While browsing for kitchen updates 2020, the coronavirus pandemics came and made things worse. Maybe, like me, you have considered cheap kitchen upgrades or remodelling your kitchen, but the sheer thought of the cost involved frightened you.
To make matters worse, Real estate agents quote outrageous figures, and kitchen magazines advertise kitchen overhauls at arm breaking budgets. With such high costs, you will obviously opt to remain with an outdated kitchen.
Hold on for a second; what if there are cheap kitchen upgrades you have not looked into.
By this, I mean how to upgrade a kitchen on a budget that works. Obviously, upgrading your kitchen should not cost you a fortune. But why are we talking about all this?
Because the kitchen area is heavily used, and you may need to upgrade:
- Kitchen hardware.
- Kitchen cabinets.
- Kitchen paintings.
- Kitchen appliances.
I read somewhere that small changes translate to significant results. Without a doubt, there are cheap ways to update kitchen to a whole new level. Before you start the remodelling, it pays to consider the budget you have and plan on it.
Take Cheap Kitchen Upgrades One Step At a Time
To help you out, here are 25 cheap ways to update kitchen on a budget.
1. Rearrange The Kitchen
Now you are wondering how is this even possible? It’s true you cannot move cabinets and appliances, but there are some things that you can move around:
- Remove everything from the countertops. This move instantly declutters and refreshes the space.
- Rearrange any moveable furniture such as butcher blocks, china cabinets, and mobile kitchen island.
2. Organize For Efficiency
After rearranging the moveable items and decluttering the countertops, then consider inside the pantry and cabinets. How can you make kitchen space work for you and not against you? For sure, it should not cost you anything but consider how to update kitchen cabinets by:
- Moving glasses next to the refrigerator.
- Organizing cabinets using inserts.
- Adding a divider to separate pans in a large cabinet.
- Sorting and categorizing pantry and kitchen cabinets, e.g., cereals, grains, or baking. Put the items into transparent containers for quick identification and preservation.
Related: How to Organize Kitchen – 25 Kitchen Organization Hacks
3. Spruce With New Paint & Curtains
Are you wondering how to update an old kitchen on a budget? A fresh coat of paint is the perfect recipe for fading and peeling paints. Clean and sand the walls, then apply two to three coats of paints. The new paint creates a clean and modern look in any kitchen. Save more money by doing the actual painting yourself.
Compliment the new paint with matching new curtains. Combining the fresh paint and new curtain will make you feel like you are in a new room.
4. No Need To Replace Kitchen Cabinets
It’s costly to buy new cabinets, hence improvise inexpensive kitchen cabinets using readily available materials. Cut wood planks to size and mount on the wall brackets to form open shelves. Painting is a cost-effective and straightforward way of upgrading kitchen cabinets.
If your cabinets are stained or have old paint, then clean, sand, and paint with a new color. Before you paint, remove all the hardware putting each separately for easy and quick replacement.
5. Add Character To The Kitchen
Add a piece of splashy artwork like a painting, photo, or poster significantly above one end of the kitchen counter. Go for attractive artwork but at a cheaper price. For instance, with less than $5, you will get a variety of artwork from Etsy.
The paintings make the kitchen more welcoming and cooler. Besides, your favorite family photos answer some of your concerns on how to upgrade a kitchen on a budget. Please select the best photos, frame, and hang them strategically on the kitchen wall.
No Need To Overspend
6. Consider Affordable Countertops
Modern kitchen update ideas are not complete without a need for new countertops. Cut unnecessary expenses by comparing prices from different dealers. Also, weigh other options such as covering laminate or concrete with resin. Covering kitchen countertops with wooden butcher blocks also cut costs significantly.
While the above options bring down budget, the best countertop for your kitchen depends on your budget and cabinet design. However, you can save a lot by installing yourself and paying particular attention to different materials and prices.
7. Upgrade Kitchen Faucets
Old and ugly kitchen faucets make the kitchen look outdated. Replace them with the latest models to give your kitchen a new look. Besides, the latest faucets have more features that make cleaning and cooking easier. Brass and stainless-steel kitchen upgrades fittings indicate a more modern look.
8. A Fancy Backsplash
The addition of tile backsplash is another cost-effective way to upgrade your kitchen for a more drastic change. Besides, It is quite simple to replace old tiles or install a new backlash where none existed before.
