The simplest and easiest way of making over any kitchen is by uncluttering it. Clear all surfaces, give them a good wipe down and then get ruthless with your bin liners, throwing away or freecycling anything in cupboards and on surfaces that you don’t need or no longer use. That goes for appliances as well as for cookware and any food items you have lurking in the pantry or the deepest recesses of the freezer.

Once you’ve been through your kitchen and disposed of anything that you no longer need, take a step back and think about how much time and effort you want to put in to your makeover, and what look you’re aiming for.

Painting or varnishing cabinets is a great way of transforming the kitchen, but it does take a little extra effort. An even easier option is to just change the accessories like doorknobs and hinges. That’s an immediate upgrade that can make a lot of difference to how dated the kitchen feels. Likewise, changing the faucet is a great way of refreshing the look of a kitchen and it won’t take long to do or cost very much.

If your cabinets are really in need of an upgrade but time and money are against you, think about taking the doors off the top ones. Not only does this create the impression of more space, but it will also completely transform the way the kitchen works.

Changing countertops or floor tiles is a little more time-consuming, not to mention costly, so why not focus instead on something a little easier to change, like the lighting fixtures? A dramatic chandelier or colourful lamp, of which several varieties can be found through IKEA, can do wonders to change the mood and feel of a room, shifting it from gloomy to glamorous in seconds, while fixing lights to the bottom of cabinets can both enhance the sense of space and the atmosphere in the kitchen.

An even easier option is to buy some scented or coloured candles and use them to create a romantic feel when dining in. If the floor is still making you unhappy, a patio rug or bamboo matt is hardwearing and will cover a multitude of sins.

A vase of bright blooms will also uplift any room, none more so than a kitchen. Consider lining the windowsills with pots of herbs and other plants, and if you have a blank wall, why not turn it into a feature wall and either paint it a bold colour or wallpaper it with a bold print.

If you don’t want to paint or wallpaper, buy a blackboard or chalkboard and create an interactive art space, or simply a place to write shopping lists and other reminders. Alternatively, use the wall as a space to hang paintings or photographs.