Adding some new life to your kitchen doesn’t have to be hard or terribly expensive when you check out this list of ideas for easy DIY kitchen updates!
Giving your kitchen a much-needed facelift is one of the ways that can help you fall in love with your home all over again. Unfortunately, the average kitchen remodel is going to set you back a cool $22,000; that is if you choose not to go with DIY kitchen updates.
You can save a lot of money if you forego the expensive renovations and just focus on easy kitchen upgrades that you can do little by little over time.
15 DIY Kitchen Updates You’ll Love
We’ve gathered 15 affordable DIY kitchen renovations that’ll give your kitchen a new breath of life – and it won’t break the bank, either!
Let’s dive in, shall we?
1. Paint!
Painting is a quick and easy way to take a boring kitchen and turn it into a creative environment that’ll make you (and other family members) want to be in the kitchen!
Green and yellow are great color choices for a kitchen, but if you have a lively personality, don’t be afraid to go bold!
2. Change Knobs and Handles on Cabinets
Did you know that your cabinet hardware can date your kitchen? They get dirty, they don’t hold a polish anymore, and maybe they just don’t look nice.
Before you pick out new hardware, you’ll want to decide what style of kitchen you have. If your kitchen has contemporary finishes like concrete Minerva Worktops, you should avoid antique finishes.
3. Paint Your Cabinets
Along with painting your walls, you can paint the cabinets. It will take a bit of time and effort to do this (especially if you have a lot of cabinets!), but the payoff is going to be well worth the effort!
4. Install a New Backsplash
Backsplashes come in a wide variety of colors, styles, designs, and even materials. You can find affordable but stylish options at your local home improvement store, or try searching online.
5. Install Task Lighting
Task lighting under the cabinets can be a practical DIY kitchen upgrade because it’ll give you a better workspace, but it can also create an evening mood-setting if you opt for dimmable LED lighting.
6. Mix and Match Countertops
If you have an island, you can get a wood countertop for a reasonable price. The wood is a lovely way to add warmth and richness to your kitchen area without having to do all of the countertops, which can get pretty pricey.
7. Re-do the Flooring
Your kitchen sees a lot of traffic, so chances are the flooring you currently have is looking a little worn-down. You can find affordable flooring options that are easy to install and look absolutely beautiful!
8. Add More Storage
In many homes, the kitchen is one of those rooms that could do with more storage options! Since you are already doing a variety of cheap kitchen updates, why not incorporate more storage solutions into the mix?
You can do this by adding more shelving to bare walls, or use hooks and racks to store all of your odds and ends. It’ll give your kitchen charm, but more importantly, it’ll give you more space!
9. Use Chalkboard Paint
If you’re interested in adding more storage space but you aren’t keen on having all of your measuring tools out in the open, why not use a bit of chalkboard paint and contact hooks to spruce up inside one of your cabinets?
To do this, just paint the inside of your cabinet door. Then when the paint dries, you can create a measuring chart for easy measuring, but you can also hang your measuring spoons and cups on individual hooks.
Check this step-by-step guide on how to do this project.
10. Change Out Switch Plates
Light switch and electrical outlet plates are one of those things that people don’t really think about when doing a renovation because they aren’t an in-your-face improvement.
However, when you do swap out a dingy switch plate with a fun one, you’ll be surprised by how much of a difference it makes!
You can find plates in a variety of styles and materials, so you may have a hard time choosing just one! Of course, you can always replace all the plates in your home if you can’t decide.
11. Upgrade Cabinets with 2 Things
All you need is a bit of molding and stain to change the look of your cabinets. You can even add some trim to the drawers and doors of your cabinets, too.
12. Upgrade Your Faucet
It may not seem like a lot, but by upgrading your faucet can change the look of your kitchen in a subtle way.
You can either do a complete upgrade and purchase a new unit, or you could just use a bit of elbow grease to prep the faucet’s surface so it’s ready for primer, and then spray paint the entire unit.
Note: You’ll need to use a rust-proof paint because it will come in contact with water.
13. Remove Cabinet Doors
Who said that you had to have cabinet doors?
If you have a cabinet that sits on a peninsula, you can remove the doors on either side of said cabinets to create an open shelving concept.
This will allow more light into the home while giving you an open and airy feeling without having to do any real demolition!
14. Get Stainless Steel
Stainless steel appliances aren’t an affordable DIY kitchen upgrade, but you can achieve the same look by using stainless steel contact paper.
You can put the contact paper on your dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator and the best part? A roll only costs $5!
15. Line the Inside of Your Cabinets with Contact Paper
If you have open cabinets, contact paper is available in many different patterns and design, and it’s one of the simplest ways to add some character to the kitchen.
Maybe you aren’t having any luck finding the perfect paper but you really like the idea of colorful cabinets.
You can always paint the inside of the cabinets some fun color if that would be a better option.
Final Thoughts on DIY Kitchen Updates
Updating your kitchen may seem like a big undertaking, but don’t let it discourage you! You can always do simple weekend projects that’ll make a big impact without making a big impact on your bank account!
Check out our blog for more DIY tips, tricks, and ideas!