You know what they say – the kitchen is the heart of the home, so you want it to be a room that you love to spend time in.
A great kitchen can also add value to the cost of your property, so a revamp and refresh every so often is important. If you want a new-look room but you’ve got a strict budget, worry not – here are some top tips on how to improve your kitchen with just a few small, affordable, changes.
Clean and Declutter
Kickstart your transformation with a deep clean of your kitchen. Take everything off the shelves and use this also as a chance to declutter. Out of date food, gadgets you haven’t used in over a year, that drawer full of keys and batteries… sort it all out and your kitchen will be looking fresher in no time. It’ll also give you a proper look at what parts of the room might need extra attention. This is probably the least fun part, but it’s essential.
Make the Most of the Space
ADVERTISEMENT
Stephen Lynskey, Head Designer at Hammonds, has offered some expert tips on how to best utilise the space in a small kitchen. Stephen advises, where possible, to consider replacing cupboards with drawers – they hold so much more. In your remaining cupboards, use baskets, shelf risers and under-shelf hooks to maximise space and make everything easier to access.
Paint the Furniture
ADVERTISEMENT
You can make a huge difference to your kitchen by simply painting the furniture. Make sure you buy paint that’s resistant to stains and household products, and you could transform your cupboards from dull and dark to bright and welcoming in no time.
Paint the Walls
Perhaps painting the furniture is too big a job, or you don’t need to – if so, why not refresh things a little by painting the walls? It doesn’t need to be a bold change, even a new lick of neutral paint will breathe new life into your kitchen.
ADVERTISEMENT
Change the Chairs
Chairs really set the tone of a room, so consider investing in new ones to go around your dining table. You could opt for chic, understated chairs or a loud, colourful style that will really express personality.
Lighting is Key
Lighting is everything. Installing suspended lights will make a statement, while dimmers will create a lovely, cosy atmosphere.
Don’t Forget the Finishing Touches
Some final decorative touches will really complete your new kitchen. Hanging artwork will bring warmth and personality to the space, especially if it’s art that’s personal to you. And don’t underestimate the power of plants. Invest in a few house plants and the room will instantly come to life. Buy some vases that match the style of the room, too, and fill them with flowers. You won’t believe the difference.
Business
A FREE home show is coming to Manchester next month
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new event is heading to Manchester in May that’s been created to help people get on the first rung of the property ladder.
Whether you’re overwhelmed by taking that first step or wanting to find out more about affordable homeownership options, the Manchester Home Show promises to be a one-stop shop.
You’ll be able to chat to experts, receive FREE financial and legal advice, and learn all about schemes like Shared Ownership.
How do you actually buy a house? How can you boost your savings? How do you cope with the rising costs of owning a home? All these questions will be answered at the Manchester Home Show.
You’ll even be able to browse for a home, with leading providers showcasing new properties available across Manchester and the North West, each one suited to first time buyers, second-steppers and those looking to downsize.
There’ll be hundreds of affordable homes available to browse, from apartments to spacious homes.
If you spot your dream home, you’ll even be able to register your interest on the spot.
Sponsors of the event include major providers of first time buyer developments including Gecko Homes, L&Q, Places for People, Plumlife, and Tembo.
The free event will help you get to grips with the vast array of affordable homeownership options available.
Manchester Home Show is taking place in May
Expect live sessions and workshops, plenty of information on affordable housing products, and the chance to meet conveyancing solicitors and mortgage advisors with free one-on-one appointments.
You may also discover affordable buying schemes you didn’t know existed, like Shared Ownership, Deposit Unlock, First Homes, and schemes exclusive to people aged 55 and above.
There’ll be exclusive merchandise, prizes and incentives for all attendees.
The Manchester Home Show comes from Share to Buy, the country’s number one property portal dedicated to affordable homeownership.
The Manchester Home Show will take place on Saturday 31 May 2025 between 10.30am and 4pm, at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel.
It’s free to attend but you’ll need to register for tickets – head HERE to register.
You can also follow @sharetobuy on Instagram HERE for the latest.
Middleton to receive a cinema and Metrolink as part of regeneration plans
Thomas Melia
Greater Manchester town Middleton is about to undergo a huge facelift thanks to a new regeneration project, including a new cinema and Metrolink tram station.
Middleton is one of many bustling communities that make up the borough of Rochdale, and with these new plans, the town might receive a fair few new visitors who want to know what it’s all about.
The Greater Manchester town is undergoing a huge transformation with regeneration plans confirming that Middleton will receive a brand new cinema complex along with an extended Metrolink line as part of the Bee Network expansion covering this area.
This is all thanks to Middleton teaming up with the Mayor to launch the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which pushes forward regeneration plans for the town and future ideas.
Middleton Shopping Centre right in the heart of the town centre.Middleton Town Centre bustling as the markets take place.Credit: Steven Haslington (via Geograph)/@Rept0n1x (via Flickr)
The MDC considers lots of aspects of the town and even aims to create new homes and improve surrounding public spaces.
Middleton regeneration plans have been floated previously, but complications arose due to a lack of land and available funding, which ultimately brought these foundations to a halt.
Now it seems the green light has been lifted and Middleton is about to get a whole new facelift, which will not only improve the town economically but aesthetically too, along with the wider Rochdale region.
For many Middletonians, the idea of a cinema may have felt like a distant memory, with their last big screen location shutting down just over a decade ago.
This all-new high street regeneration will not only bring an array of shopping favourites back to the town centre but also the long-awaited return of a local cinema. Most importantly, the plans also include a slate of new housing, with an estimated 300 apartments set to be created in one building alone.
Early CGIs of the proposed Middleton regeneration plans.Grade II-listed Warwick Mill looks set to be turned into flats.Credit: Publicity Picture (supplied)
This all falls in line with the ‘Atom Valley scheme‘, which has been commissioned in order to generate over 20,000 job opportunities for people in Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.
The scheme also mentions how it aims to bring a combined economic boost of around £1 billion to these previously mentioned areas.
Rochdale Borough Council leader, Neil Emmott, said: “The development of 1.2 million square metres of employment space around the junction 19 area will help to generate 20,000 high-quality jobs and bring a £1 billion economic boost.”
The Manc -
12th July 2021 
