If your kitchen is in desperate need of a facelift but you’re afraid of the expense, here are a few budget-friendly DIY ideas for kitchens.
Start With The Cabinets
The cabinets are the largest expense in a kitchen makeover, but you can achieve a beautiful, updated kitchen if you keep your current cabinets and simply repaint them.
You can paint them whatever color you like – light, medium or dark. Most popular choices are off white, espresso brown, black or gray. However, it’s your kitchen, so go with whatever looks good and makes you happy. Choose a semi gloss paint so they are easy to wipe down. You can paint the interiors, although it’s not usually necessary. While you can easily do this project yourself, you may still want to hire a professional.Honestly, you’ll be saving so much money by keeping your current cabinets instead of replacing them, if you do hire a professional, you’ll still come out way ahead. The bottom line is professionals simply do a much better job! I had my own kitchen cabinets spray painted for only $1,000. That’s far less expensive than the $35,000 it would have cost me to replace them.
Now that you’ve got your cabinets painted, you can update the hardware. Cabinet hardware is also a simple and inexpensive update that can really change the look of your kitchen. Knobs or handles, painted or metal, vintage or modern – there are many different types of hardware out there. (anything else you want to add here?
Change The Wall Color
Paint is the least expensive, most dramatic change you can make, so why not keep going and paint the walls too. Satin or semi gloss works best in kitchens because you can wipe it down easier and keep the walls clean. I would choose a contrasting color but there is no rule. It comes down to what makes you happy. If you’re not sure how well the color you like might work in your space, buy a quart and do a test patch first. That way you don’t waste money investing in gallons of paint and hours of time applying a color you don’t like.
Tired Of Your Countertops?
Stone – granite or quartz – are very popular, but more expensive than laminate or a solid surface such as Corian. One less costly option is a laminate that is made to look like stone.
Depending on your countertops, you may opt for a backsplash or not. Many beautiful kitchens simply have a 4 inch backsplash that extends up from the countertops. We decided to put in a simple and effective subway tile. This kind of tile is super inexpensive, easy to install and easy to clean!
Watch Where You Walk
How’s the flooring look in your kitchen? Now that you’ve got the walls, cabinets and countertop looking sweet, maybe you need to update the flooring as well. With all the different materials available these days, it’s less expensive than you may think. You’ll find all kinds of vinyl, tile and hardwood choices. I’d only do hardwood if there is a connecting room with hardwood already. Would you believe there’s even a laminate that looks like hardwood? That’s a great choice over real hardwood because it can be up to 50% less expensive. Plus it’s more durable and easier to clean.
For Heating Up & Keeping Cool
Stainless steel appliances are not that much more expensive than white and they give your kitchen a much more luxurious look and feel. Shop your favorite appliance store for the best deals. We get all of ours from our local Home Depot; they deliver and install! Make sure you remember to measure the openings and purchase the correct size that fits your kitchen. You don’t want the delivery people fighting to fit something that is too big into your space. They’ll have to take it back and you could be charged a restocking fee.
Let There Be Light!
Lastly, think about changing the lighting, if needed. You’ll want your kitchen lighting to coordinate with the rest of your house as well as your kitchen hardware. If this the thought of making all these decisions is overwhelming, consider hiring a licensed contractor who can help direct you on what to purchase and what colors to use as well as complete the installation. You can also hire a licensed contractor to make the necessary purchases for you and budget the job accordingly. If you truly want to keep it all DIY, you can make the purchases and complete the installations yourself!
Start with a vision and take it one step at a time. You can do it!
If you have a house you want to sell with a kitchen that needs updating but you don’t have the money, energy or patience to make the repairs, call Express Homebuyers at [dynamic_phone] for a free and fair cash offer today. Or fill out the form below.
Tracy Kay Griffin is a member of Express Homebuyers Design Team. She was the Series Designer for HGTV’s “Get It Sold,” a Guest Designer for HGTV’s ” My First Place” and the Lead Stager for Washington DC’s premier staging company, Red House Staging & Interiors.