We recently took on a kitchen renovation in our small one-story rancher. We had a tight budget, a few weeks of delayed paternity leave, and a ton of DIY motivation. In this post, I will share how to renovate a kitchen on a budget.
We worked as a team, my husband and I. I cast the vision of how I wanted the end result to look. He sanded our cabinets and installed a tile backsplash. I painted the cabinets and the grout on the floor, and then I accessorized and decorated.
The results of this project made me so happy! As of writing this post, there are still some odds and ends to finish, but the bulk of the hard work is done.
If you are looking to make your kitchen look nice and you don’t want to spend too much, this post is for you! Here are the tricks we employed to get a beautiful kitchen without breaking the bank.
If you pick classic and affordable tile for floor or backsplash, you can decorate to make it feel more custom. Add art, accessories, or an area rug to infuse it with your style.
We did a classic subway tile backsplash. It was a small area, so we only needed one $15 box of tiles and the adhesive, grout, and application tools (which we borrowed). This was almost more affordable than those peel and stick backsplashes.
I originally wanted white Moroccan tiles, but I’m glad we went with subway tile. With the plates I have hanging above the cabinets and the accessories on my countertops, a neutral backsplash was what we needed. Anything fancier would have been too busy.
My parents offered to treat us to countertops as a Christmas gift. We picked a stunning black and white speckled granite. I love the movement of natural stone, compared to the more solid colors of quartz and other options.
We don’t have a lot of counter space, so the cost came to $1600. The counters are a focal point, surrounded by that subway tile and black cabinets. They really pull everything together and are just beautiful.
If you can, pick one area to splurge on and keep the focus on that. It will elevate the look of the kitchen as a whole.
We tiled our backsplash, but we couldn’t retile the floors right now. We have a large area of floor, and getting it done by a pro was going to be expensive. Neither of us was keen on demoing the floors ourselves.
I thought maybe I could tolerate our current tiles if the grout were clean. I tried two different cleaning methods without success. Then I tried painting them with a grout paint pen.
I loved the results! The tile isn’t perfect, but it now looks fresh and clean rather than dark and dingy. Maybe someday we will get around to replacing these floors, but I feel like they don’t detract from the overall look of the kitchen.
If you’re interested in trying this method, I created a grout pen restoration guide where I share what I learned from this application.
If your cabinets are wood, you can repaint them instead of buying new ones. (You can also paint laminate with the right supplies). This is a great way to make an impact on a tight budget.
I’m all for painting cabinets in fun colors, but I selected black for mine. It created a cozy and moody vintage vibe that I just love. It also blended with our existing black appliances.
If you’re selecting a paint color, here are my tips for picking the right paint color for you.
My chandelier is a stunning crystal one that I thrifted for $24 a while back. It had been hanging in my she-shed waiting for its moment to, quite literally, shine.
Light fixtures are a big part of your design, and I recommend going for something impactful rather than basic. They are often referred to as the jewelry of the room.
You could make this your splurge item, or you can shop secondhand (like I did) to find something unique and affordable.
Making over the whole kitchen at one time would’ve been pricey. We bought new appliances a few years ago, and we redid everything else in the past few months.
Not everyone can afford to renovate the entire kitchen at once. Don’t be afraid to tackle one project at a time, as you can afford it.
Just have a game plan in place so everything is cohesive and you don’t end up abandoning the cause mid-project.
I have a huge collection of Blue Willow plates. Instead of buying decor to hang on my walls, I created a plate collage with my collection.
This collection is so impactful – it’s actually become my favorite part of the kitchen. And I used what I already owned. Instead of sitting in my cabinets only being used occasionally, I get to look at something I love all the time.
Displaying your favorite collections and treasures is cost effective and also a great way to make your kitchen your own.
To see more of this kitchen renovation and learn how to renovate a kitchen on a budget, follow @Lauren_Rose_Home on Instagram and check out my Kitchen highlight.
Design, thrifting, and entertaining are my passion, and I share that passion with you through this blog. I also love being in the kitchen and crafting cocktails. I love Jesus and occasionally, I talk about him too. He has been so powerful in my life, and I love to bring him glory with my hobbies.
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