It’s not unusual for buyers to fall head over heels for a house if the kitchen has been updated and looks amazing. But as we all know, home improvements can be pretty expensive and sometimes not worth the effort in the end. Here are a few kitchen update ideas that will make a huge impact without breaking the bank.
Deep Clean Everything
No one wants to buy a house with grease stains behind the stove, dust buildup on top of the cabinets, or a menagerie of dust bunnies under the appliances. By far, deep cleaning the entire kitchen is a cheap way to make your kitchen look more appealing to buyers. All it takes is a little bit of sweat equity and a few cleaning supplies to change the overall appearance of your kitchen.
Refresh The Paint
Regardless of when you last painted the kitchen, a fresh coat of paint can go a long way in making your home feel clean and new. A few gallons of paint can cost less than $100, and it can make a world of a difference by brightening up the entire space. Also, if you have outdated wallpaper, you might want to consider removing it and opting for paint instead.
Remember: kitchen trends are always changing and what may be hot this year may not be as popular in a decade. So when in doubt – go neutral!
Update Light Fixtures And Bulbs
When you turn on the lights in the kitchen, is everything bathed in a yellow hue? Unfortunately, outdated light fixtures and warm white (aka yellow) bulbs can date the kitchen and highlight the grease splatters on the wall. Consider replacing the fixtures with something more modern and replace the old bulbs with bright white LED ones.
Do keep in mind that updating fixtures may require the help of an electrician and that should be factored in when you’re planning your budget.
Update Kitchen Counters
There are a lot of different types of countertop materials that you can use to update your kitchen, but not all of them are going to be budget friendly. Traditional marble or granite options can run anywhere between $40 to $100 per square foot. Quartz is even more expensive, coming in anywhere between $50 to $150 per square foot! You can recoup much of the cost for these materials when you sell.
However, if you don’t have the money to invest right now, then laminate is an excellent budget-friendly choice. These counters can cost between $10 to $40 per square foot and there are a lot of styles to choose from – faux natural stone finishes tend to be the most popular choice among renovators.
If you want an even cheaper option, you could go with ceramic tiles that cost $3 to $4 per square foot or porcelain tiles that cost between $4 to $8 per square foot.
Replace Cabinet Hardware
Another awesomely affordable kitchen update idea is to switch out the dated cabinet hardware to something that’s more modern and cohesive with the rest of the finishes in the kitchen. Ideally your faucet, light fixtures, and cabinet hardware should be the same metal finish so that your kitchen looks cohesive and well-thought out.
You can also change the style of the hardware as well. Instead of using knobs for all of the cabinets and drawers, consider using pulls for an updated look. Wayfair has an excellent guide you can follow if you’re having difficulty deciding what kind of hardware to choose.
Paint Existing Cabinets
Painting kitchen cabinets is a good way to bring your outdated maple cabinets into the 21st century. White cabinets continue to be the go-to among homeowners that choose to paint their cabinets and if you install matte black knobs/pulls, the kitchen will look modern and elegant!
Kitchen Updates Don’t Have To Cost An Arm And A Leg
Trying to decide what home improvement projects to tackle first can be overwhelming if you’re working on a tight budget, to be sure. However, kitchen updates don’t have to cost an arm and a leg! The ideas listed here are a great start and the best part is when you get a free appraisal, you’ll see that these updates pay off!