One of the best ways to update your home and increase the joy of homeownership is to renovate your kitchen. That said, a complete gut and refit of a kitchen can cost anywhere between $14,548 and $40,432, and not everyone has the money to spare for a professional renovation.
The good news is that even if you don't have the funds for a complete remodel of your kitchen, there are many low-cost upgrades that you can make to take your kitchen from drab to fab. All you need is a little DIY knowledge and some sweat equity.
Are you considering upgrading your outdated kitchen on a budget? Then keep reading for affordable and impactful project tips.
Paint is an inexpensive way to make a dramatic difference in any room, and the kitchen is no exception. In a kitchen, you can make a significant impact with paint because more can be painted than just the walls.
Here's what (and how) to paint in your kitchen.
The most accessible place to start your kitchen upgrade is to paint the walls. Neutral light colors like grey and white are always a good place to start. However, the rise of maximalism, which is the increased use of saturated colors and clutter, means that you may want to try adding saturated colors like teals or oranges.
Painting is easy to do yourself to keep costs low. You can expect to spend between $200 and $750 to paint your kitchen walls. The cost range depends on the paint quality, how much of the equipment you already have (like drop clothes and paint trays) and the size of the kitchen.
If you're tired of your kitchen cabinets, replacing them might be the first solution that comes to mind. Unfortunately, the average cost to replace kitchen cabinets is $11,100–not exactly a budget-friendly option.
Instead of replacing your kitchen cabinets, consider painting them. For the best results, you'll want to hire a professional painter who will take your cabinet doors to their workshop and spray them for a long-wearing factory-quality finish. You can expect this process to cost between $394 and $1,254, with an average cost of $762.
Alternatively, for an even more budget-friendly solution, you can paint kitchen cabinets using a kit from a home improvement store. This solution will take lots of sweat equity and costs about $100 including extra equipment, like brushes and plastic sheeting.
If your laminate countertop looks old and dingy but replacing it isn't in your budget, consider transforming it with the power of paint. You can tackle this project with a specialty countertop kit that uses epoxy paint to create marble-look-alike countertops. These kits cost $200, are durable and long-lasting, and can transform your countertops in as little as a day.
Light fixtures can instantly date a home — especially in kitchens, where they can quickly become dusty and covered in grease. Fortunately, replacing a light fixture is an easy project to tackle yourself, and modern light fixtures can be purchased from home improvement stores for as little as $40.
You'll need a few specialized tools to tackle this project, including a wire cutter and stripping tool, a non-contact voltage tester, and pliers. If you feel like it's beyond your ability, you might want to call in a pro.
Another project you can tackle on your own is replacing your kitchen's cabinet hardware. All you'll need for this project is a drill and a cabinet hardware template, along with new pulls and knobs, which can be purchased at home improvement stores or online. These minor updates can modernize your kitchen and can cost as little as $100.
Next to appliances, your sink faucet is the most prominent fixture in your kitchen. While replacing appliances for under $2,000 might not be possible, replacing your sink faucet is. Sink faucets vary dramatically in price, from less than $50 online to more than $1,000 for high-end, touchless faucets. To keep this project low-cost, choose an inexpensive faucet in a trendy color like matte black or chrome. You can decide to hire a pro for this project at a rate of between $120 and $300 or tackle it yourself to save money.
Updated tile backsplash and flooring can give your kitchen an instant facelift. Unfortunately, replacing natural tile is expensive, labor intensive and may not fit within a $2,000 kitchen renovation budget. However, there are modern and inexpensive tile options that are not only DIY-friendly but also trendy and aesthetically pleasing.
You can opt for peel-and-stick tile as an inexpensive alternative to natural tile. Peel-and-stick tile is available in a wide variety of colors and textures and is very easy to install yourself with just a sharp knife and measuring tape. Consider adding a subway tile backsplash for a more modern look. You can expect to pay between $4.50 per square foot and $20 per square foot for a peel-and-stick backsplash.
You've heard of vinyl plank flooring that mimics the look of wood, but what about peel-and-stick vinyl tile? Unlike vinyl tile in the past, modern vinyl tile is made to look convincingly like marble or other stone, is easy to install and can even be grouted in some instances. Peel-and-stick vinyl tile is easy to install with minimal tools and costs between $2 and $4 per square foot. Vinyl tile flooring can usually be installed directly over existing flooring and is easily removable.
Having the kitchen of your dreams might be outside your budget, but with just $2,000 or $3,000, you can still make some significant changes. Learning to do renovations yourself is the best way to stretch your small budget, and opting for minor, impactful updates can take your kitchen from outdated to trendy in no time. Just remember to do your research, plan well and expect to make a few mistakes along the way.
