Kitchen Design
Ideas for Refreshing Your Kitchen Without Remodeling
These 8 updates don’t require a big financial investment — just some creativity and a little DIY know-how
If you’d like to update your kitchen but a full renovation isn’t in your budget, a little DIY might be just the thing. Think flea market shopping, a can of paint or two, even a little sewing if you’re up for it. Below are eight cost-effective ideas for improving your kitchen from our My Houzz series. Which one would you like to try in your home?
2. Create interest with contrast. Here’s another great example of how paint can really make a space sing. By juxtaposing elements in this room in different finishes and colors, the homeowner created an interesting space. The sink base is painted a dull black with touches of silver for an industrial feel, while vintage signs with red and a smoky gray painted chimney offer a fun contrast.
Read about more DIY projects in this home
Read about more DIY projects in this home
3. Sew your linens. This homeowner gave her built-in seating area a finished look by sewing bench covers, pillows and a Roman shade in coordinating colors. To keep the price affordable for something similar in your own home, look for clearance fabrics or fabrics left over from someone else’s project at a vintage shop.
This bench seating was built by the owner. If you already have a seating area but no table, you could incorporate an unexpected item like this antique Singer sewing machine base topped with a scrap piece of marble.
Read about more DIY projects in this home
This bench seating was built by the owner. If you already have a seating area but no table, you could incorporate an unexpected item like this antique Singer sewing machine base topped with a scrap piece of marble.
Read about more DIY projects in this home
4. Add an unusual island. This factory cart, painted and updated with a vintage marble top, injects a fun color and an industrial vibe into this kitchen. Look for similar vintage pieces to adapt as kitchen islands at local flea markets, or you might even get lucky at an estate or garage sale. Spray-paint the cart a fun color and contrast it with rugs in complementary colors to add drama and interest.
Read more about this factory cart
Read more about this factory cart
This homeowner purchased a used Ikea kitchen island on Craigslist and had its countertop replaced with a larger one, expanding her countertop space while creating an eating area. Greenery layered around the room makes the space come alive.
Read more about this first home
Read more about this first home
5. Warm it up with texture. One way to refresh an all-white kitchen on a budget is to layer in texture. In this kitchen, texture comes in the form of a tree stump wine bucket, a wicker basket, a Scrabble letter holder and live bouquets and plants.
Read more about the decor in this home
Read more about the decor in this home
6. Add beautiful lighting. Replacing builder’s-grade can lights with a fabulous pendant or a chandelier adds a wow factor to a kitchen, and there are ways to do it for less. The old iron light fixture in this kitchen was found in Europe and repurposed for this English-style kitchen. Vintage lighting can also be found at resale shops and thrift stores, including those run by charities like Habitat for Humanity.
Read more about the DIY work in this home
Read more about the DIY work in this home
7. Add open shelving. For a more eclectic vibe, layer in open shelving on a wall without upper cabinetry. Adding a shelf allows you to introduce a bold accent color, like the red of the teacups shown here. Another option is to paint the walls yourself with a warm, inviting wall color like this yellow.
Read more about this home
Read more about this home
8. Bring in bar stools. Introducing interesting or statement stools such as these, which the homeowner purchased from a local bar, is a great way to add style to a kitchen. This homeowner renovated his old barn and wrapped his island in reclaimed barn wood, which adds warmth and texture.
Read more about this barn renovation
More: 11 One-Off Ways to Update Your Kitchen
Read more about this barn renovation
More: 11 One-Off Ways to Update Your Kitchen
Read about more DIY projects in this home