8 Kitchen Renovation Ideas to Save Money

The kitchen can be one of the most expensive rooms to renovate, if you let it. It is one of the rooms of a home that can really add value. With a few key decisions, you can completely change the look of your kitchen on the cheap.

Here are eight kitchen renovation ideas to save yourself some money:

1. Paint the walls

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a room, even if you are just sticking with the same colour. It is something that can easily be done on your own, and a couple of cans of paint isn’t going to cost too much, in the grand scheme of things. For a really neat effect, you could incorporate lines into your wall that vary between a lighter and darker colour. This is a very trendy and cool look that costs no extra money.

Tip: Use tape! Crisp lines and clean baseboards, cupboards, and ceilings make a huge difference. When painting, tape up your corners and edges to keep everything sharp and clean.

2. Replace your countertops

There are two ways to consider countertops as a budget option for a kitchen. One, it is possible to get some DIY countertops for cheap. Secondly, by choosing to do just countertops, you can invest in some amazing quality countertops, which will transform the entire look of your kitchen for a fair price.

Tip: It may be more worth your while to invest in a more expensive, quality countertop. Cheap, do it yourself kits are nice, but don’t tend to last as long. As well, high-quality granite countertops retain their value, meaning your home will be worth more for longer as a result.

3. Spruce up the cabinet colour

Your cabinets may be old, but they may not be a total lost cause. If you can sand down and paint or refinish your cupboards, it will completely refresh your kitchen. This eliminates the need for replacing the cabinets entirely, which can get super expensive.

Tip: Sand first. If you continue to paint or stain over and over and over again, your cupboards are going to get cakey, gluey, and ugly. Don’t skip steps.

4. Replace hardware

Get new handles for your cupboards and drawers. You will be amazed at what a fresh handle can do to a cabinet. Combo this with a fresh paint or stain on the cabinets and you have basically given yourself all new cabinets for a fraction of the cost.

Tip: If the new hardware is going to be located in a different place than the old hardware, you’ll have to cover up the unsightly hole that is left from the old one. Fill and camouflage the screw holes with wood-filling putty that closely matches the colour of your cupboard.

5. Work with what you’ve got

Unfortunately, the thing that tends to drive up the cost of renovating a kitchen is when people start trying to move things around. You can dramatically change the way your kitchen looks without having to change its layout.

Tip: People tend to clutter up their kitchens – if you can, try taking some things out of the space and declutter it for a cleaner look. It will make a world of difference.

6. Lighting

Swapping out old light fixtures for new ones is one of the best budget kitchen renovation ideas. This simple action can do a few things for your kitchen: increase light and improve light distribution; add to the style, theme, and flow of the room; and increase the home’s value when selling

Tip: You don’t have to splurge on a super expensive fixture, there are many low-budget light fixtures that look super trendy once installed. Just go with what you like, whatever the price.

7. Paint the ceiling

You would not believe the difference a fresh coat of paint on the ceiling makes. Although you may look at your ceiling now and think “Oh, it’s not that bad!” just wait until you see the finished project. A freshly painted ceiling brightens up the room and makes the whole kitchen look fresher and cleaner.

Tip: Make sure you get an even coat. It may be difficult to tell while painting, but you will really be able to see the difference if you miss a spot once it all dries.

8. Just pick one kitchen renovation

By picking one big budget kitchen renovation idea to do, you will greatly improve the look and feel of your kitchen, without racking up a massive bill. Pick the part of your kitchen you most want to tackle, even if it’s a huge project, and then save up for the next one.

Tip: If you plan on ultimately doing a ton of work in the kitchen, don’t start with the floors. Through major renovations you run the risk of damaging them more quickly. Start with something higher up and work your way down.