It’s no secret why the kitchen is lovingly referred to as the “heart of the home”.  Always used for more than just cooking and preparing meals, families often use this space to gather and participate in family traditions, creating lasting memories throughout the years.  So, it’s important to have a kitchen that you can be proud of and gives you a feeling of home!  Have you been wanting to update your kitchen but are afraid to commit due to the costly budget it often requires?  The good news is that there is actually quite a lot you can do yourself to update your kitchen and make it feel more like home, without breaking the bank.  And, better yet, most of it can be done in just about a weekend!

 

Paint or stain the cabinets

It’s remarkable how far a little bit of wood paint or stain can go.  If you’re unhappy with how your cabinetry looks, whether it be the color, style, or it’s simply outdated, but you don’t want to deal with the cost of replacing it all, you can choose a quick fix by sprucing them up with paint or wood stain! Just make sure to tarp all of the surfaces around the cabinets and you’re set!  It’s also much easier to take the doors off beforehand, as well. 

Update the Hardware

This is, quite possibly, the easiest update of them all.  Not only is cabinetry hardware fairly inexpensive but it’s also a quick task to switch out the old with the new.  While hardware might be a small aspect of a kitchen, it makes a big difference, especially with newly painted or stained cabinets!

Update the lighting

Add a new light fixture above the sink, island, or peninsula will not only give your kitchen a fresh new look but it will also add some extra lighting, which is always a plus!

Add your own backsplash

These days, there are many ways homeowners can add a new backsplash to their kitchen themselves.  if you’re really looking for a quick and inexpensive solution, you can opt for peel-and-stick tiles that can be done by just about anyone.  This is a wonderful solution if you’re looking for an option that doesn’t have to feel permanent.  If you have an existing backsplash but are unhappy with how it looks, you can choose to go the route of giving it a fresh coat of paint.  Vinyl is another good option.  This can be done a couple of ways but the two most popular DIY options are cutting out sheets of vinyl, the size of your backsplash, and applying it as you would wallpaper.  Companies also make stick-on vinyl backsplash that is similar to the peel-and-stick tiles and just as temporary, if wanted to be that way. 

Change out your Countertops

While this is one of the more expensive updates to your kitchen, changing the countertop to your island or peninsula is much easier and affordable than switched all of the countertops in the entire kitchen.  DIY countertop kits can be purchased at almost any major hardware store!  If you’re on the fence about replacing the countertops, consider a more affordable option and buy a restoration kit to bring them back to life!

Add a row of trim to the drawers

Drawers can easily look outdated, even if you add a fresh coat of paint to them.  Fortunately, this can be solved without having to invest in replacing them!  All you have to do is make sure the wood that you’re using is the same color as the drawers, measure and cut it to the appropriate size and attach it with wood glue!

Install a new faucet

Adding a new faucet to your sink is fairly inexpensive and doesn’t have to be left to a professional.  Depending on how old your current faucet is, replacing it could give your sink a big facelift with little effort. 

Install under-cabinet lighting

Charm, sophistication, and ambiance, all in one!  Adding under cabinet lighting is much easier than most people realize.  The DIY kits themselves won’t cost much and installing them is fairly simple.  For the most part, all you’ll need to do is run/attach the lights under the cabinets (depending on the kit, you might need to drill a hole for the wires in the cabinets) and then plug them into the nearest outlet!

Save the décor for last

Once you’ve finished with all of the updates in the most used room in your home, it’s time for the fun part: the décor!  No transformation is complete without fresh décor, after all!

 

While you’re thinking about updating and renovating different rooms in your house, it’s important to remember that this doesn’t need to happen in a day.  Making a list to both plan and budget accordingly will help to keep you on track and remember that you’re making progress, even if it doesn’t always seem like it at the time.  What’s most important is that you live in a house that feels like a home!

 

 

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