Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Kitchen Designs

Budget kitchen makeover: ways you can improve your kitchen without breaking the bank

Updating your kitchen doesn't have to cost a fortune - by Better Homes and Gardens
  • 27 Mar 2017
Budget kitchen makeover: ways you can improve your kitchen without breaking the bank

If you’re on a limited budget, but still hankering after a more modern space, here are some clever ideas for quick, easy and affordable updates.

If you can stick to the existing kitchen layout, it’s going to reduce your costs considerably – moving cupboards, plumbing, walls, electrics and so on starts to get into big money. And the more you can do yourself, the more you’ll save.

If your appliances are still okay, then re-use them, and before you throw the kitchen sink away, give it a good going over with a gentle abrasive cleaner, then spend the money you save on a new tap!

cleaning the sink

The simplest way to begin a budget reno is paint. Instantly lighten up a gloomy, tired space by giving the walls, ceiling, door and window frames a couple of coats of a bright, neutral colour or white. If you’re painting over timber panelling, you’ll need to apply a stain and tannin blocker first – your local hardware store can advise on this, as well as on the most suitable paint for kitchen areas.

men painting kitchen

And while you’ve got your paintbrush out, you can spruce up an op-shop table and a few mismatched chairs into a dining suite – they all match if they’re the same colour!

The next thing to consider is the kitchen cabinets. If they’re structurally sound but just dated or a hideous shade, you can paint or replace the doors, drawer fronts and hardware for a fraction of the money that it would cost to replace the entire cabinetry. Whether your cabinets are timber or laminate, there is a paint product to suit. Most kitchen cabinets are a standard size, so that replacement doors can be fitted to existing units. If you feel daunted by the idea of painting all the cabinet doors yourself, check out the cost of having them painted by a kitchen spray-painting service – this might even be less than replacing the doors, and the finish is hard-wearing and professional.

painting door

Another quick fix is to remove the doors completely from existing over-bench cabinets or replacing them with simple, open shelving for an airy, modern look. You can even paint or line the back of the shelves with colourful paper to add colour and interest. 

If your benchtop and splashback have seen better days, you have several options. You can replace them, of course – there are thousands of low-cost alternatives to choose from and many are perfect for DIY. You can also resurface them, using the range of clever products now available at your local Bunnings Warehouse. Give a tiled splashback a whole new look with tile paint and transform your benchtop with a resurfacing kit that offers a variety of ‘stone lookalike’ finishes.

Finally, spend a little on new power-point covers, light switches, window coverings and light fittings. You can spend a fortune on a new kitchen, but maybe you don’t need to!

  • DIY
  • Renovating
  • Kitchen Designs

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

10 kitchen ideas you'll want to steal

10 kitchen ideas you'll want to steal

Everything you need to know for your DIY kitchen renovation

Everything you need to know for your DIY kitchen renovation

How to refit a kitchen

How to refit a kitchen

This budget galley kitchen features a genius portable island bench

This budget galley kitchen features a genius portable island bench

{headline}

{headline}

Five essential planning tips to renovate your kitchen right

Five essential planning tips to renovate your kitchen right

This is what happens when a designer hacks an Ikea kitchen

This is what happens when a designer hacks an Ikea kitchen

Five inexpensive ways to update your kitchen

Five inexpensive ways to update your kitchen

{headline}

{headline}

How to light your kitchen

How to light your kitchen

Three top tips to consider when fitting your home with gas appliances

Three top tips to consider when fitting your home with gas appliances

How to create a tiled splashback

How to create a tiled splashback

How to create a Hamptons-style kitchen

How to create a Hamptons-style kitchen

How to organise your kitchen like a pro

How to organise your kitchen like a pro

40 surprising ways to use bi-carb soda in the kitchen

40 surprising ways to use bi-carb soda in the kitchen

How to fix your leaking taps

How to fix your leaking taps

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription