Ways to remodel your kitchen on a budget

What’s wonderful about the age we live in right now is that we can truly update our spaces not just by doing it ourselves but also really inexpensively! My mom’s little place was in dire need of an update, it felt dark, dirty, dingy and basically made me hate every surface. On a wing and a prayer we decided to simply paint EVERYTHING and we than see how we felt about the big things (the floors, counter tops etc.) once the paint dried.

Its been said a million times and it will be said a million times more. IT IS AMAZING WHAT PAINT CAN DO.

A fresh coat of paint on all of her walls and on her kitchen cabinets left absolutely happy with not only all of her floors but her counter tops as well!

The expense was just a couple hundred dollars and some sweat equity over a couple of days left her house looking absolutely incredible!

(The following is a contributed article all about some of the easy DIYs you can do today to update your own kitchen!)

Whether you’re getting ready to sell your house or just preparing for the future, remodeling the kitchen shouldn’t break the bank.

Research shows that most buyers will add their own touches and finishes once they purchase a house. But you’ll still need to make it look modern and presentable. Follow these five steps for low-cost, easy updates that increase your home’s value.  

Step 1: Do the Dishes

This first step is the most important. Clean your kitchen! No one can reasonably expect to remodel a cooking space with dirty dishes piled up in the sink, trash in the bins, and crumbs on the countertops.

You’ll feel better and things will go smoother. Plus, if you’ve cut the clutter before you start, it’ll be that much easier to pack things up should you decide to gut everything and start from scratch.

Step 2: Update the Floors

Ditch the linoleum—hardwood (or laminate) is where the real value lies in flooring.

And bonus, the National Association of Realtors says refinishing a floor shows a 100 percent return on the investment. For kitchens, it’s a bit easier—the space is smaller and the distressed look is in fashion, so don’t fret if you accidentally drop that knife block.

Try to match the flooring you have throughout the rest of your house; it looks classier and will present at a higher value. And if you can repair what’s there already, do that instead for a cheaper option.

Step 3: Add Fresh Paint

Research from Consumer Reports shows that once you paint the interior of a house, the home’s value goes up between 1 and 3 percent.

In the kitchen, it’s a no-brainer to repaint when you’re going through a remodel. Grease splashes and colorful spills can stain the walls and make the space look grimy.

Get rid of these leftovers with a quick coat of paint. For a kitchen, you’ll want something that’s both durable and easy to clean. Aim for a high-gloss or semi-gloss finish; it’s the easiest to wipe down and won’t absorb moisture like other paint finishes will.

Step 4: Replace Hardware

Particularly during a kitchen remodel, switching out the hardware can make a huge difference.

Updating those outdated knobs and drawer pulls is one of the easiest and low-cost ways to raise the value of your home. Simple satin nickel knobs, for example, are available in packs of 10 for less than $20—which could potentially work for your entire kitchen depending on its size.

If you want to spend a little bit more but still get a large return, try swapping out faucets and light fixtures as well.

Step 5: Refresh the Cabinets

No, you don’t need to spend a huge chunk of your kitchen budget on brand new cabinets. Just refresh the current ones with a new polish or cabinet paint.

It’s easy to do, as well. First take the cabinet doors down (be sure to remove the hardware and label where everything goes), then clean them all, and finish with a coat of primer and a new coat of paint or polish.

Aim for semi or high gloss paint to really make your cabinets shine.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)