13 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Couldn’t you save up a lot of money for your kitchen renovation project? That does not mean you cannot have a fantastic remodel! The best thing about kitchen remodels is that you can add a new life to your cooking space even with minor changes. You wouldn’t be required to take loans or spend your entire saving on them.

It is no secret that the kitchen is the focal point of any home. After all, you and your family spend a great deal of time there. Whether cooking meals together or enjoying cozy dinners on the kitchen island, this place must be comfortable, functional, and home-like.

If you are someone like me, you would also want it to look amazing. We have brought together the best 13 budget-friendly kitchen remodeling ideas for you that work! You can add your personal touch to any of these ideas to get your unique kitchen style without breaking your budget.

1. Add Backsplash Tile Stickers

Traditional tiling plunge can take a huge chunk of your budget. Luckily, you have got a cheaper yet amazing alternative for that. Anyone would agree that a boring or old backsplash can kill the entire look of any kitchen. Have you ever wondered about peel and stick tile? Another name for tile stickers!

Vinyl and gel tile stickers are budget-friendly options. Pick your favorite color and design from a wide range of tile stickers. Measure the area you need to cover and make your purchase accordingly. It is an easy DIY installation project that hardly takes a day. All you need is a utility knife, ruler, and a level to complete this project. And when you get tired of the design, peel it off and replace it with new stickers. It’s that easy!

2. Allow More Light In The Space

Any space looks expansive and brighter with the right use of lighting. Walk around your kitchen to assess the points of light entry in your kitchen and inspect the artificial light fixtures. If you are still living in a kitchen with manufacture-grade lights, it’s time to change them. This upgrade will transform the aesthetic appeal as well as the functionality of your kitchen.

 If possible, add a new window or skylight to allow more natural light in the space. A lot of times, kitchen windows are not properly utilized when it comes to design and style. You can also add mirrors and reflective surfaces on kitchen cabinets to add the illusion of space. This imparts a sleek look to your kitchen.

3. Paint The Kitchen Floor

Have you ever wondered about the impact of the kitchen floor on its overall aesthetic appeal? If not, this is the right time to do it. While it is not budget-friendly to strip off the old floor and install a new one, you can paint it.

Add a lovely touch by opting for a bright and inviting color. For an average-sized kitchen, a floor painting job will cost you only $200. Painting kitchen floors is one of the best upgrades when you compare the cost and style impacts.

White and yellow are two of the most popular color choices for kitchen floors. Make sure you are using enamel paint to make the painting process easier. Additionally, these paints can endure the tough kitchen traffic for a long time. You can make the floors more interesting with stenciling.

4. Paint The Kitchen Walls

Painting happens to be the best choice for people looking for economical upgrades. It can add an instant visual impact without putting in a lot of effort or cost. White can energize your kitchen and provide an interesting canvas to play around with bright colors for the countertops and backsplashes.

Get the right painting supplies and assign a weekend for the painting project. Even if you hire a professional painter for the job, it will cost you around $800. The real trick lies in choosing the right color and texture. Yellow, paler shades of blue and sage green are some of the best color choices for kitchens.

5. Replace The Cabinet Doors

Cabinetry makes up the focal point of any kitchen. If you have ever remodeled your kitchen, you know that replacing the cabinets is one of the biggest expenses. For most projects, it takes up more than 30%-50% of the entire budget.

Well, if your kitchen cabinets are in good shape, replacing the doors instead of the entire cabinetry makes sense. Or you can change only the outer shells of the doors. This is a guaranteed way of giving a new look to your kitchen while saving a lot of money and hassle.

Purchase the fronts from the home improvement store and install them on your own. Replacement of the cabinet doors takes only a few hours at best. While you are at it, change the hardware of the doors and, if possible, remove one or two of the cabinets to free up some space.

6. Paint Your Cabinets

DIY painting projects for your cabinets are another great way to skip the cost of replacing them. A fresh coat of paint can revitalize the entire look. Invest in quality semi-gloss paints for a chic look. Such paints not only look vibrant but are easy to clean. As semi-gloss paint reflects light, it imparts a more inviting appeal to the space.

