Sometimes, a full kitchen remodel is out of your budget, but you still want to improve the look and feel of your favorite area. Modernizing kitchen spaces is one of the best ways to refresh one of your home’s most vital assets without breaking the bank.
There are various ways to get a fresh look in an outdated kitchen, many of which will only cost a few hundred dollars but make a huge difference. Let’s look at some of the most budget-friendly ways to give the whole room a modern look without spending thousands.
Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets
Dated cabinets can make an old kitchen feel musty, but new cabinets can cost thousands of dollars. Painting your cabinets is the cheapest way to help your kitchen feel fresh, and all it requires is a bit of elbow grease and an eye for design.
Before you start painting cabinets, you’ll need to sand down the cabinetry to create a good surface for the paint, especially if you have particleboard cabinet boxes. You may replicate the stark white kitchen that has become wildly popular in the last few years or choose a fun, bright color that accentuates natural light and makes the kitchen feel wholly yours. One delightful option is to paint the doors a different color for enhanced visual interest.
Cabinet Door Upgrades
Changing up the cabinet doors is a quick kitchen update that only requires some new hardware or, in some cases, removing the hardware. Glass paneled doors help add some transparency to the space, which can make it feel more open. Cabinets with more modern hardware can help these essential storage solutions seem utterly revitalized.
Paint the Walls
Painting the walls can also bring new vibrancy and style to an older kitchen without spending thousands of dollars. Make the kitchen a room you really want to spend time in by choosing warm, friendly hues, such as orange, pink, light red, or yellow, accented with a cooler tone for greater visual contrast.
Install New Lighting
A large portion of kitchen design relies on lighting, as it’s essential to see what you’re doing. Bright kitchen lighting will help the space feel larger and airier, even if you have a very compact floor plan. Use pendant lighting for a touch of class, and install task lighting over areas like the countertops or the sink. While replacing lighting does require relying on a contractor, it’s one of the cheaper kitchen updates that will also make a huge difference in your quality of life.
Recessed Lighting
If you love modern interior design, replacing your standard lights with recessed lighting is a budget-friendly kitchen makeover. These more unobtrusive lighting options will draw attention to your favorite elements, such as a new backsplash or a high-class stove.
You must work with a qualified electrician when you replace any lighting — never tackle anything electrical on your own. Regardless, it’s a relatively inexpensive fix that will make a major difference in how your kitchen looks and feels.
Update Your Countertops
Your kitchen island and countertops are essential, as they’re where you prepare most of your dishes. Thus, it’s important not to skimp here, especially as a good countertop can last decades longer than a cheap one.
Opt for natural stone such as granite or quartz, which resists chipping and, when cared for properly, will prove an important culinary ally for years to come. Far from being only in black and white, stone countertops come in grey, brown, green, pink, purple, orange, and everything in between.
Visit a local countertop outlet store to get an idea of your choices, considering how they would look with your cabinetry and appliances. As these can be a bit pricey, be sure to have a professional install them to ensure your new investment is secure.
Install New Appliances
An outdated kitchen often comes with old appliances that don’t work as well as they used to. Even if a full remodel is out of your budget, you might consider splurging on those steady workhorses you use every day — your dishwasher, stove, and refrigerator. Opt for stainless steel appliances that are easy to clean and resist wear, especially those with space-saving options and special features such as sanitizing cycles.
When replacing appliances, you may need to remodel existing cabinetry or countertops to make space for them. If so, you might find it helpful to work with a kitchen designer who can help you decide what to remove and how to better reorient everything. Always have new appliances professionally installed to ensure you won’t have any major issues.
Add an Accent Wall
While painting is an easy and cheap way to bring a fresh outlook to a kitchen, there’s much more you can do than just placing the same color on everything. Consider adding an accent wall in a contrasting color. If you’re handy, you might even decide to paint it with a scene of your own. Airbrush stencils are a simple and affordable way to create a unique pattern that matches the mood you wish to set in your kitchen.
Wallpaper in a fun pattern that harmonizes with the other walls is a great choice, especially one that has been specially designed for kitchens so that it is easy to clean. You have hundreds of options here, from simple stripes to designs like vegetables and fruits. As wallpaper can be tricky to hang correctly, you may find it best to get a general contractor or handyperson skilled in setting wallpaper to assist you.
Consider adding tile to one wall if you’d like to take your home renovation ideas up a notch. If carefully and professionally done, this can make a dramatic statement that is also very easy to wipe down. Choose anything from sophisticated subway tiles to colorful talavera tiles, depending on your aesthetic, and then match the hues with contrasting walls.
Switch to Open Shelving
Kitchen updates can also be about removing things – specifically, banishing cabinet doors and relying on open shelving. This works especially well for upper cabinets, where open shelves help open up a tight space while accommodating a tight budget.
If your current cabinets aren’t worth saving, you may choose to change out the top cabinetry with modern, open versions. Adding track lighting inside will further enhance the sense of airiness while still ensuring great storage solutions.
Replace Knobs and Pulls
Replacing drawer pulls and knobs is a quick fix that can make a difference in how a kitchen looks and feels. Whether you want a different pattern or finish, a quick visit to the local home improvement store will unveil countless options.
Maybe you like the simple look of square knobs, or you want brushed copper in a delicate pattern; the choice is entirely yours. It only takes a few minutes and very little know-how to change a knob or pull — you unthread the old one, push the new one in, and secure it inside.
You can special order pulls that match your aesthetic or even go for a mismatched look by trawling an antique shop for appropriate knobs. You’ll be left with a one-of-a-kind kitchen without breaking the bank.
Update Your Sink and Faucets
A roomy farmhouse sink doesn’t just look good, but it also provides you with plenty of space to wash even the largest pots and pants comfortably. Replacing your sink will likely require the help of a contractor, as you will need to hook everything back up to the plumbing system. However, it will also make it much easier to enjoy your kitchen, as you won’t need to juggle a full sink of dirty dishes right after dinner.
High-powered faucets will let you blast away dried-on food, especially if you select one with a flexible hose, letting you angle it just right.
Add a Hanging Rack
If you’d appreciate more storage but don’t have the budget to update your kitchen entirely, consider adding a hanging rack for pots, pans, or cutlery. These simple pieces of hardware make it possible to hook your pots up, leaving more space in your cabinets for spices, cans, and dishes. You can also get a magnetic knife board that allows you to place your knives on the wall instead of in a block, freeing up precious counter space for other tasks.
It’s important to note that you need to choose the hardware for this carefully, paying close attention to its weight limits. If you have heavy Le Creuset pans, for example, you might be better off keeping them in a drawer, leaving the hanging rack for lighter things such as saucepans and light pots. Regardless, you’ll get a fresh look reminiscent of a commercial kitchen, helping you feel like the master of the culinary arts.
Is Updating Your Kitchen Worth It?
Updating your kitchen can improve storage and aesthetics, but it still doesn’t solve major issues such as aging linoleum flooring, a poor floor plan, or infrastructure problems.
In some instances, such as if you have a poorly laid-out kitchen, you may be better off saving up to tackle these large-scale issues with a qualified remodeling contractor like PacWest Restoration. We have helped thousands of residents in the greater Portland area create kitchen spaces they absolutely love, ensuring both functionality and beauty in every aspect of this essential room. Additionally, we’re pros at water damage restoration, so you can be assured that regardless of what your home needs, we’re here to provide.
Call us at 503-746-6545 to discuss your kitchen remodeling needs, or leave a message on our contact form to explain your home goals. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, deep experience in home renovation, and affordable prices that allow everyone to fall in love with their home all over again.
