Keeping the Style

• If you can't afford a total kitchen makeover right now, don't despair. Rather than trying to incorporate modern decor that sticks out like a sore thumb in your old kitchen, keep with the integrity of the original design. Try not to think of your kitchen as old, but as vintage, and work with it.
  
  If you have an old country house, decorate your kitchen in a rustic or French provincial style. Use wood furnishings, open shelving, and crackle paint on the cabinets. If your home was built in the '50s and has its original kitchen, hang some checkered curtains, get some Formica furniture, soda-fountain-style glasses, and Coca-Cola wall hangings.
  
  By plan your decor to keep in harmony with your kitchen's style, you will give it a more harmonious, intentional look than mixing different styles.
  
  

Use Paint

• One of the fastest and easiest ways to give your kitchen an inexpensive, updated look is with a good coat of paint. Not only can paint mask a multitude of sins, but it can take the focus off outdated elements of the room.
  
  Before you paint, remove outdated wallpaper, paneling, tile, and popcorn ceiling treatments. Select semi-gloss paint for a sleek look that is easiest to keep clean.
  
  Consider a classy combination of white walls and black cabinets, or select varying shades of tan and beige for a brighter, neutral look. If you worry your appliances are outdated and stick out like a sore thumb against your fresh paint job, look into specialty paints made specifically for appliances at your local home improvement store.
  
  

Timeless Elements

• When it does come time to invest in remodeling, prevent the problem of an outdated kitchen from ever happening again. Avoid trends when it comes to selecting the permanent fixtures. While there are a lot of modern decorations you can add to reflect the time, when it comes to floors, cabinets, and counters, select materials that are timeless and can blend in with any decorating style.
  
  Wood and stone are always in style, and can work with any future redecorating changes you might make. Consider investing in wood cabinetry. Hardwood, terra-cotta tiles or corkwood tiles are great flooring options. When looking for countertops, consider investing in granite, marble, or soapstone.