Your kitchen is probably the area in your home where you spend the most time, if you think about it. Most people who host family gatherings and parties, in fact, find that the kitchen gets used more than the living room. It’s really and truly the heart of your home, which is why having a beautiful kitchen is important. Whether you’re preparing your home for sale or plan to stay in it for the next few decades, kitchen improvement ideas can help you direct your kitchen remodeling efforts for the best effects. Here are three ideas that you might try.One of the best ways to change the look of your kitchen is to change the cabinets. This can be as simple as refinishing them, which can actually take lots of time, or as complex as installing all new cabinetry. One in-between idea is to refinish the cabinets and then to add new doors. There are some beautiful modern-looking designs out now that incorporate metal, and you can also show off your lovely dishware with glass front kitchen cabinets.Another idea is to change the backsplash in your kitchen. This, too, is a simple way to change the entire look of your kitchen. If you do just this and a remodel of your cabinet doors, you won’t believe the transformation that can take place! There are lots of interesting materials out for backsplashes right now. For a bright, sunny look, use glass tiles in a modern color. For something more sophisticated, try using hammered metal tiles in copper with beautiful designs stamped into them. Another option is to go traditional or subtly Mediterranean with warm-colored tiles in a pretty design. Any of these options can really spice up your kitchen and make it more interesting.Of course, some kitchen improvement ideas are pretty major. One excellent way to make your kitchen both more modern and more functional is to add in a breakfast bar. There are all kinds of beautiful options out today, including step-down bars that have multiple levels for visual interest and usefulness. You can even add in a bar on rollers so that it can be moved around for different occasions. This sounds cheesy at first, but there are actually some beautiful moving bars on the market today that look just like traditional breakfast bars when they are locked into place. Either way, adding a breakfast bar can really dress up your kitchen even while making it more homey.