Here’s How to Do a Kitchen Reno on a Budget

If the heart of your home looks a little tired or isn’t as functional as you’d like, it’s time for a change. A complete kitchen renovation requires a lot of time and money. However, a quick kitchen refresh can update the look and feel of your space minus the heavy price tag and headache of an invasive kitchen remodel. New colours, new finishings, and some easy updates to lighting and cabinetry can all have a big impact. Here’s what you can do.
Update the Colour
Whether it’s painting the walls or adding pops of colour to cabinetry, new kitchen hues can pack a wallop that’s easy on your wallet.
Go with All White
An all-white kitchen is fresh, timeless and anything but boring. White paint allows bright or dark dramatic accents to draw the eye, and also let you express your personal style. All-white kitchens also tend to boost resale value because potential new homeowners have a blank palette to envision changes.
Bold Bright Colours
Sunny yellow and cherry red are classics for a reason. Yellow paint can lift your mood while red paint is known to spark appetites. When used on the walls, a light yellow colour can make small spaces feel bigger, while red can make a large kitchen feel cozier.
Moody Blues
The right shade of blue paint can work beautifully on walls and cabinetry. Pale blues create a fresh, clean and restful space, while deep blue kitchen cabinets can add drama to both traditional and modern aesthetics.
Shades of Grey
Grey paint has become an extremely popular choice for kitchens. Lighter shades create a cool, expansive feel, while dark grey kitchen cabinets can be a great complement to natural wood finishing.
Go for a Green Kitchen
Green paint can add a natural organic feel to your kitchen. A fresh leafy green is calm and inviting. Olive walls can be a surprising neutral, adding warmth and an old world feel, while deep green cabinets can bring depth to a neutral kitchen


Install a New Kitchen Faucet
Updating your kitchen faucet is DIY-friendly and affordable. A vintage-inspired brass faucet can complement a farmhouse-style kitchen, while a sleek matte black faucet suits a more modern space. A two-handle faucet adds colour and texture to your sink area, while a touchless kitchen faucet gives you hands-free elegance. A pull-down sprayer kitchen faucet brings a bold arch to your kitchen décor.
Install a New Kitchen Sink
If you’re installing a new kitchen faucet you might want to go the extra step and upgrade your kitchen sink as well. A stainless steel sink is timeless and easy to maintain, while porcelain can help create a farmhouse kitchen feel. Granite sinks and copper sinks cost a little more, but you’ll have a fantastic focal point for the room. There’s also the mount to consider. Undermount sinks are ideal for marble, quartz or granite counters, while drop-in sinks are a versatile option for all other countertop styles.


Add a Peel & Stick Backsplash
Easy to install, affordable and removable, a peel and stick backsplash mimics the look of real tile without the expense. It comes in adhesive-backed squares in a variety of materials from vinyl to metal, glass, and stone. Make sure your walls are properly prepped and you have the right tools to cut and trim during installation.
Replace Your Kitchen Lighting
Updating your kitchen lighting is another small change that offers big results:
For rustic kitchens, look for chandeliers with wood detailing to bring the space together
If you prefer a more modern look, consider pendant lighting with sleek chrome finishes
Wall sconces can enhance mood and feel
Undercabinet lighting offers a tasteful, task-oriented touch


Swap Out Your Old Kitchen Cabinet Doors
If your cabinet boxes are in good condition you can easily change the look of your kitchen by swapping out the old cabinet doors yourself. From traditional shaker to sleek Danish slabs, there are several styles and materials to choose from. Here’s a few pointers:
Solid wood cabinet doors can be easily cut to size
Thermofoil and MDF doors are more cost-effective and come fully finished
Measure twice and then measure again before purchasing
Leave a few cabinet boxes doorless for on-trend open shelving look
Choose New Cabinet Hardware
Swapping in new cabinet hardware is another easy upgrade. There are many different knobs, drawer pulls, hinges, latches and catches to suit your kitchen design:
Wooden knobs are budget-friendly, paintable and look great in a vintage kitchen
Metal door pulls in brass or cast-iron add a luxe feel to even the humblest cook space
Decorative cabinet hinges can give the illusion of custom cabinetry


Add Ceiling Panels
If your kitchen has a nine-foot ceiling or higher, you may want to consider a panel ceiling or coffered ceiling. This involves adding sunken panels or “coffers” that are either left plain or covered with decorative ceiling tiles, and framed by a grid of faux beams. It’s a classic architectural detail that adds interest and makes the space appear bigger.
Install New Kitchen Flooring
Vinyl flooring comes in sheets, planks and tiles and it’s probably the easiest to install. It’s also easy to clean, handles moisture well, and comes in a broad selection of styles. Laminate flooring is another popular option. It too is easy to install with the added bonus that it can convincingly mimic higher end flooring like hardwood or natural stone.


Add a Kitchen Island
A kitchen island creates a natural gathering space for family and friends. It can also make a large kitchen cozier, or a smaller space roomier thanks to additional counterspace. From stand-alone islands to rolling carts and rustic butcher blocks, there are many options to choose from that will complement your kitchen décor.
Budget Tips
Even though a kitchen refresh is more affordable than a renovation, you still have to make a budget and find savings where you can. Here are a few tips for keeping costs down:
Refresh or Replace: Make a list of what can be updated with paint, new finishings or hardware vs. what you’ll need to buy new. This will help you create an informed budget and reduce surprise expenses. Once you have that budget, do your best to stick to it without giving in to impulse purchases.
Get Sale Savvy: Pay attention to sales and mark the dates in your calendar. Check flyers and get on mailing lists so you won’t miss a deal!
Reuse, Recycle, Refresh: Visit thrift shops and salvage stores for reclaimed materials like cabinet hardware, interesting light shades and fun accessories to incorporate into your new kitchen design.
DIY or Hire: Putting in a new backsplash is something you can do yourself, but maybe you don’t want to mess around with installing a coffered ceiling. Sometimes you’ll save by paying a professional rather than wasting time and money trying something beyond your skill set.
Updating your kitchen is always a smart move and can only increase the value of your home. Now you that you know you can make big changes without breaking the bank, it’s time to start brainstorming all those creative kitchen ideas you thought you couldn’t afford.