9. Adjust The Lighting System
Warm lighting is suitable for cheap kitchen upgrades. It makes the kitchen bright and welcoming. Replace the dim lights with natural white lights. Change the switches also to match the hardware and color theme in your kitchen.
Adding decorative lighting fixtures dramatically transform a dull kitchen. Choose a fancy chrome or rustic fixture that blends well with your interior decor. Consider Installing floor lamps and LED lights strategically to create a warm and more welcoming kitchen.
10. Replace Kitchen Hardware
Please do not ignore the kitchen hardware as they significantly impact your kitchen’s outlook and style on a budget. Buy the trendy and stylish hardware that will enhance the inner decor of your kitchen. Remove the old and boring and install colorful, decorative, or vintage hardware.
11. Replace Carpet
Now is the perfect time to replace that old carpet with a new one. Ensure that the new carpet enhances the beauty of your kitchen. Does its colors and pattern match with your curtains and paintings?
12. Remove Clutter
Go over your kitchen cabinets and counters and remove all clutter. Remove expired food, broken utensils, and unuseful appliances. While in this process, remove items that should not be in the kitchen.
In the end, you will not spend a coin for a tidy, spacious, and more functional kitchen.
13. Maximize On Space
Identify spaces not efficiently utilized and maximize on it. For instance,
- Store pans in unused cabinets
- Use the cluttered drawer to store cookbooks
- Transform empty walls to store pantry items.
14. Use Wallpapers
Wallpapers are essential for covering walls in addition to enhancing the interior decor while working on a budget. Among the kitchen ideas on a budget, wallpapers are affordable, effective, and easy to fix.
15. Add An Island
A center island is perfect for cheap kitchen upgrades. A free-standing island performs two crucial functions:
- Storage
- Counter preparation space
16. Colors Are Great
Use different colors creatively to transform and enhance the elegance of a place. For instance, have different colors for countertops, cabinets, drawers, and walls. Break the monotony in your kitchen by experimenting with a variety of colors. However, the colors should complement and blend into each other smoothly.
17. Style Your Shelves
If you have open shelves or glass cabinets, they are perfect for adding decorations to upgrade a kitchen. Remove everything from the shelf and then add some embellishments. After decorating, return useful items on the shelves.
18. Add Character
If your kitchen is builder-basic, it’s high time you work on the surfaces for a more refined and attractive design. Add baseboards, wall paneling, and moldings.
Think Outside The Box
19. Replace Bulbs
Are you still losing money with the traditional filament bulbs? If so, kindly move with technology. The latest LED bulbs are highly energy-efficient, cost-effective, long-lasting, and produce high-quality light.
20. Paint Your Appliances
Painting virtually and affordably updates old appliances such as the fridge, oven, stove, or microwave. Upscale the look of your kitchen appliances by painting. Spray paint is the best for appliances.
21. Chalkboard
Buy a small amount of chalkboard paint and use it to paint a small chalkboard on the fridge door. You can then use the chalkboard to write a weekly menu or items to replenish the fridge.
22: Drawer Liners
Liners such as contact paper are great for lining drawers and cabinets. The coating helps in the collection of dust and grime, besides making the interior more presentable.
23. Add a Garbage Disposal
Garbage disposal is great to install underneath a kitchen sink making kitchen operations like cleaning and cooking super-fast. However, the garbage disposal is not suitable for homes using septic systems.
24. Open Up Your Walls
Remove some cabinetry to open up your walls; the new space will significantly transform your kitchen. Open shelves are superb for vertical displays of kitchen utensils, recipe books, serving platters, and fresh herbs.
You can either:
- Delete the upper cabinets and replace with open shelves or,
- Remove hardware and doors from a few of the existing cabinets.
25. Label kitchen Shelves
As you organize pantries, it is best to sort, put them in containers, and label them. The only cost here apart from your labor include maker pen or stick on and containers. And to cut costs, further buy labels that are easy to wipe clean and reuse. Clear containers are perfect because of the easy and quicker identification of food items in the container.
Conclusion
Cheap kitchen upgrades on a budget should not stress you, and neither does it cost a fortune. The ideas I have highlighted here are practical; some cost nothing while others cost just a few dollars.
