10 Ideas to Remodel a Kitchen on a Budget
Posted by Seconds & Surplus Staff on Jul 24th 2024
Did you know that around 60% of Americans cook at home more than five days a week? Not only is eating at home healthier, but it can also save you money on eating out, and if you’re budget-conscious, that may bleed into other aspects of your life, like home remodeling.
With the amount of time you spend in your kitchen, you want it to look good, so we’ve come up with 10 budget kitchen renovation ideas that won’t break the bank.
TL;DR: 10 Budget Kitchen Renovation Ideas
- Update or Add Molding: Cover imperfections and add flair with various molding types.
- Refresh Cabinets: Swap out hardware or paint for a budget-friendly update.
- Refurbish Furniture: Restore cheap or free pieces to tie your kitchen together.
- Replace Flooring: Opt for affordable laminate or vinyl plank flooring.
- Declutter and Organize: Use storage products to make a significant visual impact.
- Upgrade Lighting: Replace bulbs for a warmer, more inviting kitchen.
- Install a Tile Backsplash: Add character and protect walls with a new backsplash.
- Add Decorations: Enhance your kitchen with shelves, artwork, and wall mirrors.
- Incorporate Rugs: Use rugs for functionality and to tie the room together.
Keep Reading: Ready to dive deeper into budget kitchen renovations? Explore detailed tips and ideas to transform your kitchen without breaking the bank in the full article below.
1. Update or Add Moulding
Maybe you have some gaps in your baseboards that are dragging down your kitchen’s look, or maybe you’re just bored with plain ones. Moulding the best way to cover up any imperfections and add some flair to your kitchen’s accents without having to empty out your savings.
Seconds & Surplus has every type of moulding you can ask for, including:
- Base moulding
- Crown moulding
- Quarter round moulding
- Shoe moulding
- S4S moulding
To make sure you cover every aspect of your kitchen, you’ll also find a great selection of casings for your kitchen doors and windows.
2. Give Up the Perfect Transformation
Cabinets are the focal point of any kitchen, and this may have you scratching your head over how to redo kitchen cabinets on a budget. Luckily, swapping out the hardware is just one of the many budget-friendly ways you can breathe new life into old cabinets.
Here is a list of hardware you can replace on your cabinets to make them look completely new:
There are so many options to choose from, and different types of hardware means many available style combinations, from modern to traditional and elegant looks.
3. Refurbish Old Kitchen Furniture
This is probably the most budget-friendly option on this list, depending on where you get the furniture.
Today, you can find hundreds of cheap or even free kitchen tables, chairs, and complete dining sets online, and restoring these older pieces can be a great way to tie your kitchen together without spending too much, if at all if you have extra supplies lying around.
Paint, a sander, sealant, and a good sealer is all it takes to spruce up an old furniture piece and make it yours.
4. Paint Your Cabinets
One of the easiest and most budget-friendly cabinet refinishing ideas is painting them. A lot of the time when you hire someone to paint for you, most of the time goes into the preparation, so as long as you’re willing to be patient with this part, you can save yourself money by painting your own cabinets.
Covering your floors and hardware to protect them from being accidentally painted is the most time consuming part — aside from waiting for paint to dry and layering coats — but that’s all it takes to elevate your kitchen via a new paint job.
5. Go For New Flooring
There’s nothing worse than having your kitchen cabinets and floor not match. While your first instinct may be to replace your kitchen cabinets, the cheaper route may be to replace your flooring.
You’d be amazed at the wide selection of laminate and vinyl plank flooring styles you can find today, and the best part is that with just a quick online video tutorial, you can install your own floors, saving you the cost of having to hire someone to do it for you.
A lot of these flooring options just snap together, all you have to do is cut them and snap them in place. In most cases, you just need a Miter Saw and a mallet.
6. Declutter and Organize Your Space
If you’re on a more intense budget, something as simple as decluttering and organizing your kitchen can make for a great upgrade. Throw a couple bucks into cabinet storage products and watch your countertops go from cluttered to looking like you just moved in.
While kitchen upgrades like new cabinets and new flooring are the first things that come to mind when we talk about upgrades, you’d be surprised at how much of a difference a little spring cleaning can make.
7. Don’t Overlook Lighting
This next upgrade is super simple, but it’ll really lighten up your space.
Your light bulbs can be the difference between creating a warm and sterile environment. One cheap and easy change you can make in your kitchen is replacing your light bulbs with warm, white bulbs for a more comforting feel.
8. Go For a Nice Tile Backsplash
Nothing makes a kitchen pop more than a new backsplash. Not only is this budget kitchen renovation a great way to add some character to your kitchen, but it can help protect the walls behind a sink and stove from water damage and staining.
Backsplashes can be used in a variety of rooms, but this is one of the most common budget kitchen upgrades you’ll come across.
9. Add Decorations
Before you go crazy on the cabinet refinishing ideas, take a look around and see if you can bring your kitchen to life with some decorations. We know we mentioned decluttering, but having a reasonable amount of decorations around your kitchen can be a great way to upgrade without spending too much time and money.
Things like shelves, artwork, and wall mirrors can help liven up your space and help you determine if you really need to go into more intensive renovations.
10. Throw In Some Rugs
This upgrade can technically fall under decorations, but they deserve their own category because of how overlooked they are when it comes to functionality and their ability to tie together a kitchen.
Rugs are another great way to give your kitchen a boost without spending too much. Rugs look especially great on vinyl plank flooring, so if that’s where your budget kitchen renovations have taken you, finish it off with a nice rug.
Dig Into Your Budget Kitchen Renovation With Second & Surplus!
You don’t have to take out a second mortgage just to redo your kitchen; sometimes, a little inspiration and willingness to get your hands a little dirty is all it takes.
If you’re ready to transform your kitchen on a budget, don’t forget to stock up on the necessities at Second & Surplus. We have everything you need at unbeatable prices, from hardware and molding to home decor that will make your kitchen feel like you’ve just won a free million-dollar home renovation!
Check out our collections online today and get in touch with us if you have any questions about our products.