15 Genius Ways to Update & Refresh Your Kitchen on a Budget

Thinking about updating our homes often makes us anxious because we believe it requires a lot of time and money! But what if it’s possible to change things in your home almost with minimal effort and money? Keep reading to find cheap, budget-friendly ways to reorganize & refresh your kitchen to give it a modern, updated look!

Thinking about updating a kitchen can feel super-overwhelming…. like we are just going to be chucking money out the window. But it really doesn’t have to be that way. Today, I’m so happy to have my friend Archie sharing his best tips with us on how to refresh and update your kitchen on a budget! He is a homesteader from Alaska and a builder for over 40 years, so he definitely knows his stuff! Keep reading to learn 15 ways you can breathe new life into your kitchen without spending a fortune! Easy and doable tips! 

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Budget-Friendly Kitchen Refresh

It is a simple fact – nobody is thrilled by the idea of having to renovate the home! We are pretty sure that you too, as most of the people we know, dread having the entire handyman walking around your house for months and draining your budget. 

We also felt the same way, and we pretended that everything in our home was in perfect order. Then, one day over morning coffee, we looked around the kitchen and said almost simultaneously, “We need to stop procrastinating! This kitchen needs a revamp, now!” We then went over our budget for the next six months and saw we could realize our plan only by giving up on summer holidays and nearly everything that gives us pleasure in these challenging times.  Ha – feels that way, right?!?

Naturally, we didn’t want to do that, but we were faced with a scarcity of ideas! Nonetheless, we were determined to find a way so we decided to talk with a friend who is a professional interior designer and worked with homemakerguide. After coming over and inspecting the situation in our kitchen, he told us there are way simpler methods to improve kitchen design than we thought.

More importantly, he said that this entire thing will cost next to nothing. We were a bit skeptical, but still thrilled and decided to follow his instructions.

The result was so amazing that we decided to share the tips for kitchen organization. As it turns out, you don’t have to spend a bunch of money on your appliances, gadgets, and other things you think are necessary for a modern kitchen. I’m going to share with you various kitchen ideas, tips, and tricks to organize and refresh the most important part of your home! 

How to Successfully Modernize the Kitchen on the Cheap

1| Make Things Messier

Yes, we know that your goal is to get rid of a mess in your kitchen, and we understand how shocking our proposal sounds! But, hear us out! The only way you can get rid of the mess is by taking everything out from your cupboards and drawers.  That allows you to see all the things you have and decide what you need and what needs to be thrown away.

Then you can think about the kitchen utensils that you frequently use and need at hand’s reach. When you finish,  put things back but in a way that is more convenient for you.  You will see that doing this will allow your kitchen to breathe differently! As a result, it will end up looking way better! (And if you’re hesitant about decluttering or that overwhelms you, take a look here for 7 Baby Steps to Decluttering to get started!)

2| Deep Clean Everything 

Before starting to put things back, we recommend you deep clean the entire kitchen.  Of course, you are maintaining your cooking space regularly, but this is something different. Having everything out allows you to wipe down even those parts that you rarely do.

It won’t take a lot of time, and it will give your kitchen a fresh look. You will also feel amazing when you start returning things in cabinets and drawers. 

3| Bed Support Bars as Storage 

If you decided to get a new bed and are not sure what to do with old bed slats, don’t rush into throwing them away.  It might sound surprising, but you can turn them into fantastic storage.

It is quite simple to mount them on the walls. Having gadgets and other kitchen accessories on the hanging wall slats is much more appealing to the eye and gives a rustic, farmhouse look.

4| Get Matching Containers 

You have always wondered how the shelves you see in the magazines and on TV look so marvelous.  Want to know the trick? It is about matching containers and canisters! You might be surprised, but looking closely, you will see that all of these containers in the pictures are the same or paired well.

The great news is that you don’t have to go shopping anew! You probably have a bunch of jars that have been collecting dust somewhere.  Think about the idea of cleaning them thoroughly and filling them with spices that have been lying scattered around for so long.

You can also get bins and baskets very inexpensively at Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Dollar General!

