The kitchen is the hub of the home and as someone with a teeny tiny NYC kitchen (truly, I have 12″ of counter space in my entire kitchen), I have perfected my affordable kitchen updates that require no demo and give you the look of a new kitchen. Let me tell you about them!
The kitchen is the most expensive spot in your home to renovate. And many times, we are renovating due to style not function. But, how about, instead of completely demo-ing your kitchen because it doesn’t match your style, we just give your kitchen cosmetic updates that are an easy DIY?
Having an arsenal of affordable kitchen updates to turn to will really help you:
- save thousands of dollars
- fully enjoy your home
- save items from prematurely going to the landfill
Why the desire to renovate might be strong
I completely understand your desire to renovate! In feng shui, it is not recommended for people to move into a fully furnished home. The items aren’t yours and don’t speak to your style sense or lifestyle needs. Therefore, the chi (energy) is lower in the space. The same applies here–it really is difficult living in a space you don’t connect with. And the longer you live in a space, the greater the chances that you will grow out of loving something. We are only human! Ever growing, changing, evolving. So I get it. You want change. Me too.
However, it is important to consider that there are other ways to get the updated home that you love while not spending tens of thousands of dollars and creating a lot of landfill waste. Let’s change our thinking, save money, and lessen our environmental footprint!
11 Affordable Kitchen Updates (NO DEMO)
I am coming to you with my own personal experience on this as well as what I do for my clients. I rarely take on renovations in my design business because I am passionate about just this: affordably updating your home.
My pandemic project was to reface and paint my cabinets, install new hardware and a backsplash. And I DIY’ed it all with *zero* experience and for under $500 (all tools included). It can be done!
Below I have a variety of affordable kitchen updates ranging from taking under an hour to a weekend project. Take your pick!
1. Change the knobs and pulls
This is the easiest out of the affordable kitchen updates and will take under an hour! Upgrading your knobs and pulls is very effective in giving you that newness you desire. However, it could turn into a “if you give a mouse a cookie” situation and then all the sudden you’re doing everything else on this list. You’ve been warned.
2. Paint the cabinets
Banner Day Interiors | photo: Colin Price
Ok, so this is easy as far as skill, but just a little time consuming. For my own project, I got IKEA cabinets, sanded down that slippery finish, primed, and did 2 coats of paint. I painted my cabinets on my 7×7 terrace, so if you have more space, you’re already better off than I was!
Pro tip: you always want to do a semi gloss finish on your cabinets. It’s easy clean up and is a more durable surface.
3. Upgrade the faucet
You can get a modern faucet from a good brand (like Delta or Moen) for under $150. It’s also pretty easy to install yourself, give or take a trip to the plumbing section if you run into an unforeseen issue.
4. Install a new backsplash
Natalie Myers | photo: Jessica Alexander
Another thing I did myself with zero experience! My wonderful clients gifted me the remaining tile from our kitchen project so I got handmade terracotta zellige tile for freeeeeeee. After installing myself, I do have some tips.
1. get a tile cutter and make sure your tile is THIN. A standard tile cutter won’t work on thicker handmade versions like I have. I learned this the hard way:-)
2. Don’t forget to leave 1/4″ or more space between the counter and the first row of tile. The tile needs space to expand with the weather. At least what’s what Google said.
3. Look up the recommended grout size for your tile and buy the grout that correlates with that size. Research sanded vs unsanded grouts as well so you know which kind to get.
5. Upgrade the lighting
I tried to do this myself, but decided to stop halfway through. My building is 120 years old and when I removed the flush mount light (without issue), I found weird wiring and some sort of black box that all the how-to Youtube videos didn’t prepare me for. So I didn’t do this myself.
If you’re hiring an electrician to swap out pendants anyway, you might as well ask them to wire for some sconces! Having soft, eye level lighting is game changing in all spaces. Trust.
WARNING: If you’ve never done electrical work, PLEASE HIRE AN ELECTRICIAN. This is especially important if you live in an apartment building because it is not only your life but everyone in your building’s that will be affected should your faulty wiring cause a fire. This is serious. Make a safe choice.
6. Refinish the countertops
Anand Sheth | photo: Nicholas V. Ruiz
I wrote a very popular blog post on how to update your outdated granite you’re no longer satisfied with. You can check out tips there! Another option if you have a faux countertop material is to do something called skim coating. You can cover your counters in a layer of concrete and even sprinkle terrazzo flakes on top. There are many many DIY videos out there showing you how as well as kits. You can also check out my blog post on different resurfacing options. I would only consider this if your counter is of poor quality. Do not cover real stone.
There are companies you can hire to resurface your counters using this skim coating technique or covering with a resin that can be any color–even hand painted to look like marble! Speaking of marble, my last blog post is whether or not it is the right countertop for you. There are lots of downsides to marble not discussed. So let’s talk about it!
7. Add architectural details
Lighthouse Cabinetry | photo: Lauren Miller
Adding architecture like a shiplap wall or ceiling will add special details and really drive home that this might be a remodel (even though it isn’t).
8. Add an interesting island feature
Lighthouse Cabinetry | photo: Lauren Miller
Don’t discount the island! In my designs, I treat the island as a piece of furniture and like to make it a feature. You can do this by painting or staining it a different color than your perimeter cabinets and getting different hardware!
9. Reface a cabinet for a feature
Lauren Stephens | photo: Boz Gagovski
There are so many companies making cabinet fronts that are modern, interesting, and affordable (ESPECIALLY if you have IKEA cabinets). Try a fluted glass pantry door feature or better yet, head to your local salvage yard and see if you can score some vintage doors for the pantry!
10. Install wallpaper
Installing wallpaper as a feature is a great way to enhance your kitchen! It brings more personality to the space and helps to separate the kitchen and dining zones. You can use wallpaper to create a feature on a wall, ceiling, or even above the backsplash!
FREE DESIGN: every month I give my email subscribers a free design. Today’s free design is this kitchen (and it has wallpaper!). You can subscribe to my mailing list here to get access to freebies too.
11. Get new bar/counter stools
Slocum Hall Design | photo: Read McKendree
We are now just icing our cake. If you’ve done all these affordable kitchen updates, chances are you’re now onto the decor phase. Swapping your bar/counter stools is a great way to add some softness, color, and texture back into your space!
Don’t forget to check out vintage and second hand offerings too! Builders and contractors are inundated with leftover tile from their projects. Hit up your local salvage yard and see if you can score tile for pennies on the dollar. And not just tile either! Look for sinks, faucets, what have you. Good luck!