You can paint the cabinets on your own or hire a professional painter to get things right in the first go. Whatever the choice may be, make sure the cabinet surfaces are clean and sanded before applying any primer or paint. This little preparatory step can be the deal-breaker for any painting project.

7. Add Some DIY Open Shelves

Many of these inexpensive ideas revolve around storage cabinets because they take up a lot of space in any kitchen. This tip works great for kitchens with rows of upper and lower cabinets. It is especially useful when the cabinets are retiring, and you don’t have the money to install a new one.

Tear out the upper cabinets and install some DIY open shelves. Consider crafting your wooden shelves for your kitchen remodeling project. If you are not very good at that, you can purchase prepared shelves and install them yourself. This upgrade instantly makes your kitchen look expansive. Place the open shelves strategically and showcase your favorite pieces of cutlery.

8. Replace The Traditional Doors With Sliding Barn

The pantry door may not be the most exciting thing about your kitchen until now, but that is going to change now. A barn-style sliding door adds a ton of character and drama to your cooking space. The sliding door does not take a lot of space if you are also struggling with the square footage.

Make sure the sliding mechanism is of excellent quality, or else you will be stuck out of your pantry. This creative yet inexpensive solution is for everyone tired of traditional door styles. Once you get bored of it, apply a fresh coat of paint, and you have transformed the kitchen appearance again.

9. Install Lights Under The Cabinet

Lighting plays an integral role in the aesthetic appeal and functionality of your kitchen. One ingenious way to make your kitchen look more modern is to install under cabinet lighting. There are several types of under cabinet lighting available.

• The most unobtrusive and sophisticated type is the light bars. They provide a uniform luminescence that’s perfect for kitchen tasks. Use connectors or linking cables to link all of the bars together so that a single switch can operate all of them.
• For a more focused pool of light, opt for puck lights. You are yet to know about the cheapest and easiest lighting option, the strip or rope lights. They can fit in small spaces. Cut them into appropriate lengths and adhere them to the underside of the cabinets for an exciting ambiance.

10. Add More Storage Area Using Organizers

Adding more storage areas may not directly affect the appearance of your kitchen, but it plays a critical role here. When you have enough storage area, you can keep your kitchen more organized, which certainly makes a huge difference.

Consider adding draw inserts, pulls, and slides to take your storage up a notch. Hunt the home improvement store for cabinet and drawer organizers. Some examples include pull-out pantry base cabinets, spice racks, cutlery dividers, and slide-out waste.

Rethink how kitchen corners are being used. Corners happen to be the most underutilized spaces in kitchens. This tip not only works wonders for smaller kitchens but allows you to add a new life to the kitchen style!

11. Change The Upholstery For Kitchen Furniture

Changing the kitchen furniture in terms of convenience or structure can cost you a good deal of money. Give a new life to the outdated pieces by changing the upholstery. Pick bold and bright colors to make an eye-catching style statement. Or paint it in a bold color!

For vibrant kitchens, pick your favorite from vanilla, black, chocolate, stone, anthracite, red, or tangerine colors. In case you have got wooden furniture in your kitchen, painting is not an option. Apply some varnish to make it shine. Pair up the upholstery with the new wall paint to bring together the entire look.

12. Spice Up The Window Treatments

Window treatments such as curtains and blinds take a significant space in your kitchen walls, and thus changing them is a great remodeling idea. From sheers to café curtains, you have got a wide array of options to choose from. An old and cheerless kitchen is instantly transformed into a brighter place with new window treatments. Make sure they are not blocking too much natural light!

13. Build A New Kitchen Island

Adding a kitchen island is the best thing that can happen to an L-shaped kitchen. Repurpose an old table to make an inexpensive kitchen island. Pair it with some classy chairs, and you are all done for a stylish upgrade. For those good with DIY work, purchase big box store cabinets and add a countertop over them to get a lovely kitchen island. It requires several makeovers to blend in with your existing kitchen design but is worth every effort!

Conclusion:

These ideas prove that you don’t always need deep pockets to transform your kitchen into a more stylish place. You need some great ideas, manual dexterity for simple DIY projects, and a lot of passion. A few touches can tie a look together.

Before you start your kitchen renovation project, know that seeking professional help can do wonders for you. As they have handled several projects according to the specific budget constraints, they can find the best options for you out there. Happy remodeling!