13 Affordable Kitchen Upgrades

Updating and upgrading your kitchen can sometimes be very tricky, time-consuming, and expensive. Considering your taste can change over time, there is very little chance the kitchen you once loved still makes you just as happy especially when you can make affordable kitchen upgrades. 

However, this type of project doesn’t have to be expensive or as difficult as you might think. Everything from Tupperware cereal containers to new lights can quickly give your kitchen a new lease on life.  

Change Your Light Fittings

Changing your light fixtures can be a very affordable way to create an entirely new mood in your kitchen. You can visit antique stores or second-hand stores and find nearly-new fixtures or older ones that can give you a more retro look. 

Paint Your Cabinets

With nothing more than a few tubs of paint and a brush, you can have brand new cabinets in a matter of hours. Many paint and hardware stores offer sample tubs that are very cheap and are often more than enough to get the job done. If painting isn’t for you, wood stains are equally as cheap and look incredible. 

Install a New Tap Faucets

Installing new tap faucets isn’t as tricky as you may think. It only requires you to unscrew the old ones and put in the new ones. Once again, a visit to an antique store will help you find something more vintage, and if that isn’t for you, many faucets are relatively cheap. 

New Shelving

If you are so inclined, you can do a bit of building and installation by removing a cabinet or two and replacing them with shelving. This also opens up your space a bit, and displaying your mugs or ingredients is a classic design choice that works with almost any type of kitchen. 

Backsplash Tiles

A backsplash is a go-to for any designer, and it isn’t difficult to get your own. You can purchase stick-on tiles that require you to cut them to shape, and they are also replaceable, meaning you can peel them off and stick on new ones whenever you want. 

Add a Centerpiece

Adding a centerpiece or focal point for your kitchen is a cheap and easy change that makes a difference. It doesn’t have to be anything big, but it should be something that stands out and grabs your attention. This can be making a display of some kind, adding a plant, a picture, or something similar. 

DIY Kitchen Island

A kitchen island can be very expensive, but you can make your own with a few pieces of wood, some tools, and a couple of YouTube tutorials. You don’t need a lot of DIY know-how or money, to nail a few pieces of wood together and give them a varnish. 

Upgrade Your Hardware

Changing your cabinet and drawer knobs is once again an incredibly easy but highly effective way to change the look of your kitchen. You can find new and vintage pieces all over the place, and combined with a new paint job, you will have new cabinets in a matter of hours. 

Repaint Your Kitchen Walls

Another simple task is repainting your kitchen walls. Armed with a paintbrush and a bucket of paint, you can repaint your walls in a day or two and create an entirely new space. Once again, unless you need a specially made color, you don’t need gallons of expensive paint. 

Add Decorations

A quick accessory or decoration change may be up your alley if you don’t want to paint or redo your cabinets. Adding a few photos, a painting, or something similar can give the space a new feel without even touching it. 

The same can be said for taking decorations and accessories out. You may be in a position where you have over-decorated, and removing some pieces can give your kitchen a more calming look and feel. 

Countertop Upgrades

Another change that requires a bit of experience is changing your kitchen countertops. While you will almost certainly need a professional to do this if you want countertops made of something other than wood, you can still do this job yourself. 

You can even go more small scale, changing a section of countertop, replacing it with a slab of wood, and having a large cutting board. This type of job will take time and effort, but it is still in the realm of you doing it yourself. 

Coffee Station

If you are a coffee lover, you most likely have a coffee machine or a dedicated coffee maker of some description. A coffee station is not only a unique addition to a kitchen, but it can also act as a focal point. 

Requiring nothing more than a small amount of counter space, putting all your coffee-making equipment, cups, coffee, and sugar in one place creates a super-stylish and modern look and feel. 

Carpet or Rug

Just because you’re in the kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t have a nice carpet or small rug. While you shouldn’t have one that covers the whole floor, a small one in the middle or to one side is a great addition. 

Changing your kitchen doesn’t have to be expensive, time-consuming, or difficult. You can give your kitchen a facelift without spending too much time or money with a few simple changes – like painting the walls, adding new hardware, or changing your countertops. If you’re feeling creative, there are also plenty of DIY projects that you can take on to upgrade your space even further. So get inspired and start renovating!