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The kitchen is probably one of the most expensive rooms in a home to renovate and modernize. Is that surprising? There are so many moving parts in just this one room, and even tinier details are easy to forget.
Although it is an expensive task, you don’t have to pay for an arm and a leg to create your dream kitchen. There are so many creative and, better yet, cheap ways to update your kitchen without overspending.
I’m all too familiar with the need to decorate and beautify homes on a budget. My dad is a contractor, and I’ve worked alongside him for three years and watched even longer. I’ve either done or found these 20 inexpensive ways to upgrade your kitchen through research. Which one of these upgrades do you think you’ll try?
1. Upgrade Your Backsplash
Can you guess my favorite part about a kitchen? If you guessed backsplash, you’re right! There is just something so eye-catching and lovely about a vibrant or patterned backsplash. It can really make the room come together.
You also don’t need to spend a fortune or weeks installing a new backsplash. I’ve installed a faux tile backsplash in under a day using a tile backsplash I bought at Home Depot.
2. Repaint Old Cabinets
A little bit of paint in your kitchen can go a long way. However, paint, especially on cabinets and drawers, doesn’t last forever, and chipped paint can make a kitchen look dirty and old.
I suggest laying down a tarp or newspaper and painting the cabinets to a solid, consistent color. Remove any handles before adding paint so you don’t accidentally stain them.
3. Declutter
Technically, decluttering isn’t an upgrade. You aren’t buying an item or fixing something in your kitchen; you are just reorganizing.
A cluttered kitchen can feel overwhelming. I know I always feel more stressed out when my kitchen counter is covered in items. To achieve a more luxurious and modern look, declutter and find a place for each item. The best part? Decluttering is free!
4. Organize Pots and Pans
Another inexpensive and simple way to upgrade your kitchen is to organize your pots and pans. The inside of your drawers and cabinets also matter, even if guests don’t spot them immediately.
You’ll feel a lot calmer once you organize your pots. Put the lids together and buy a cheap organizer or pot stacker if you need to. For me, organizing my pots was a lifesaver. Not only does the kitchen look better, but cooking is also faster.
5. Minimize Decor
Minimizing decorations in a kitchen is a must if you want to keep it looking clean. I’m all for maximalism, but it looks hectic once it reaches the kitchen.
Sticking to one or two decorations is a great way to save money while upgrading your kitchen. I keep a small compost jar for food scraps and a bamboo houseplant on the kitchen counter. Any more, and it looks messy.
6. Add Greenery
I touched on this slightly above. Everyone has a unique style, but a popular trend for kitchens is using greenery. Do you like houseplants? Consider hanging them in your kitchen or placing them on your kitchen counter/island.
For those of you with green thumbs, why not create your own mini herb garden? It’s practical, cute, and inexpensive. Before my system broke, I used to keep a small hydroponics garden on my counter. It brightened up the place.
7. Consider Open Shelves
Cabinets take up a lot of space. If your kitchen is already small, having cabinets on top and the bottom can make it look even smaller and way more crowded.
Instead of keeping your old cabinets, consider open shelves. They are easy to install and find. I’ve installed some at my friend’s home. We ordered seven large shelves on Amazon for less than $100.
8. Install a Coffee/Wine Bar
Are you a coffee drinker? Or what about wine? Another way to upgrade your kitchen on a budget is to create a wine or coffee bar. You can customize it and even make your own sign.
My aunt has a coffee bar with her name above it in neon lights. She bought the coffee bar rolling cart on Amazon.
9. Update Handles
Small details matter the most. I don’t know about you, but small things like broken or mismatched kitchen cabinet handles really bother me.
If you’re looking for a cheap and effective home improvement hack, just change out your old handles and knobs. Keep the color scheme the same, and be careful how you install them.
10. Paint the Ceiling
Painting doesn’t have to be expensive. While you can shell out hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a painter, it’s more cost-effective to do it yourself.
The ceiling is so large that we often forget about it. Painting your ceiling is a big change you can make to your kitchen.
11. Introduce Contrasting Colors
Something as small as using contrasting colors can make your kitchen look completely different. Every year, my dad paints his kitchen in two new colors. Nothing else changes, and yet it seems like a new kitchen.
So, what contrasting colors work well together? In my opinion, the best contrasting colors are red and green and orange and blue.
12. Change Out Your Light Bulbs
Another simple and cheap way to transform your kitchen is to change out your lightbulbs. Think about it: When was the last time you replaced them? It’s probably been a long time.
You can get creative with your lightbulb choices. I’ve seen bright yellow LED lights and even color-changing ones in kitchens. My dad installed a dimming kitchen light, and it’s a game-changer.
13. Spice up Your Pantry Door
Why settle for a simple, white pantry door? Personally, my favorite pantry doors are the sliding ones in a bold color, but the options are endless. You don’t have to spend a lot to upgrade this simple item, either.
You can replace the door or even keep it open in less than one day. Walk-in pantries are just as in style.
14. Label Shelves
Labeling kitchen shelves is both an upgrade and a convenience. How many times have you forgotten where you’ve placed an item? Now, with shelf labels, you don’t need to forget.
When I say labels, I don’t mean taped pieces of paper. You can get fancy with them and use silver or faux gold plates.
15. Use Wallpaper
Let’s face it – paint is messy. In my opinion, it’s also a bit overrated. When people start renovating and decorating, they often think of painting first. But wallpaper is just as useful and honestly even easier to use.
Wallpaper is also not time-consuming. You can lay wallpaper in a room with two people in less than a day. I’ve even seen people use wallpaper on countertops and cabinets.
16. Thrift
Thrift shops are where it’s at. You’d be surprised just how many excellent finds are in thrift shops. You just need to know where and how to look.
I recommend searching for kitchen appliances and furniture in thrift stores. Seasonal decorations are also super affordable and abundant in these shops. Visit more than one before buying anything. You never know what you’ll fall in love with. One decoration could change your whole theme.
17. Buy Used Furniture
Furniture is ridiculously expensive. The thought of spending thousands of dollars on wine racks and rolling carts alone hurts.
Instead of shopping around in furniture stores and general stores, stick to used items. The only time I don’t recommend buying used items is for pots and pans coated with Teflon.
18. Dress up Your Countertop
You don’t need to leave your countertops bare. Upgrading your kitchen can be as simple as repainting or sticking wallpaper on your counters. Even just switching out decorations on your counter space can make all the difference.
I do this in my own kitchen all the time. Rotate appliances and their usual spots. Moving the coffee pot an outlet away can transform your space.
19. Choose Just One Art Piece to Hang
I will never stop preaching that less is more, especially in the kitchen. You don’t need 100 items hanging on your wall. It can quickly look cluttered and also takes a long time to dust.
Instead, depending on your space, choose one large art piece. It doesn’t have to be a painting either; I’ve seen people hang metal art pieces.
20. Embrace Natural Lighting
Is your kitchen near a bright window? Or do you have a window in your kitchen? One of my favorite kitchen looks is a window centered over the sink. It’s so charming, bright, and cheerful.
Embrace natural lighting if you have it. Don’t cover the windows with bland curtains. Instead, consider using stained glass window film. Some people also hang light catchers to illuminate their kitchens.
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Never Put These 15 Things Down the Kitchen Sink if You Want to Avoid a Huge Repair Bill
Many people don’t think about what they put down the kitchen sink. They just scrape all of their food waste into the sink, turn on the garbage disposal, and watch it all disappear. But many things can damage your garbage disposal or plumbing.
Here are 15 things you should never put down the kitchen sink if you want to avoid a huge repair bill.
