Four Ideas To Renovate Your Kitchen On A Budget

2/20/2020

Kitchen trends move fast these days, and this can leave your kitchen feeling dated in no time, especially if you're comparing it to all those lovely homes featured in high-end decor magazines. Our solution? Skip the pricey kitchen re-design and follow our advice for a budget kitchen renovation instead.

Photo of a modern kitchen with gray walls, white floor, exposed brick and black countertops

Four Ideas To Renovate Your Kitchen On A Budget

Paint Your Cabinets

Let's start with a great money saving tip that can easily and affordably change the look of your kitchen: Paint your cabinets.

Instead of replacing your existing cabinets and (or spending big bucks refacing them), try painting them. A popular paint option for today's decor is chalk paint. It's easy to use and not very expensive at about $30 per quart. The great thing about chalk paint is it's formulated to cover most existing wood finishes and some brands even apply in a single coat. Most brands are paint + primer, which saves additional time and money. Finish up your paint job with a clear coat of wax for durability and strength.

Check out this video on how to use chalk paint to paint cabinets:

Nuvo Driftwood 1 Day Cabinet Makeover Kit, amazon.com

Renaissance Chalk Paint-Deluxe Kit, amazon.com

Shop Now

shop now

Use High End Finishes Only In The Most Visible Places

When it comes to upgrading your kitchen on a budget, be selective with higher-end finishes that you'd like to use, and save pricier items for the features that are most visible (and most used) throughout the kitchen, like countertops and flooring. Afterall, it's always a smart idea to spend money where you'll add the most value. If your budget allows, spend your money wisely on big ticket items such as energy-efficient appliances rather than luxury faucets or light fixtures. You'll always have the option to upgrade those items in the future!

photo of a dual basin stainless steel sink

Renew, Reuse & Upcycle

Much like repainting existing cabinets, there's no reason why you can't reuse and / or upcycle items you currently own. For example, it can be tempting to replace your sink during a kitchen reno but before you do, ask yourself if it's truly necessary or if it's one of the fixtures you can actually make over. Stainless steel sinks can be cleaned up effortlessly by following a guidelike this. Use the money you'll save by refinishing your sink to purchase an attractive new faucet instead. Other items you can reuse and / or upcycle include:

Cabinet handles, drawer pulls and other hardware
Existing wood flooring
Reclaimed wood for an island top or open shelving

Pfister Marielle Single Handle Kitchen Faucet with Spray and Dispenser, walmart.com

Vigo All-in-One 23-inch Stainless Steel Undermount Kitchen Sink and Gramercy Matte Black Faucet Set, walmart.com

Shop Now

shop now

You May Also Like:

Consider Linoleum Floors

Finally, when revamping your kitchen on a budget, why not consider linoleum floors? Sure, ideally everyone wants hardwood, stone or slate because these materials look great and are long lasting, but did you know that you can get some great designs in linoleum that mimic the look of these natural materials?

Linoleum flooring will cost you a fraction of the price, and is just as durable. It's also super easy to clean and, if you didn't know, the natural composition of linoleum flooring makes it biodegradable and anti-bacterial, too!