5| Multipurpose Furniture 

Have you ever considered getting a kitchen island? It is a splendid piece of furniture that can have as many uses as you like. People usually opt for it because it is an excellent dining area for kids. However,  it can play a critical part if you are lacking storage or a sitting option.  You can also use it to create a coffee cart, which gives the impression of being in a hotel and offering your guests something a little special.

6| Ditch the Cabinets for Open Shelving

This is a really current trend these days. Many are opting to remove cabinets and install open shelves instead. This is much cheaper than replacing cabinets, and it can give your kitchen a bigger, more open feel. It’s also a way to display some beautiful decor along with your dishes, bowls, and glasses that can really add style and interest to your kitchen space.

(Here’s a post ondecorating shelves – it’s uses bathroom shelves as an example, but the same principles apply!)

7| Introduce a New Paint 

Maybe you’re under the impression that something is off in your kitchen even if you recently painted the walls, cleaned and reorganized everything? You would be amazed at how often the wrong paint color is the culprit for this problem.  Paint is generally affordable, effortless, and fun, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t try a new color.

But of course, since you don’t want to paint everything each couple of months, the best is to sample and see which colors go best with your walls and all the kitchen units. You’re aiming for a cohesive look all throughout, not just your favorite colors.

Also pay attention to the amount of light your kitchen gets. If there are few windows and not a lot of natural light, be cautious about going with a darker color, unless you’re aiming for a moody look.

8| Decorate the Fridge

You deep cleaned and reorganized the fridge a dozen times by now, but it seems that nothing you do makes you happy. You dream about buying one of those models that look like a space shuttle that you see in the magazines. But then again, why would you throw away a perfectly functioning fridge just because they are not satisfied with its appearance?  The good news is that you don’t have to! 

A first level task is to clean off the clutter. A refrigerator is often a catch-all for every random piece of paper you don’t want to lose. Find a better place to keep those loose odds and ends, so you are starting with a clean slate.

Then, the best way to modernize your fridge is to paste a cool wallpaper over it. Many are even peel-and-stick or just contact paper.

If wallpaper isn’t your thing, you can always paint it! Remember, as it is in your home and the whole point is that you enjoy it, you can go as crazy as you wish. 

9| Change the Taps and Faucets 

It is surprising how many people don’t think about kitchen faucets and kitchen taps when remodeling the kitchen.  It is most common when we have a limited budget. Our focus goes towards big things that need to be changed urgently, and we ignore the little ones.  However, quite often replacing these little things with more modern versions makes such a big difference that some of the big work doesn’t even have to be done. 

You can find many new, modernized faucets and taps for a relatively inexpensive cost, that are easy to install yourself!

10| Install New Lights 

It’s been said many times that adequate lighting transforms the appearance of any room in the house, including the kitchen. Additionally, regardless of whether you need to replace all of the kitchen lights or add some here and there, it will cost you next to nothing.  Plus, you can enjoy playing and combining different lights.

The most important thing is to assess all the tasks that will happen in this room. Following that, you need to think about where to put adequate lights for specific tasks. For example, under cabinet lighting is a great choice for all the tasks done on kitchen worktops.

The quality of bulbs will also affect the atmosphere. If you want a soft and warm atmosphere, you can opt for incandescent lights. For various tasks, the best option is a halogen bulb, etc. 

There are even many wireless options available, including pendant lights where you can insert puck lights controlled by remote! No wiring needed!

11| Add Accessories 

If you want to modernize your kitchen, you should think about adding some kitchen accessories. Maybe you can pick a specific theme and find accessories that will contribute to it. Of course, you have to make sure that the items you include make sense in the kitchen.

For example, you can think about including a set of beautiful trays, cutting boards and baskets. We also noticed that framed recipes, whether on countertops or the walls, always look attractive. Matching canisters always add a uniform look to a kitchen space as well. 

If you happen to be a tea aficionado, how about a decorative tea bag organizer for this job?  This is not just practical but also well designed. They make your kitchen appear classy and are pretty enough to leave on the counter as rustic decor. 

Don’t forget about adding a cafe rod or a pot rack rod with S hooks to a wall or side of an island to hang accessories as well. Totally OK for it to throw in some signs and other decor. You definitely don’t need to just hang pots here – this is a space you can make pretty and show your style!

You can also make so many of your own accessories and home decor on a budget! Here are some amazing budget-friendly farmhouse DIY projects, many that can be used in the kitchen!

