While February weather might keep you from flashing your green thumbin the yard or helping the kids out with a new tree fort, being forced to spend time indoors should make you realize there are plenty of projects that can be tackled without leaving the warmth of the house. The kitchen can be a worthwhile project itself since it’s often overlooked as an area that deserves any major renovation. Not only will a revamped kitchen impress the coming year’s wave of dinner guests, but the excitement of a fresh space will attract the entire family so both wife and kids alike can engage in some quality home cooked meals.

• Kitchen Full of Color: A great and inexpensive way to give your kitchen a fresh feel is to give the walls a new paint job. Unlike other areas of the house where conservative colors rule the roost, the kitchen is the perfect spot for vibrant colors to keep energy levels high and to help create an exciting atmosphere. From red to yellow to green, how wild you want to get is really up to you (though your wife will probably have the final word on what’s allowed). As far as the color cabinets and countertops, though, it’s a good idea to keep them neutral to add a bit of balance to prevent the room from becoming overwhelming.

• Style of Tile: There’s nothing wrong with linoleum flooring. It’s durable. It’s easy to clean. It’s soft enough to forgive you when you drop glasses and plates. But the bottom line is it doesn’t look cool, and for a stylish kitchen, nothing beats a solid pattern of fresh laid tile to give the space a professional feel. Though reflooring the kitchen can be a little pricey, you can save a good chunk a change if you choose to tile over the linoleum rather than tearing up the entire floor. Check with the local hardware or tiling store on what kind of close out sales are going on and you should be able to get everything you need—from tiles to glue to grout—for less than $500 dollars. After that, it’s just about blocking out an afternoon and getting down to work.

• Redefined Appliances: Sure, cabinets are important too. Grungy cabinets are serious eyesores and cleaning and retouching them to get rid of grease stains and fingerprints is a crucial step in creating a fresh kitchen feel. But redoing the cabinets is also an obvious idea and usually the first thing people think of when they begin remodeling. A smaller thought, but just as important, are the appliances and what can be done to hide the wear and tear they’ve taken over the years. Buying new appliances is the easiest way to get a new look, but even after serious bargain hunting, purchasing all new appliances can drive costs well into the four-digit range. For the sake of saving a few bucks and showing off the power of your own two hands, try refacing the appliances instead of investing in new ones. Appliance paint can be bought at most hardware stores and metallic surfaces can sometimes even be redone with auto body paint. For handles and knobs, contact the manufacturer to check the inventory of parts, and you might end up with appliances that look brand spankin’ new without having to shell out more then a couple hundred bucks.

TIP: Use WD-40® Multi-Use Product to give your stainless steel appliances a nice shine.  Your guests will be impressed and your appliances will thank you.