Kitchen renovations may be expensive, so if your hopes and expectations exceed your finances, try most of these alternatives. Reduce the size of your project by skimping on construction, eliminating unnecessary frills, or shaking up tried-and-true kitchen staples. Let these ideas help you get a lovely kitchen for a little less money. GarageSmart Garage Storage Solutions
If you’re remodelling an older kitchen, you can save quite a bit of money. It doesn’t matter if you’ve lived in your house for decades or just gotten the keys; these quick and cheap kitchen updates will help everyone.
Bring In The Pattern
An antique rug or some lush flowery wallpaper may do wonders for making even a little kitchen seem more like home. Looking for patterns that use the same colour will allow you to try them out at once.
Float Shelves.
It’s obvious that we could all benefit from more Storage. Use McGee & Co. as inspiration and instal some exposed brick walls over the kitchen sink to store cutlery, glasses, and even leaning artwork.
Add Colour With Stools.
These kinds of metal stools are commonly supplied in pairs for extremely low prices. Create a rainbow effect in your white kitchen by having each stool be a different colour.
Put up some plate hangers or use detachable strips to adhere them to the wall. Try digging into your family’s china cabinet for a cherished antique, or pick up a few bright, inexpensive pieces at a garage sale.
Hang Some Art
The kitchen is one of our favourite places for art. You should hang some artwork anywhere there is a blank wall, a flat surface for a frame, or a large distance between the top of your cabinets and the ceiling. It’s just as appropriate to hang framed artwork in the kitchen as it is in the dining room or living room. Though the fashion is ultimately up to you, we do have some ideas on where to start looking.
Add A Rug
Covering the floor with a rug, adding some colour, and providing a softer place for your tired feet to land are just a few of the many benefits that rugs bring to a kitchen. If we were to narrow it down to just a few stores, we’d choose items from West Elm, Wayfair, and Urban Outfitters.
Paint Something
If you want to make a quick, cheap, and noticeable alteration to your kitchen, paint is your best bet. Except for the food, of course, you can paint everything in your kitchen. Paint those old wood cabinets white to make your tiny kitchen look more spacious. You can use a faux finish to cover up damaged walls or cabinets. Let your imagination run free. If you don’t like the way something looks after it has been painted, it can always be painted over.
We are not suggesting that you repaint your cabinetry. (It’s doable, and it’ll make a tremendous impact in your area, but it’s not exactly a breeze to implement compared to the other suggestions.) You should just paint something instead. There’s been a bump! One beautifully designed feature wall! This is a toe kick, man! Anything!
British design expert Iris Wingfield advises never underestimating the power of a fresh coat of paint and coordinated curtains.
If you alter the colours, it will feel like a big deal because it is, explains Wingfield. “Paint is all that’s needed to give the place a whole different feel.”
Painting is not only a low-cost option to make a dramatic visual impact on a room, but you can also possibly perform the work yourself. If you’re looking to save money on a paint job, doing the most of the dirty labour yourself is a great option.
If you want a new look quickly and cheaply, there’s no better option than paint. You may use it to give your worn-out hardwood floors a new look, your outdated cabinets a facelift, and your kitchen an entirely new focal point. Paint can be used to update the look of your kitchen’s counters and backsplash if you take the necessary precautions first.
One of the simplest and least expensive methods to update the look of your kitchen is to paint the cabinets. With a cream background, you can easily update your kitchen with the newest colour palettes. Be sure to prime cabinets before painting them. You can find furniture primer and a variety of paints designed for use on wood, melamine, and MDF cabinets from stores like Wilko and B&Q.
Add Some Wallpaper
These days, you can find a wide variety of high-quality peel-and-stick wallpapers, especially at Target. You can narrow down your search by selecting a desired colour or pattern type (geometric, floral, etc.). Are you looking for the utmost in subtlety? This one mimics the look of classic white subway tiles.
Connect A Pendant Light
Don’t feel like dealing with electrical outlets and switches just yet. Yes, we totally get it. New light fixtures may be installed without having to deal with any of that risky material. Pendant lights that just plug into an outlet may be found in abundance at Home Depot (just plug one in, swoop the cord, and hang from a hook in the ceiling). You can purchase pendant conversion kits from your local home improvement store to instal a pendant light in a recessed light fixture.