12| Cabinet and Kitchen Furniture Makeover

When the furniture looks outdated and worn out, we usually think that the only option is to get new pieces. But nowadays, quality furniture is getting more and more expensive, and it is a challenge to find something that won’t put a strain on our budget. Fortunately, there are ways to spruce up the kitchen table and kitchen chairs with just a few bucks!  

Heirloom Traditions is an AMAZING all-in-one chalk paint – a primer, paint, and sealer. You can literally use it on just about anything: kitchen cabinets, upcycled wooden tables and chairs. You can even use it on upholstery. No joke. It’s a perfect way to modernize and update kitchen tables, chairs, stools, cabinets, shelves, etc.

13| Modernize the Tiles

Okay, this is easier said than done, you will think. Indeed, replacing old kitchen tiles is a strenuous job. It also requires skills that most of us don’t have. Therefore, it can also be expensive as you have to hire a professional.

But is a total change of tiles necessary? Probably, not!  You need just paint and sealant to modernize tiles without spending a lot of your personal finances and time. The best and by far the simplest way to transform dated tiles into something modern is to paint them entirely with a fresh color. If you find after some time that you became bored with it, do it again. You may also want to consider an epoxy floor for something really unique!

You can paint floor tiles with some fun stencils.

And if you’re looking to update a backsplash, there are some amazing peel-and-stick tile backsplashes you can put right over what you have!

14| Display Your Gadgets  

You know how when you see some image of a kitchen in the magazine you immediately want to go and cook there?! Do you have any idea what creates this effect? Believe it or not, this happens because of all the modern appliances, gadgets, and accessories in the photograph.

If you want to make your kitchen zone welcoming, make sure that you show off your stuff.  You can display everything you have by putting them on hanging shelves or countertops if you have enough space or using some of the tips described above. As long as it’s not a cluttered, messy look, display those gadgets proudly!

15| Switch Out the Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

Compared to the overall costs of kitchen renovation, changing your kitchen cabinet hardware is a very inexpensive way to update your kitchen and give it a more trendy, modern look! There are so many styles in different metals – it really can give the impression that the cabinets are new, too. This is a super-easy switch that has huge refresh dividends!

Inexpensive Hacks to Update Your Kitchen is the Way to Go

We all want our homes to be in perfect condition. It is to be expected because home is a haven, a place where we want to relax and enjoy ourselves with our friends and family. However, the idea of having to remodel often sounds dreadful because of all the money it will drain. So we postpone!

But, as you can see, even the kitchen revamp doesn’t have to give you a headache if you use a bit of creativity and imagination. There are so many ways you can improve the condition of your kitchen or any other room in your home without spending a lot of money. As many of them are transferrable, we truly hope these tips give you some inspiration for updating and refreshing not just your kitchen but other rooms in your home as well!

Before you go spend the big bucks to renovate your entire kitchen, give these tips a try first! I’d love to hear how they worked out for you!

Thoughts? We’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!

And if you spruce up your kitchen, I’d love to see them – tag me on Instagram @100affections!

More Home Improvement & Refresh Posts Here!

Master Bathroom Floorplan Ideas You Need to Know BEFORE You Start

7 Cheap Playroom Ideas on a Budget {Must-Haves for A Fun Space!}

7 Easy Decluttering Baby Steps When You Don’t Know Where to Start

Best Toy Organization Ideas after Christmas: 7 Easy Steps to Declutter

How to Decorate Your House on a Tight Budget

7 Easy Living Room | Family Room Makeover Ideas on a Budget

25 Budget-Friendly Farmhouse Decor DIY Projects

21 Amazing Rustic Bedding Ideas (+ Bedroom Styling Tips!)

7 Easy Steps to Create a Functional {& Stylish!} Tablescape

 

Big Thanks to Archie! Check out his bio below and take a look at other articles he’s written at Homemakerguide.com for more helpful home hacks!

Archie was a builder for more than 40 years. Mainly after his retirement the enthusiastic electrical works in garden and writes for a blog Homemakerguide.com to keep himself occupied. His many years of experience can get you the right tool reviews whether it is a drill, welding machine or so. An impressive fact to note about him is that almost everything in his house is a representation of his skills made by his hands.