Since you are on a tight budget, paint is the quickest way to upgrade. Since you have white appliances, which if they still work, I would not replace yet, you can paint the cabinets most any color you desire. Can add a fun, non-slippery rug over the floor to add more color. Replace the lighting with anything non-fluorescent. Once you do that you will be amazed how nice it looks.

I agree with painting them but you may need to put a thin layer of veneer on the outsides if it is not wood. I think the box stores sell them. My screen makes it appear it is that paper they put on some cabinets.

Your cabinets look to be in good shape and are pretty neutral. Painting them will be a lot of work for not much gain.

If you can afford to, replace the counters (removing the 4" backsplash) and then tile the backsplash from counter to uppers. Some of the new laminates are really nice and still budget friendly. If you're a colourful person (I am) try a deep blue or green tile.

You can tile the backsplash even if you don't replace the counter. It will make things a lot easier to keep clean. But you'll probably want the tile to match the counter then, due to that 4" piece.

Other things include replacing the overhead light with something non-fluorescent, changing out the sink light for a pretty pendant and adding some hardware to your cabinets. Hardware, as well as being pretty, protects the wood from the wear of handling.

When it comes time to replace your appliances, consider a counter depth fridge which will open up your kitchen a bit.

Lighting is definitely where you should start! Getting rid of that overhead will make a huge difference. Pulls will make a big difference too and don't cost too much. You can paint your cabinets something fun like navy, or do a two tone, white on top color on bottom.

If the appliances are in good working order-I would keep them. I would recommend painting the cabinet and adding some cool hadware. To indulge the splurge switch out the countertops to marble. Remove the doors on a lower cabinet unit and add baskets for storage of onions, potatoes, napkins etc. The light fixtures need to be replaced with something more eye catching. Put a fun chandelier over the sink-it will enhance the space. You could switch out the faucet also. I do like the suggestion of adding a rug to the area-it will help to bring in some additional needed color.

A good paint job is expensive or extremely time consuming if you do it right. There is nothing wrong with your cabinets and if you paint, you will decrease the value when selling.

You need minor cosmetic fixes. A backsplash is inexpensive. Replacing the hideous overhead light is relatively inexpensive as well. Nice pulls and knobs. Paint something that ties your backsplash together. Do that and you will have a nice looking functional kitchen

Don’t change appliances for the sake of changing appliances. If they are working well, keep them until they are no longer working

Starter home generally implies you are on a budget and probably need many other items that will add comfort and functionality to your new home. You also need adequate savings so you aren’t living paycheck to paycheck if home needs maintenance or you have other unexpected expenses.

I would work on the lighting and the microwave over the range. Change the large fluorescent fixture and install under cabinet lighting - that may take most of your budget for now. One of my friends is refreshing a similar kitchen and so far she has added new lighting - it already looks so much prettier - even with her older counters. The microwave might not bother you but i am short and don't like reaching up over the range and I also prefer an open cooking area. A microwave/vent also does not vent well compared to a dedicated vent. Your layout is good and this is really a very nice kitchen. I would also add a pretty window treatment.

I have a similar kitchen and did not paint as I prefer wood and was concerned with the durability of a DIY paint job - I've seen some a year later and they don't always hold up great - then one has to invest in new cabinets. Do really good paint prep. Your cabinets might be maple which means they will paint up better than oak. It could just be the pic but I am not seeing the wood grain I would expect with oak.

My oak kitchen is in a vintage / cottage style:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854029

I agree with what Helen said. Start small. Save your money and just do smaller cosmetic things. Do not paint those cabinets as they will never look as good. Add nice handles or knobs. Definitely replace the light fixtures. Paint the walls and yes you can add a backsplash eventually.

Agree with lots of what's said above. Don't hurry to change appliances if they work well-new appliances tend to have shorter life..

Good paint job for cabinetry is expensive..your cabinets are quite nice. It's a different thing if you strongly dislike them-but if you don't, leave them, nice color and grain, imo.

Do add pulls/knobs..more functional, and you can take it several directions. few things can have such changing power for so little as hardware you love

Do change lighting-even bigger changing power than hardware..:)

if you really would love to install backspash-it's a fun thing to do(just take your other backplash ledge out then). I happen to like it as is-but I also love tiles:)

The rest is really styling..almost every functional item on your countertop can be what you really love. You can add something for sheer joy too, like a plant. A window treatment. You name it.

Lack of pantry is of course bumming..but it's still a very nice kitchen.

I'd say paint the cabinets, in a heartbeat, but only if you plan to invest the time and money to do it right. In one of my favorite low-budget kitchen updates, the homeowner painted the cabinets and re-hung the uppers a few inches higher on the wall, then put open shelves under the cabinets. You could store dishes on the open shelves, and use the upper cabinets for pantry storage.

BTW, not only is the kitchen nice, it's very functional--the appliances are already in the right spots.

I had kitchen cabinets painted professionally in my first condo. They were taken off site and the finish was very glossy. They looked fine for several years and I could wash them without the paint coming off. However, they began to show wear after just a few years - painting was a last resort instead of a complete remodel or even refacing. Paying for the paint job was not nearly as expensive as $5000 but I didn't have that many doors and they were literally thin flat boards so I imagine there wasn't much to spraying them properly. They never hung right after that installation either :-(

However, the finish was certainly not as durable as a wood stain would be and I suspect that the paint finish is not as durable as a factory paint job would be but I have no personal experience with factory painted cabinets.

The wood doors I painted were nothing like yours though and I would not have painted any kind of decent wood door even if I wasn't in love with the species and/or stain color. A starter home implies that you intend to move on to another home and sell your current home - painted cabinets will not look as good in a few years as your current wood cabinets so the kitchen will be less desirable than it is now.

Actually the cabinets look like they are in good condition. You should just be able to add nice hardware to them, update the lighting, do a paint job, update the faucet, and add some cute decor items. We say that's all you'll need.

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I agree on the lighting and hardware. What about a colorful rug and Roman shade on the window?

I'm visiting my sister and she'd painted her honey oak cabinets when she bought the house in 2016... they are showing a lot of wear.