The brightness and inviting atmosphere of a kitchen can be greatly affected by the lights and light switches. Because of this, Davis recommends using warmer lights in the kitchen.
Lighten things up a bit so they’re more cheerful and inviting, he advises. The light switch panels, which you should consider replacing, “should fit the hardware and overall vibe of the kitchen well.”
Replacement light switches and light fixtures can be found at a variety of local and online home improvement retailers.
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Swap Out Your Stools
Just by replacing the chairs at your kitchen’s island (and giving away the old ones), you may make a huge difference. Wayfair, World Market, and Industry West are among our favourite places to shop for bar stools. We are also big admirers of Rivet and Stone & Beam, two of Amazon’s private-label furniture lines.
Get A Colourful Small Appliance
Small home appliances serve a similar decorative purpose as throw pillows but are far more practical in the kitchen. Put out a lovely coffee maker, a pastel SMEG toaster, or a KitchenAid Stand Mixer in your favourite colour. The machine is only valuable in terms of the space it occupies if you actually use it or look at it on a regular basis.
Or Even Just A Tea Kettle
Do you really need to go out and buy a bunch of new kitchen gadgets? Perhaps a new tea kettle is in order, though. It’s a classic piece from Le Creuset and comes in more than a dozen vibrant colours. The bright colour will add a nice touch if you leave it out on the stove.
Hang New Window Treatments
As an aside, did you realise that Minted also offers window treatments? This is the case, and the selections are just as lovely as the stationery (because many manufacturers employ the designs of the same artists!). Improve the aesthetic of your breakfast nook by changing the curtains.
Add A Backsplash
As expected, peel-and-stick technology saves the day, allowing you to instal a backsplash without disturbing the existing tilework or grout. You may find several different options for simple-to-install stick-on backsplash panels at Home Depot. Even though these marble hexagon tiles or copper-like ones aren’t our favourites, we could totally imagine them in a kitchen.
Pay For A Pro
Get in touch with an expert designer to discuss your wants and needs within your financial constraints. You might get more kitchen for your money if you hire an architect, kitchen designer, or general contractor. You may be able to save enough money by avoiding mistakes so that you can afford their services.
Tile The Backsplash
Backsplash tiles have seen better days, but they may be easily replaced without breaking the bank. Don’t be discouraged if you visit a tile showroom and find that the options shown there are out of your price range. These tiles may be out of your price range, but with some ingenuity, you can get the same style with more affordably priced materials. Consider creative uses, such as neat rows or carefully placed pricey tiles as considerate embellishments.
Put In New Floors
Do some research before settling on a new floor for your kitchen if you need to replace it. You should compare the price per square foot while shopping for flooring, as prices might vary widely depending on the unit of measure used (sheet, linear foot, or square foot). Try not to overlook the use of more affordable materials: A one-of-a-kind (and low-cost) answer can be achieved by inventive application, as by blending colours or finishes. Vinyl, linoleum, and laminate flooring are all good options to consider if you’re on a tight budget.
Instead of replacing or living with unsightly tiles, you can just paint over them for a quick and inexpensive makeover. So, grab some paint and cover up those dreadful tiles. DIY tile painting is a breeze if you have the right information, so check out our comprehensive how-to guide.
If you have a worn-out kitchen floor that is detracting from the overall design, there is no need to rip it up and start over. If you ask any kitchen designer, they’ll tell you that the cheapest way to run it is beneath the plinths, rather than wall-to-wall.
Forgo Cabinetry
Change out your built-in cupboards for rolling carts and open shelving. Find the freestanding metal worktops and shelves used in commercial kitchens by visiting a restaurant supply store. Arrange plates, bowls, and toasters on shelves. Collect smaller objects in baskets and trays. The cutlery is neatly stored in crocks on the countertops.
Little Changes
Changing the cabinet hardware to something with a more modern finish or a bold colour can breathe new life into an otherwise drab kitchen.
Shop Carefully
List prices for items are often what contractors and plumbers use to recoup their expenses. You can save a lot of money by going the direct route for your purchases. Those bidding on your projects should know exactly what supplies you’re looking to get.
Easy To Clean
There is an abundance of paint and wallcovering alternatives available for sprucing up the walls; just make sure that anything you pick can be cleaned quickly and efficiently. You can choose from a wide variety of window treatments but keep the design simple to minimise the time spent setting them up and cleaning them up.
