1. Paint the cabinets. The counter tops still look very good.
2. Lights online is spot on. The room lacks lighting. There are currently 2 light units. Add another over the galleyway and use a pendant over the breakfast nook table.
See example picture for ideas

I would recommend adding recess lighting, paint cabinet to whitewash and repaint the kitchen to a brighter color.

I agree with everyone else. I do think that the lighting is the problem. I think everyting looks really nice, but you can't see what is there because the lighting is so poor. I think a hanging light over the table would be nice and some adjustable track lighting in the cabinet end of the kitchen would allow for shining the light where you need it.The lighting you have there now is truly only lighting the top of the cabinets and not reaching the countertops. Changing the lighting is a quicker fix than new cabinets or even painting them.

Number One, Invest money into lighting such as recessed or track lighting over the entire eating kitchen area, I think that would make a world of difference. The cabinets are great as is unless you don't like the color, paint them a light color and if you want to keep the color as is of the cabinets I would change the countertops to something lighter to lighten the area. Paint is always the cheaper route and quick to do, I think you need a accent color on the wall behind the table or a wall paper to give it visual interest, from the flooring with the stripes leads you right to that wall. The one shelf on that wall is visually distracting, I would remove it I would lean more towards the French country palette for picking your colors and pops of them around the room. Hope these suggestions were helpful.

Hard to tell from lighting about colors but a light butter yellow would be complementary to your existing cabinets and flooring I think

I would get a lighter countertop & keep the cabs dark. Some new window shades in a fun color (for instance, if you went with the attached shade, maybe paint a light/medium gray ... art instead of the shelf .. get rid of the bakers rack.

Canned lights .. new light fixture over table .. maybe a darker kitchen table?

Under cabinet lights would help too. Maybe also add in some brightly colored accessories to brighten space with a pop of color?

For starters taking into consideration the budget (best bang for the buck as follows)
lighting ov er the table
Try the Livex Lighting Park Ridge collection. You can find it on Bellacor.com. It comes in a couple of finishes and shapes. Very sharp.
under counter lighting

@anne dee: love that collection! Do you think pendant for above the table?

these 2 hanging lamps from the collection
for over the table

wow, that is a bit dark. Try getting lighter rta cabinets online, they have all wood (no ply board) so it will last longer. As far as the color, you can try to keep the earthy tones just lighten them up a bit.

Hello Olivera

I like your cabinets, and also the nice contrast with the flooring. I like the fact there are double cabinets on both sides with glass. I would add lights inside the glass cabinets. Next I would replace the single light in the kitchen area with track lighting with lights highlighting the beautiful cabinetry. Also would add under cabinet lighting especially with the counter top and back splash suggestion.

In my opinion, the counter tops should be in a lighter granite. Although, I like quartz personally, but I know most people prefer granite, so I would suggest Kashmir White, with an off-white subway tile back splash. I'm suggesting the timeless look that you would love for a long time to come. With those counter tops and back splash you'll have the flexibility to change the paint colors,

Now lets focus on your breakfast nook area - in which I agree that it should have some visual interest with a wall paper or some painting with vivid colors would brighten it up.

Hope this was helpful.

Has anyone mentioned under cabinet lighting yet? I quickly read the comments and agree with everyone that you need better overhead lighting and a nice pendant over the dining table. But under cabinet lighting will make such a difference too.

Hi Carolins, as Olivera is being budget conscious I recommended the LED under counter lighting. It's easy to install and requires no electricity i.e. outlet. (Ibelieve)

Hi anne dee, oh right :-) Sorry, I too quickly read the previous comments. And my comment crossed with Modern Age Designs who also suggested under cabinet lighting.

Here's an ideabook about LED lighting. Interesting read:
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/the-lowdown-on-high-efficiency-led-lighting-stsetivw-vs~9600878

The cabinets are only 7 years old, and look to be in fine shape, and over all, the kitchen looks really nice. I think if you had good lighting, it would change the whole feel of the room. I like some of the suggestions you've gotten about undermount lights, which are certainly easy, and inexpensive, and also add a lot of depth. I would definitely replace the light over the table as well, into something more modern and bright. At that point, I'd see how the room felt, and maybe changing the paint, or the table, or other smaller accessories, might do the trick.

I agree with everyone on lighting. That's the first thing I would do. Replace your fixtures with something that has more than 2 bulbs in it where the bulbs point down instead of up. If the light bulbs point up, your ceiling will get all of the light. Put in some under cabinet lighting. If paying for someone to run electrical there is an issue, buy the kind that you attach yourself to the underside of the cabinet & plug in. Do you have enough outlets for that? I know the cords aren't pretty, but you can ignore that if it helps you see what you're doing at the counter. You can always put something in front of it to hide it.

You didn't mention wanting to paint the walls but if you do, pick something with some contrast. Your neutrals all kind of blend together (floor, back splash, walls). Gray, cream, yellow, tan would all still blend in. Look at blues with a hint of gray or a subdued turquoise. It would add color without being bland or dark. I assume you like turquoise since that's the only bright color you have in there.

Replace your rug with something in brighter colors & a runner across your table in the same colors. Set a few more accent pieces on the tops of your upper cabinets.

