With Thanksgiving just six days away (it might be time to take that 25-pound turkey out of the freezer), we felt an entry about kitchen design was in order. But with the holidays around the corner, we also thought people might not want to spend $15,000 (or even $5,000) to give their kitchen a makeover.

A recent article in the Vancouver Sun offered several tips for updating your kitchen without spending a fortune. Among the dozen budget-friendly suggestions by the newspaper:

• COLOR YOUR WORLD – Bright, colorful accessories on countertops “instantly add that wow factor.” For inspiration, check out our recent blog entry on 2012 color trends.

• BRIGHT IDEA – Installing dimmer switches to control overhead lighting not only allows you to adjust brightness to match your mood, but it also saves electricity.

• COMPARE AND CONTRAST – Painting your walls is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to breathe new life into an old space. For the kitchen, the walls should contrast with the cabinets.

• ATTENTION TO DETAIL – Adding new handles and knobs to your cabinet doors is a simple way to make a big difference in the overall look and feel of the kitchen.

The complete list of kitchen design ideas can be found on the Vancouver Sun website. As for that 25-pound turkey, we’d be more than happy to offer some roasting tips, but we’re much better at building kitchens than we are at using them.