How to Give Your Kitchen a Facelift for Under $500

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It’s no secret that kitchen remodels can be costly. Here are a few simple ways to update a kitchen for under $500. 

I suspect that most of us have a favorite room in the house. For me, it’s the kitchen. As long as the kitchen is pulled together, I can take my time creating the atmosphere I want in the other rooms. That said, we’ve purchased a few homes with less-than-attractive kitchens. My favorite may have been the one with wall-to-wall carpeting and avocado-green appliances. It wasn’t the former homeowner’s stab at kitschy design; it was just woefully out of style.

Given that Better Homes & Gardens reports that the average price of a kitchen remodel ranges from $10,000 to $130,000 depending on how grand you want it to be, you may be saving up for the job or waiting until interest rates cool down a bit before considering a personal loan. Until the day comes that you can create your dream kitchen, here are a few ideas for giving it an attractive facelift without going into debt.

Edit and clean: $0

I cannot begin to tell you how much editing will change the look of your kitchen. Go through every drawer and cabinet and pull out anything you don’t need, want, or regularly use. Yes, even the junk drawer. Focus on one drawer or cabinet at a time

Create two piles. One is for the items that are ready for the trash heap, and the other for things you’d like to donate. If you don’t use something regularly, ask yourself if you’re likely to miss it. If not, put it into the donation pile.

Once you’ve jettisoned the things you no longer need or use, take time to give the kitchen a deep cleaning. You may be surprised by how much better your cabinets look after they’ve been sprayed with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water, then wiped down with a clean cloth.

Not only does an edited kitchen make it easier to find the things you need, but you’re likely to end up with enough extra space to help you achieve the next step.

Stow away countertop clutter: $0

In 2011, neuroscience researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the impact of clutter on the human brain. It didn’t take them long to figure out that simply clearing clutter from a space resulted in increased focus, more effective information processing, and increased productivity. Yet another study in 2009 found that levels of the stress hormone cortisol were higher in those whose homes were cluttered, leading to a constant low-grade fight or flight response.

This is where any cabinet space you freed up during the editing process will come in handy. If there’s anything on your countertops you no longer need, get rid of it. Otherwise, find a new home for that toaster, coffee maker, or mixer inside a cabinet.

Not only will you end up with a kitchen that appears larger, but you’ll also have a fresher, calmer space.

Switch out hardware: $40

Although I like the kitchen cabinets in our new house just fine, the drawer pulls and knobs were too modern for my taste, so a few weeks ago, I switched them all out. The difference is night and day.

I spent weeks shopping for the rustic-looking pulls and knobs I wanted, and by far, the best selection and prices I found were through Walmart.com. Let’s say you need 20 knobs for your cabinet doors and six drawer pulls. The most you would spend through Walmart is just south of $40.

New hardware allows you to change the entire decorative vibe of the room for very little money.

Paint backsplash: $100

If you dislike the look of your backsplash but don’t want to change it out just yet, many of today’s paints are created to go on and stay on for years. For example, both tile varnish and chalk paint can breathe new life into those old tiles.

If the tiles have any drill holes or cracks that need to be repaired, a product like Cocomfix Porcelain Tile Repair Kit can work wonders for less than $13. If you decide to work with chalk paint, you will find how forgiving it is. Plus, there are tons of brands to choose from — here are three of the most popular:

Annie SloanDixie BelleCountry Chic

A little chalk paint goes a long way, so you won’t have to empty your checking account to make the purchase. You’ll also need supplies like paint brushes, a small foam roller, and a sealant. Still, the entire project should cost around $100.

A video like this will walk you through the process.

Update lighting: $100

Take a look at your lighting. Has it seen better days? Shopping around will show you that you don’t have to skip a deposit into your retirement account to cover the cost of new lighting. For example, Lowe’s offers a great industrial-looking semi-flush mount light for under $90. You could also pick up two oil-rubbed bronze pendant lights for $40.

Focus on the floor: $220

Finally, if you’re working with a small budget, now may not be the right time to invest in new flooring. However, companies like Ruggable offer high-quality area rugs that are stain and water resistant and machine washable. After scrubbing your kitchen floors clean, a single area rug in the middle can change the look of the entire room.

In case you’re wondering how you can stick an entire area rug in your home machine, here’s how it works: These rugs allow you to separate the top from the pad and toss the top in the washing machine. Once clean, you simply reattach the top to the non-slip bottom.

A medium sized kitchen (around 200 square feet) can easily accommodate a 5′ x 7′ foot rug, an easy find at Ruggable for around $220. That said, washable rugs have become more popular in recent years, so shop around for the style and price that appeals to you.

If you decide to take on each of these quick turnaround changes, you can easily get it done for under $500. Better yet, if the plan is to make bigger changes down the road, these small tweaks should hold you over until that time.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Dana George has positions in Walmart. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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