How to Give a Kitchen a Budget Facelift

Here are some pointers for refreshing a tired kitchen without breaking the bank. The cost of each step ranges from less than $10 to a few hundred dollars. Pick and choose what suits your budget and your kitchen.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Countertops
• Cabinet Knobs
• Curtains
• Latex Paints
• Light Fixtures
• Polyurethane/shellac/varnish
• Tiles
• Vinyl Floor Tile
• Wallpaper
• Kitchen Sinks
• Kitchen Faucets

1. Buy paint, costing as little as $12 per gallon, for the most dramatic, least expensive change for walls. Repapering, at a cost of about $10 per single roll and up, can also give a kitchen a quick new look.
2. Renew clear-coated wood cabinets by scrubbing, rinsing (critical) and thoroughly drying, and then applying a new coat of a clear finish such as varnish or tung oil (test in an inconspicuous spot first). You can also upgrade cabinets with semigloss or gloss paint. Further update cabinetry with new knobs and drawer pulls.
3. Change out the sink, faucet set and countertops if the budget allows. Laminate, which comes in a staggering array of colors and patterns, is usually the least expensive option for countertops.
4. Add ceramic tile - mosaic sheets are easy to work with - between the countertop backsplash and the bottoms of your cupboards. It makes a durable, easy-to-clean surface as well as a style statement.
5. Install sheet vinyl or vinyl floor tiles, both of which can often be laid atop an existing floor.
6. Hang new curtains or other window treatments such as washable blinds.
7. Rethink your lighting. A new ceiling fixture can make the kitchen a lighter, brighter workplace, and undercounter lighting will add drama as well as improve working conditions.

Tips & Warnings

• Phase in your kitchen improvements to minimize pocketbook pain. Group the projects sensibly; for instance, replace the sink, countertops and faucet in one phase, and upgrade the cabinets' finish and hardware in another.
• Thoroughly ventilate the kitchen when working with petroleum distillate products such as varnish.
• Wear protective goggles when sanding or drilling to avoid injury.

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