Budget Friendly Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

Remodeling your kitchen is one of the most popular home improvement projects. But that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank.

A complete format change is expensive, so focus on surface updates. Stylish, money-saving ideas include displaying accessories and plants (real or faux) in a clever way, painting over dated tiles with a statement shade and covering up ugly worktops with Fablon vinyl.

Open Cabinets

No room is as multifunctional as the kitchen and with Open Cabinets, you can create a design to suit your needs. Rearranging cabinets isn’t cheap, especially if you have to hire plumbers to run new pipes and electrical.

Rather than a complete redo, try painting your cabinets to give them a fresh look. Or, install a set of simple open shelves to showcase your prettiest dishes. You can ease your way into the open shelving trend by removing just a few of your cabinet doors to see if it works for you. A medley of closed upper cabinets and open shelving is a happy compromise, giving you some closed storage to wrangle your clutter but also allowing for easy access to beautiful items.

Hanging Light Fixtures

Choosing an eye-catching light fixture is a budget friendly way to update your kitchen. It’s also an opportunity to incorporate your personal style into the design of the room.

A trend that we see in many of our kitchen remodeling projects is the use of layered lighting. Adding a mix of ambient, task and accent lighting helps illuminate the room evenly and add dimension.

Instead of a traditional can light, try a flush mount that adds subtle light to your ceiling without distracting from the kitchen’s overall look. Or, take a cue from midcentury modern and evoke the mod scene with a Sputnik-style pendant light.

Paint Your Cabinets

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to transform a kitchen is by painting cabinets. Whether you choose to go with a classic white or a brightly colored finish, the results are sure to wow.

Dramatically changing the kitchen layout can be expensive as you’ll need to hire plumbers to run new pipes. This is particularly true if you want to move the sink, dishwasher or refrigerator.

To make the job easier and ensure a smooth paintjob, tape rosin paper over countertops and flooring, and cover windows and fixed appliances with plastic sheeting. Then, sand down any wood surfaces and paint with a deglosser or liquid cabinet paint.

White Cabinets

Adding white cabinets is an easy kitchen remodeling idea that will never go out of style. It’s also a smart way to make a small budget look large by completely opening up the room and making it feel airy and brighter.

To keep an all-white kitchen from feeling cold and clinical, consider swapping solid cabinet doors for glass-front ones. This allows you to showcase favorite items and also helps prevent the room from feeling too stark.

When it comes to a frugal kitchen remodel, hardware is the most affordable upgrade you can make. Dark brown, black or gray metal knobs and pulls can add a sophisticated contrast to your white cabinets.

Decorative Cabinets

Decorating the top of kitchen cabinets can make a big impact without spending a lot of money. Use a mix of different shapes and sizes to create a curated look. Also, try to keep your decor items in small groups so they don’t look crowded and haphazard.

Adding decorative panels to cabinet doors is another affordable way to refresh your kitchen. These natural cane panels work well for homeowners and renters alike, as they don’t alter the original door layout.

A DIY scallop edge adds a charming finish to open shelving. This project works best if you have basic power tools and a can-do attitude.

Tile Backsplash

Backsplashes are an eye-catching way to add personality and style to a kitchen. They are also durable and easy to clean, making them an important part of any kitchen remodeling project.

You can find backsplash tile in a variety of styles, materials and price points. For example, you can use affordable ceramic tile to create a timeless kitchen backsplash, or opt for a mosaic tiling sheet that offers a more modern look with an on-trend pattern.

You can even incorporate a unique backsplash feature wall to add visual interest and increase home value without spending a fortune. This might include a colorful backsplash accent wall, a mosaic tile mural or a patterned tile pattern that coordinates with the countertop.