function.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
