Kitchen Makeovers on a Budget

If you ask any homeowner which room in their house they would love to improve, the vast majority would pick the kitchen. Let’s be honest, kitchens can become old and tired over time as styles and technology change.

But they can also be extremely expensive to rip out and replace from scratch. Fortunately, there is a cost-effective option that provides a lot of the same results at only a fraction of the price… clever kitchen makeovers on a budget.

Here are our top 7 tips for saving money and still getting that ‘wow’ factor in the most popular room in the house:

1 - Replace the fixtures and fittings to start your kitchen makeover

If money really is too tight to mention, then head down to your local DIY store or kitchen restoration specialists and grab a handful of kitchen cabinet handles. Simply by replacing tired, out-of-date fixtures and fittings with new, shiny and modern versions, you can give your kitchen a little boost and help it get its glamour back.

Remember to pick handles and fittings that work with the style of kitchen though – so if you have a traditional kitchen don’t go for minimalist chrome-plated pulls; choose something a little more ornate and in keeping with the style. By keeping those existing cabinets and using some DIY renovation magic, you can give a cheap kitchen some new life.

2 - Break out the gloss white for step two of your kitchen makeover

A tin of paint can cost you as little as a few pounds, so for under a tenner you can transform your kitchen in an afternoon. It really is amazing what a fresh coat can do.

If you don’t want to paint the walls, then refresh the woodwork with a coat of brilliant white that will instantly transform your kitchen. Remember though, the humidity and temperature in a kitchen is higher than in other parts of the house, so pick a paint that can cope with a certain amount of condensation without discolouring or flaking.

Some people even use spray paint to give their walls a top up. This can give a dark kitchen a fresh look with just one can of white paint (or you can add colour to really liven the place up). You may be surprised how extra light and colour can not only give an old room new life, but also help to make a small kitchen seem that little bit bigger.

3 - Replace the worktops and laminate countertops

Worktops put up with a lot of punishment, and eventually start to show their age. So when it comes to a kitchen makeover, replacement kitchen worktops should always be one of the first targets. Damaged worktops can also be unhygienic, with bacteria and germs finding a home in the cracks, nicks and splits that no amount of disinfectant surface cleaner will shift.

This is a more budget friendly way of creating the impression of a complete kitchen makeover. If your budget is a little bigger, then perhaps it’s time to revive those chipped Formica worktops with something a little more up to date.

You can replace the entire work surface, or purchase granite ‘shells’ that are specially made to fit right over the top of your existing surfaces, making them incredibly quick and easy to install, and giving an instant ‘wow’ effect within a few hours. It really does make a big difference.

 
4 - Replace the drawer fronts and doors to add a professional finish to your kitchen makeover

One of the largest surface areas in your kitchen is the space covered by kitchen cabinets, cupboard doors and drawer fronts. They’re also the most noticeable when things start to get a little bit tatty.

They’re prone to kicks, knocks, bumps and scratches, especially if you have kids or pets! By simply replacing them with bespoke, updated doors and drawer fronts you can transform the look of your kitchen in a matter of a few days.

And because the changes are cosmetic rather than structural, you’ll keep fuss and building time down to a minimum, as well as keeping the budget under control too. Painted cabinets can also add a splash of colour to your life.

See our beautiful range of kitchen cupboard doors and drawers, including kitchen cabinets, upper cabinets, lower cabinets, painted cabinets, and more storage space solutions.

5 – Install vinyl cabinet doors to enhance the kitchen makeover

The biggest problem with vinyl is that people still associate it with the cheap and sticky flooring from 50 years ago. That flooring we all remember seeing in our grandparent’s house when we were growing up.

Fast forward to modern day and vinyl quality has come on leaps and bounds. You can even get realistic wood effects to provide a more budget friendly flooring option for your kitchen makeover.

6 – A consistent aesthetic can add some wow to your kitchen makeover

Having a running aesthetic through the kitchen can also be a nice visual touch, matching the flooring to the curtains, and the appliances to the countertops, the kitchen cabinets to the kettle. Upper cabinets and bottom cabinets could be contrasting colours, or mismatched chairs, for example.

Colourful utensils and appliances can pop against white paint or whatever wall colour you have. Stainless steel appliances also provide a nice consistency. Whatever you think looks great. Just a few subtle changes can give your old kitchen a whole new look.

Most kitchen makeover ideas are just about what you think makes your kitchen space stand out with a cohesive look, even if that comes in the form of a shabby chic style. Make your old-fashioned kitchen a fashionable kitchen with just a few cost effective and great ideas.

7 - Add a few little extras to round off your kitchen makeover

When it comes to kitchen makeovers on a budget, it’s the little things that matter and can make all the difference. So, finally, let’s add a few little extras that reflect your personality. Look at the style of kitchen you have and choose appropriately.

If it’s a family-friendly kitchen, then a pin-board for the kid’s pictures will quickly become a favourite for the whole family. Bright, fun transfers will revive boring tiles, while a few well-placed horse brasses and copper pans will give a traditional, country-style kitchen that authentic rural look, while bunches of drying herbs add a gloriously earthy, fresh scent as well as looking truly ‘rustic’!

Whatever you think looks great. Just a few subtle changes can give your old kitchen a completely new look. But if you have any extra kitchen makeover ideas, the best way to see whether they work is to test them out! Remember, when on a limited budget the little things that make you smile are the best way to cut costs.