Update Your Kitchen Cabinets
However, if your current cabinets are in good form, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars if you want to give your kitchen a facelift without replacing the cabinets.
If your kitchen cabinets are made of solid wood, then a few easy updates can make them seem much better and more modern than they do now.
Check out garage cabinet storage
It recommends sanding and refinishing old wooden cabinets to remove oil stains, scratches, and an unflattering colour. Once completed, the cabinets will be a vibrant addition to your budget-friendly, visually appealing kitchen.
If you don’t like the look of stained natural wood, sand the cabinets and give them a new coat of paint in a shade that suits your tastes. Some prefer elaborate cabinet colour schemes, but anyone may benefit from the crisp, modern look of white cabinets.
It’s far more cost-effective to only replace the doors and drawer fronts instead of getting brand new cabinets. In lieu of this pricey option, you could always instal lattice door inserts into your cabinets. In addition to being distinctive, they also provide a novel feel to the overall design. You can even replace the interior panels with glass to show off your fine china and stemware. If you’re into the style but don’t want your cabinets on display, frosted glass is another option.
You can use chicken wire behind the glass or hang fabric from tiny curtain rods within the cabinets if you already have them but are sick of seeing all your clutter on display.
Shop For Inexpensive Countertops
Although a new set of high-end countertops is a necessary part of any major kitchen remodel, you may easily cut costs in this area by looking around. You can save money by refinishing your existing cabinets and then replacing the countertops at the same time.
A kitchen’s aesthetic appeal might be destroyed by an old or soiled countertop. You might tile over it instead of replacing it. If even that’s too pricey, you might want to think about re-laminating it. Laminate sheets are widely available at home improvement stores and can save you a significant amount of money compared to installing brand new counters. Plus, they are more portable, can typically be installed by a single person, and are available in a wide range of colours, materials, and designs.
Billings, Montana real estate agent Nancy Brook recommends saving money by not working with a designer when purchasing new stone countertops from either a bargain granite shop or a home improvement store. During one of Lowe’s yearly discounts, Brook was able to purchase brand new granite countertops for less than half the price she would have paid elsewhere.
Your kitchen’s countertops should complement your cabinets, your design aesthetic, and your financial constraints. Still, you may save a tonne of money by being flexible with your material choices, shopping around, and doing the installation work yourself. If you’re not prepared to pay an installer to take out the old countertops, you can save even more money by doing it yourself.
Add Roll-Out Kitchen Shelves.
If you want a new kitchen without spending a lot of money on new cabinets, but you still want the look and enhanced usefulness of new cabinets, then adding some more innovative upgrades to your old cabinets can offer a lot of value. Heartwork Organizing’s Darla DeMorrow is a huge fan of installing roll-out shelves in cramped kitchens.
According to DeMorrow, roll-out shelf systems cost about $100 each but restore valuable square feet of kitchen cabinet space. According to DeMorrow, they can also improve the accessibility of preexisting cabinets for those with limited mobility.
Spruce Up A Fridge With Wallpaper
Get creative with a can of spray paint if you want to give your fridge or freezer a pop of colour but don’t have the cash for an expensive Smeg model. You may also use double-sided tape and some leftover wallpaper to temporarily cover the face of the device.
Install New Worktops
The replacement of your kitchen’s work surfaces can have a profound effect on the room’s overall aesthetic. With regards to material costs, laminate ranks first. Investing in a permanent pan stand with heat rods or a draining board that is built into the countertop is a good idea if you have the extra cash.
Add A Freestanding Kitchen Island
If you haven’t planned for enough extra space but still have some open floor area, a freestanding kitchen island is a fantastic addition both for food storage and preparation. Or perhaps you’re a renter who’s struggling to make do with inadequate kitchen storage. A portable kitchen island may be easily packed up and relocated. In addition, there is usually plenty of kitchen cabinetry, counter space, and room for an island table.
Improve Your Kitchen Storage
There’s no getting away from it, good Storage for small kitchens (in fact, storage for all kitchen sizes) will improve how your kitchen looks and functions in a heartbeat. Storage jars, laundry storage ideas and pantry storage ideas… they’ll all help your kitchen feel neater and look more streamlined.
