How to update your kitchen on a budget

Perhaps you dream of one day having a new kitchen interior design (but that day is still a long way off), or perhaps you love your current kitchen but want to change a few components. If this sounds like your situation, then updating your kitchen might just be the thing.
Even without reconfiguring your space layout, there’s a lot to think about, from small items like new cabinet hardware and lighting to big changes like new counters and appliances. And whether your budget is $100 or $1,000, it can be difficult to decide what to prioritize and what to put on the back burner.
Use this kitchen renovation plan as a starting point and customize it to suit your space and budget.

If your budget is around $100: change the wall color. Between kitchen utensils and appliances, kitchens typically have limited wall space—meaning you won’t need a lot of paint to cover it.
If you have some money left over, use it to take a new art print and frame it in a ready-made frame to adorn your freshly painted wall.

If your budget is around $300: change the wall color, install a new art print, and then replace the light fixture. A touch of tired lighting can make a huge difference in how your kitchen looks and feels—and there are so many affordable budget lighting options to get a trendy look. If you have more room in your budget, replace all of your kitchen fixtures or with a fancy pendant over the island.

If your budget is around $500: paint, hang pictures, get new lighting, and add open shelving. Open shelving certainly has its fans—and its critics—but one thing is for sure: it works wonders for small spaces. Even replacing one small upper cabinet with a set of open shelves can make your kitchen feel more spacious and provide room to display your favorite dishes and accessories.

If your budget is around $700: what’s next? After fresh paint, art, lighting and open shelving, consider a new faucet. Replacing a kitchen faucet is less expensive than a full sink (that’ll come next) and can be a DIY project for crafty homeowners.

If your budget is around $1000. If you have more wiggle room in your budget, splash out on a new sink to use that new faucet. Keep in mind that if your new sink is different from your old one, you may face additional installation costs to properly install it in the cabinet and counter.

If your budget is around $1,500: paint, art, new lighting, open shelving, new sink, and then a remodel for your cabinets. Brand new cabinets are one of the most expensive items in a kitchen, so if you can avoid it, do it! If your cabinets are in good shape, repaint them, following the necessary steps to prepare them for a new finish. Then replace the old cabinet handles and pull. Know that if your cabinets need to be remodeled—which involves replacing rather than just repainting the doors—the cost will be significantly higher

If your budget is around $5,000: Along with updating your cabinets, installing new counters is one of the most significant changes you can make to your kitchen. When it comes to great-looking kitchen countertop materials, there’s a wide range of options—there’s a huge price difference between maple butcher block from Ikea and marble, for example—you’ll be on the hunt until you find something you like that fits your budget .

If your budget is around $10,000: paint, lighting, open shelving, new sink, updated cabinets, new counters…what’s left?

If you have more room in your budget, it’s time to choose new appliances. To avoid additional installation costs, choose appliances that fit in the same space as your old ones.