Giving Our Kitchen New Life: Stripping Wallpaper and Adding Fresh Paint
Our kitchen was in need of some love — it felt dark and outdated — but we kept putting off any major renovations, thinking that one day we’d add an extension. Eventually, we realized that with so many other priorities and expenses, that dream would have to wait. So, we decided to embrace a cosmetic makeover instead!
Every year now, I ask my husband for one kitchen upgrade as a birthday gift, and this year’s project was stripping the wallpaper and painting the walls. 🎨
For those who haven’t been following along, here’s a quick recap:
Over the past three years, we’ve repainted the lower cabinets, replaced the countertop with a warm blond maple surface, and now we’re tackling the walls — saying goodbye to the dated 1980s–1990s wallpaper and hello to a lighter, brighter, more modern kitchen. ✨
If you missed Part 2, where we replaced our dark green countertop, you can check it out here:
👉 Renovating Your Kitchen in Stages – Part Two
Removing that old wallpaper has been time-consuming (and a bit of a challenge!), but I’m absolutely loving how fresh and open the space feels already. ✨ I’ve been doing most of the work myself, and below are some before-and-after photos of the breakfast room area between the broom closet and the window.
You can even see the glue layer — stripping two layers of wallpaper was definitely not fun! 😂 It was interesting to discover that the kitchen was once painted a bright yellow at some point too! ☀️
Extreme Kitchen Makeover
Our kitchen is over four decades old, so it was definitely ready for a makeover. We decided to take it one project at a time — tackling each stage slowly but surely — and little by little, we’ve managed to give it the facelift it desperately needed.
When we first moved in, we loved the quaint, cow-themed look — and honestly, we still did for quite a while. But as we started updating the space, we fell in love with the transformation even more. The lighter, brighter colours have completely refreshed the kitchen and made it feel brand new again.
It may have taken five years to convince him, but my husband is now a firm believer in the power of white paint! 🎨✨
Below, you can see the before-and-after photos of the other side of our breakfast room. It’s amazing how much lighter, brighter, and more open it looks compared to before — proof that even small, simple changes can make a big difference!
Summary
This project has reminded me that you don’t always need a full renovation to make a big impact. Sometimes, a little paint, some patience, and a bit of hard work and time are all it takes to completely refresh your space. ✨ Whether you’re updating your kitchen one section at a time like we did or planning a larger remodel, every small step brings you closer to the home you love. 💛 If you want to view Part 2, where we replaced our dark green countertop, you can check it out here: 👉 Renovating Your Kitchen in Stages – Part Two
Lynteriors 