There’s no need to elaborate. It’s incredible how much stuff we manage to collect over time. Taking an afternoon to organise your kitchen cabinets will make finding the stuff you need quickly and easily. Cleaning up the counters is another quick and easy way to make your kitchen seem better without spending a dime. Alternatively, you could experiment with new approaches to storage. You may maximise your storage capacity by installing additional shelves and hanging rods.
If the backbone of your cabinets is in good shape but they are looking a bit antiquated in terms of style or colour, you may want to consider simply changing the doors. Companies that deal only in the sale of replacement doors are plentiful. Instead, you might paint your cabinets for a simple facelift. Both of these alternatives are simpler and more cost-effective than a complete kitchen remodel. The use of colour is the simplest and cheapest approach to update the look of a kitchen. Try to get a deep colour that makes you feel at ease.
Try not to go overboard, as there is already a lot happening in the kitchen and you wouldn’t want it to look much busier than it already is. In addition, premium paint is the only way to go for long-lasting results. Open-plan layouts are made cosier with the addition of decorative elements like artwork, soft furnishings, and shelf displays, all of which can be easily swapped out for a fresh appearance with the changing of the seasons or whenever the mood strikes. Antique stores, thrift stores, and online marketplaces like eBay all carry a nice selection of vintage cookware that looks excellent in traditional and country kitchens. Favorite china can be stored and displayed in an inexpensive vintage dresser with glass doors or in a piece of budget kitchen furniture.
Conclusion
It’s cheaper to remodel an older kitchen. By skimping on construction, eliminating frills, and updating classic kitchen staples, you may have a lovely kitchen for less. These cheap kitchen modifications will improve everyone’s lives. In addition, British interior designer Iris Wingfield advises against underestimating the power of paint. Painting your kitchen countertops and backsplash will refresh them.
Self-painting saves money. Kitchen lights and switches affect brightness and ambience. Home Depot sells simple-to-install pendant lights. Peel-and-stick technology helps instal backsplashes. DIY kitchen upgrades are doable on a budget.
Painting over ugly tiles is cheaper than replacing them. DIY tile painting is easy with the right information and resources. Good-condition kitchen cabinets don’t need replacing. Simple changes make them look better and more modern. Walls can be repainted or covered in many ways.
Replacing kitchen cabinets and countertops together saves money. Instead of hiring an installation, remove the old countertops yourself to save even more. In small kitchens, Heartwork Organizing founder Darla DeMorrow recommends roll-out shelving. Mobile kitchen islands can be disassembled and moved. Extra racks maximise storage capacity. Old cookware, found in abundance at antique shops, thrift stores, and online markets like eBay, enhances traditional and rural kitchens.
Content Summary
- Reduce the size of your project by skimping on construction, eliminating unnecessary frills, or shaking up tried-and-true kitchen staples.
- Let these ideas help you get a lovely kitchen for a little less money.
- GarageSmart Garage Storage SolutionsIf you’re remodelling an older kitchen, you can save quite a bit of money.
- An antique rug or lush flowery wallpaper may make even a little kitchen seem more like home.
- Looking for patterns that use the same colour will allow you to try them out at once.
- Use McGee & Co. as inspiration and instal some exposed brick walls over the kitchen sink to store cutlery, glasses, and even leaning artwork.
- The kitchen is one of our favourite places for art.
- You should hang some artwork anywhere there is a blank wall, a flat surface for a frame, or a large distance between the top of your cabinets and the ceiling.
- It’s just as appropriate to hang framed artwork in the kitchen as in the dining or living room.
- Covering the floor with a rug, adding colour, and providing a softer place for your tired feet to land are just a few of rugs’ many benefits to a kitchen.
- Paint white, old wood cabinets to make your tiny kitchen look more spacious.
- You can use a faux finish to cover up damaged walls or cabinets.
- British design expert Iris Wingfield advises never underestimating the power of a fresh coat of paint and coordinated curtains.
- If you’re looking to save money on a paint job, doing most of the dirty labour yourself is a great option.
- Paint can be used to update the look of your kitchen’s counters and backsplash if you take the necessary precautions first.
- One of the simplest and least expensive methods to update the look of your kitchen is to paint the cabinets.
- You can purchase pendant conversion kits from your local home improvement store to instal a pendant light in a recessed light fixture.
- The lights and light switches can greatly affect the brightness and inviting atmosphere of a kitchen.
