Hello friends and welcome back for another post in my interior decor and design series! My husband and I are currently remodeling our kitchen so I have been thinking about some of the top DIY changes that anyone can make to create a stylish kitchen on a budget. Some people want to make quick DIY changes to their kitchens over the weekend, while others want to increase equity and are interested in extensive kitchen remodeling. No matter the case, being smart about the choices you make can save you a lot of money. There are plenty of examples of disastrous DIY kitchens your’s doesn’t have to be one of them. *This post contains affiliate links and or sponsored content.

 

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While there are tons of DIY options to highlight, let’s just focus on 11 great DIY changes that are going to make your kitchen more stylish since, at the end of the day, style is what most homeowners are trying to achieve. You can even get apps that allow you to plan out your new kitchen and adapt as you go. 

 

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First consider what your main kitchen goals are. Are you looking for to make new space for your  fridge  or are you wanting to do a complete overhaul? Making a list of your goals is a great place to start. If you just some simple changes, read on for some great ideas.

1.      Change The Lighting You Use

Instead of boring or outdated lights that are present in most kitchens, install pendant lights. They can become beautiful focal points and cost much less than you expect. Also, installation is very simple and instructions are usually included in the package. Pendant lights are a great choice for over a kitchen island.

 

Industrial Mini-Pendant Light

 

2. Change Kitchen Faucets

Just as with the lights, changing the stock kitchen faucets that are added by builders can make a huge difference to your kitchen overall. You can easily find high quality and stylish kitchen faucets that work great with any interior design. Installation is simple and there is no reason you should not consider this modification.

 

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Next consider water conserving devices, whether eco-taps or water-saving dishwashers. When you are purchasing cleaning products, choose green-cleaning brands, or make your own DIY products. Baking soda, salt and vinegar makes an excellent cleaner to get rid of smelly drains. Green cleaning solutions can also help you to save yourself a bit of money.

 

3. Buy Affordable Kitchen Cabinets And Upgrade Doors

This is the cheapest option when you want to have a beautiful solid wood finish but you cannot afford a full wood cabinet. Buying affordable carcasses and using a joiner to create solid wood fronts is a wonderful weekend DIY project. Solid wood fronts can even be bought online. My 

 

 

Cabinet facelift and new brick floor in progress!

Even if you use the services of a professional, this way of adding kitchen cabinets is more affordable than buying new kitchen cabinets with wooden doors. Even if you use the services of a professional, this way of adding kitchen cabinets is more affordable than buying new kitchen cabinets with wooden doors. Another DIY alternative is to purchase RTA cabinets. These are cabinets that you assemble yourself, and are a great idea if your cabinets are worn and looking lackluster.  If you absolutely can’t afford new cabinets or if you are short on space, look at the  unused space that you can transform into storage. 

 

4. Change Knobs And Pulls

A worthwhile, stylish kitchen upgrade is enhancing the feel and look of the entire space by changing cabinet hardware . Count the ones you would like to upgrade. Then, go to the hardware store or look online for better-looking alternatives. You can easily find many pieces that are beautiful and cost under $10 a piece. This includes brass pulls and hardware that are surprisingly affordable even though they are made out of high-quality, durable materials. Installation usually involves just removing some screws, thus the project can take only a couple of hours for the entire kitchen.

 

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5.      Replace Kitchen Worktops

The entire look of the kitchen can be made or broken with kitchen worktops. If you want to replace worktops, you should use some with a premium finish to lift the kitchen’s look. Quartz and granite surfaces are expensive but very durable, usually lasting a lifetime. However, solid oak is another solution for stylish kitchens and definitely more affordable than granite or quartz.

Grace in My Space

6. Upgrade Kitchen Accessories

When your budget is limited, there are not many opportunities available for large pieces. This is why you want to focus on the small things. According to Inspire, Design & Create, one of the simplest ways to improve the look of a kitchen is to start DIY projects that are fast and cheap. Upgrading accessories is a simple project that can be done by practically anyone. As a simple example, use corral on woven trays or add some wooden boards to the kitchen counter. Even something as simple as displaying beautiful pantry items that have pretty packaging can help.

 

French Garden House

 

 

Rocky Hedge Farm

 

7.  Add Some Sconces

Consider adding swing-arm sconces over open shelves. This creates beautiful ambient lighting and increases the room’s personality. Using track or recessed lighting cannot do this. In an ideal situation, you want the electrician to handle installation but you can do this yourself if you have the basic knowledge. Just make sure that you hide the cords as they can ruin the design you create.

 

Driven By Decor

8.      Repaint Kitchen Cabinets

Replacing kitchen cabinets can be very expensive but repainting them is not. A fresh coat of paint can so easily spruce up the entire room. The problem in many kitchens is that cabinets have a truly dated finish. If this is the case, add personality by making it a plan that during the next weekend you repaint them. In 2020 we’ve seen plenty of bold color schemes for kitchens, and we can expect this trend to continue, but classic white is always a good idea.

Painted Kitchen Cabinets~ Painted by Kayla Payne

If you feel bold and the current kitchen design allows it, consider some unexpected colors, like pale sage green, warm putty or duck egg blue. As an alternative, paint only half of the kitchen cabinets in a bold color and the other half in a neutral color to gain a very high contrast look. Mosaic tiling will work well  to add interest and color to a backsplash too.

 

Porch Daydreamer

 

9. Build Simple Shelves

If the kitchen does not have upper cabinets, build rustic wood shelves and place them on metal brackets. There are countless YouTube tutorials that teach you how to build wood shelves. Look for those that teach you how to create something that would look great in your kitchen and get to work.

 

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Making use of small tension rods in the kitchen can be a great way of organizing your tools. They are best placed in the cabinets under the sink and can hold cleaning supplies and dish towels. You could also arrange them vertically to hold cooling racks and baking sheets.

 

10. Add Roman Shades

You rarely see Roman shades inside kitchens because not many people know about them. By replacing your old shades with Roman shades, you instantly gain a sense of elegance. This shade type works great inside the kitchen because extra softness is always welcomed. Have some matching shades to add over all-glass doors and you end up with a really cohesive look in just a few minutes.

 

Roman Shades by Spiffy Spools

 

11. Paint Wood Floors

Most wood floors are stained because homeowners appreciate how natural wood looks. However, if you want a change, you can always paint wood floors. This allows you to avoid having to use professional refinishing. Moreover, you can choose out of multiple colors. Choose a color that matches the interior style and in only a weekend the kitchen will completely transform. As an alternative, terracotta tile is very durable and has been used in kitchens for centuries, great if you want a rustic or Mediterranean feel to your makeover. 

 

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To sum up, some very simple DIY changes can instantly add a lot of style to your kitchen. Each of the eleven options highlighted above can create drastic improvements, but many other opportunities exist. Check magazines and look for inspiration online. If you have a friend who is handy with tools, get an opinion and see if they can help, and be sure to invest in some high quality tools like Dewalt tools before getting started. 

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No matter the size, it can still be stylish, and mixing and matching components from different shops may also help your kitchen feel unique and special. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it’s also a room where you can show off your personality through countless DIY modifications. Just allow yourself to be creative.

 

 

 

If you are thinking about giving your kitchen a makeover or even just a style refresh, be sure to consider these eleven DIY changes for a stylish kitchen. My husband and I are currently in the process of giving our kitchen a much needed makeover! Right now we are updating the kitchen cabinets with paint and trim, and I am shopping online for some new pendant lighting. I will be posting the “in progress pictures” over the next several weeks, so be sure to stop back by the blog soon. 

 

Thanks for visiting today!

Amber

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