Do the lights & inexpensive & easy things before you tackle changing your cabinets & counters. I like your cabinets & the color matches the border strip in your flooring. If you change the color of them, I'm afraid that dark strip in your floors will look silly. I think better lighting will make you like them more. If not, think about frosting the glass doors. That would add a pale block of color to your cabinets.

Thanks Carolins for reminding me as I too have bookmarked to my Ideadbook but in truth have not read the complete article.

I agree with everyone who has tagged inadequate lighting as the major problem in this dark kitchen. However, you may not wish to jump immediately to pot lighting since budget is listed as a constraint, recessed pot lighting is expensive. Another issue with it is that it will still only give down-lighting. Look at the ceiling and note that there is no light being reflected off it even in the shot illustrating the pot lights. The same thing will happen with track lighting. For the easiest-on-the-budget approach, try the LED strip lighting for under-cabinet task lighting and switching the overhead fixture to a semi-flush style with at least three bulbs in it for general lighting. In fact, the pendant style pictured above by Anne D for over the dining table probably comes with an option for a shorter stem or in a semi-flush option.

Then, repaint the walls to a colour that matches the undertone in your back splash which seems to be pinky-beige (looks like tumbled limestone??) like Benjamin Moore's 1037 Muslin or HC-45 Shaker Beige. This will lower the contrast with the floor as well, making the room feel larger and will make those dark cabinets the stars of the show. (Painting cabinets properly is NOT an inexpensive proposition - rule of thumb is 50% of replacement cost to have it done professionally). If these changes don't make enough of a difference for you, THEN consider lightening the counter tops. They look like laminate now, so changing to quartz would certainly put a big dent in the budget and would also affect your backsplash (ie. not a simple or inexpensive change). You could change them out to a lighter version of plastic laminate, though, but choose something that will not compete with your back splash like some granite-a-like product. Look something that looks like limestone or cream coloured quartz.

I forgot to mention to add a pendant lighting that Anne Dee has suggested. You could paint your dining table white and the chairs a bright color, if you choose not to go with the wallpaper idea. If you do go with the wallpaper idea, then I would paint those chairs black.

You'll need an oil based primer and paint to do the job.

Hope this helps

Your kitchen has great counters, cabinets & floors....but I think what you are feeling is a case of the blahs with everything in the brown/tan/green range. This should be an easy and affordable fix. Paint will save the day for you! The walls need a deeper and vibrant punch of color...perhaps an apple green or a mustard yellow depending on your taste. Then I would consider painting your table a high gloss black and adding a lantern style fixture over table to brighten the eating area. Ballard Designs or Home Depot have many affordable options. Tie these changes in with a bolder rug and some additional accents. Also a lamp on your counter will bring some additional softer lighting to your space as well.

Since your cabinets are keyed to the tonal stripes in the floor, it is a poor idea to paint them. The floor will then look funky. Agree with all that lighting adds and perhaps a new wall color are your best next steps.

1) First thing to tackle lighting, Invest your money in lighting what you can afford, from the cheapest strip lights, rope, undercabinet, pendant, recessed. That's where you should spend your money. 2) Paint the green walls a beige lighter color, keep the cabinets and the countertops, you just need to lighten up everything else. Can use green as accent color Hope this helped.

@Elizabeth: would you suggest 2 of the flush mount lamps? Or one over the table and perhaps track lighting in the galley part of the kitchen? Thanks

I would do recessed all over or track light and a nice full pendant or chandelier over the table, no flush mounts.

I have decided to start with the lighting and go from there :) thank so much for all of your suggestions!!

gMore lighting. Change rugs to lighter prettier ones. Take that freezer to the pantry or garage... very pretty floors there.

Love galley kitchens! Open that wall at the end with a set of French doors leading to a balcony or patio.

I had a dreary 1970's oak finish cabinets. Drab and dark! So I painted the cabinets robin's egg blue with bright red trim and I added chrome accents (replaced jar light above sink with hanging chrome light from IKEA and added faux chrome farmhouse tile backsplash at stove). I also replaced the sink and faucet. Everyone now loves my kitchen! I spent about $400. :D

@decoenthusiaste: I opened up the side wall last year leading onto our back patio. Much more natural light now :)

@Olivera-post a pic on this thread when you have a chance to add lighting. We'd love to see how it turns out. Good luck!

For the budget-conscious who have plenty of time and elbow grease try rustoleumtransformations.com to change the cabinets.

Not sure if the photos give justice, but I am already loving my kitchen much more now that it is SO much brighter! Under mount lighting is next :)

I have put area rugs in a kitchen to give it more personality. Would be really cheap option and you cannot wreck wool in my experience! Your kitchen is so neutral you could do almost anything - a colorful kilim, a funky color animal print, or a rich traditional Persian - what ever appeals to you but maybe a little more out of your comfort zone than you'd commit to in cabinets etc. 3x5 or 5x7 or ? Depending on dimensions - centered bt your banks of cabinets.

It does look much brighter already. Glad you're feeling more positive about your lovely kitchen already. You'll love under mount lighting too. Please keep us updated. I'd love to see...

Much better!

yes it does look better and brighter.
Now you can see what's cookin" ;))
But one little qualm or maybe it is just yr pic . the light over the table appears to need alignment.
Have you decided on which under cabinet lighting to use?