- Because of this, Davis recommends using warmer lights in the kitchen.
- Replacement light switches and fixtures can be found at local and online home improvement retailers.
- You may make a huge difference by replacing the chairs on your kitchen’s island (and giving away the old ones).
- Small home appliances serve a similar decorative purpose as throw pillows but are far more practical in the kitchen.
- Get in touch with an expert designer to discuss your wants and needs within your financial constraints.
- You might get more kitchen for your money if you hire an architect, kitchen designer, or general contractor.
- These tiles may be out of your price range, but with some ingenuity, you can get the same style with more affordable materials.
- Do research before settling on a new floor for your kitchen if you need to replace it.
- Vinyl, linoleum, and laminate flooring are all good options to consider if you’re on a tight budget.
- Instead of replacing or living with unsightly tiles, you can paint over them for a quick and inexpensive makeover.
- If you have the right information, DIY tile painting is a breeze, so check out our comprehensive how-to guide.
- Changing the cabinet hardware to something with a more modern finish or a bold colour can breathe new life into an otherwise drab kitchen.
- However, if your current cabinets are in good form, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars if you want to give your kitchen a facelift without replacing the cabinets.
- Once completed, the cabinets will be a vibrant addition to your budget-friendly, visually appealing kitchen.
- It’s far more cost effective to replace the doors and drawer fronts instead of getting brand-new cabinets.
- Instead of this pricey option, you could always instal lattice door inserts into your cabinets.
- If you’re into the style but don’t want your cabinets on display, frosted glass is another option.
- You can save money by refinishing your existing cabinets and replacing the countertops simultaneously.
- Your kitchen countertops should complement your cabinets, design aesthetic, and financial constraints.
- Still, you may save tons of money by being flexible with your material choices, shopping around, and doing the installation work yourself.
- If you’re not prepared to pay an installer to take out the old countertops, you can save even more money by doing it yourself.
- If you want a new kitchen without spending a lot of money on new cabinets but still want the look and enhanced usefulness of new cabinets, adding some more innovative upgrades to your old cabinets can offer a lot of value.
- The replacement of your kitchen’s work surfaces can have a profound effect on the room’s overall aesthetic.
- A portable kitchen island may be easily packed up and relocated.
- In addition, there is usually plenty of kitchen cabinetry, counter space, and room for an island table.
- There’s no getting away from it; good Storage for small kitchens (in fact, storage for all kitchen sizes) will improve how your kitchen looks and functions in a heartbeat.
- Taking an afternoon to organise your kitchen cabinets will make finding the stuff you need quick and easy.
- Alternatively, you could experiment with new approaches to storage.
- If the backbone of your cabinets is in good shape, but they look a bit old-fashioned in terms of style or colour, you may want to consider simply changing the doors.
- Instead, you might paint your cabinets for a simple facelift.
- The use of colour is the simplest and cheapest approach to updating the look of a kitchen.
FAQs About Kitchen Budget
When designing a kitchen, what factors should one prioritise?
The ideal kitchen layout is one that is both aesthetically pleasing and highly practical. Layout, storage, lighting, flooring, and ventilation are five of the most important aspects to think about.
How much should you spend on kitchen cabinetry?
Stock cabinets are the least expensive option, costing between $60 and $200 per linear foot, followed by semi-custom cabinets at $100 to $650 per linear foot, and finally bespoke cabinets at $500 to $1,200 per linear foot.
Why does it pay off to give careful thought to the kitchen’s layout?
To get the most of your brand new kitchen, it’s crucial that you plan out its layout in advance. It can make a difference in how easy it is to maintain order in your space, how productive you feel when working there, how comfortable you feel when you’re there, and how you feel when you’re there with others.
What should one do first when doing a kitchen makeover?
Demolition and clearing the space is the first stage in every kitchen renovation project. You can’t build a stunning new room without first demolishing the old one and clearing out the debris. At this point, you should tear away any walls, cabinets, floors, fixtures, and the like that you don’t plan to maintain.
How much money can you save if you construct your own kitchen cabinets instead of buying them?
If you have a lot of spare time, a well-stocked woodshop, and some advanced woodworking abilities, then building your own kitchen cabinets might be a good option. Building your own cabinets will save you around 66%, but if you aren’t a skilled carpenter, the cost of supplies and time will eat into this significantly.