Molly Amilson
Kitchen is the heart and soul of every home. When you are buying or renting a house it is the first room you will check to see if it fits your needs, and when you are selling a house, it is the room that will increase or decrease the price of your home. According to research done by the Remodeling magazine, a major kitchen renovation can recoup more than 65% of the invested funds, while a minor renovation can bring you the return of about 80% of what you have invested – no matter what you decide to do will be a win-win situation. Even if you just want to spruce up your kitchen to feel better while cooking, there are some tiny updates that can be done on a shoestring budget and still make all the difference in the world.
Give your cabinets a facelift
Nothing can make a kitchen look more trashy and old as worn-out cabinets can. What should you do then, buy new ones? Well, then we wouldn’t call it remodeling on a budget. For estimated 30 cabinets in an average-sized kitchen, you could spend between $15,000 and $45,000. Instead of spending this crazy amount of money, you can simply repaint the old cabinetry. Choose a shade that goes well with the rest of your kitchen, and keep current trends in mind.
Photo Credits: Young House Love – DIY & Decor
Replace the handles
Now, just imagine how unsightly it would seem if you had freshly painted cabinets with old and ugly handles and pulls. Luckily, that is one problem that is very easy to solve. Replacing the handles and pulls is not only inexpensive, it is also very simple. Of course, you must choose a finish that goes well with the cabinet paint.
Paint the walls
Painting the walls has always been a quick and cheap way to add new life to a room. If your walls are recently painted, and you see no need for doing it all over again, you can just choose one accent wall, and paint it at least two shades deeper than the prevailing color.
Update the lighting
Kitchen lighting is much more than just a necessity – it can also contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the room. For example, retro pendant lights above the countertop are all the rage these days. However, if you want to make your project work for you, go for the energy-efficient LED Superlight solutions.
Treat your windows
New drapes can change the entire space. Just try not to go overboard with a lush fabric, because if there is too much of it, it will be ruined by water splashes. A window treatment that fits the window, such as roman shades (you can sew them by yourself) are a great choice since you can pull them up while you’re washing the dishes.
Replace countertops
Countertops are susceptible to wear and tear, and if you were not careful enough you might even have knife scratches. You may think that replacing the countertop costs a lot of money, and it can, that is if you decide for stone or marble. However, a laminate countertop will cost you a couple hundred dollars, and you can even find the ones that look like more expensive materials.
Photo Credits: Shaw floors
Add a backsplash
Backsplash is not only there to protect your kitchen wall, but it can also be quite decorative. An average backsplash is between 10 and 40 square feet, so you won’t be spending more than a couple hundred bucks. If you don’t have the knowledge or the will to go through the tiling process, you can get a bucket of glossy protective paint that can be wiped clean.
As you can see, kitchen remodeling doesn’t have to be expensive. On the contrary, if you do it smart, you can save some money along the way.
