Skip the Contractor! 5 Kitchen Updating Ideas That Don’t Require a Remodel

It’s estimated that homeowners spend between $12,594 and $33,118 remodeling their kitchens, or $21,751 on average.

That’s a lot of money! So, what are you to do if your kitchen needs a tune up but you don’t want to fork over that kind of money? Or, what if you simply don’t have the time or energy to put towards a full kitchen remodel?

For those wary of going all-in on a remodel, there’s a solution. There are actually many kitchen updating ideas out there that don’t require a lot of money or time but that will still do wonders for your kitchen.

What are these updates, exactly?

Read on to learn about the top kitchen updating ideas that don’t require a remodel.

1. Paint the Walls

Giving your kitchen walls a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest and most affordable kitchen updates you can do.

All it takes is a simple color change to give your kitchen a whole new mood and atmosphere. When it comes to deciding on a paint shade, make sure you keep color psychology in mind. If you don’t know, color psychology is the idea that certain colors help promote certain moods and feelings. For example, blue gives one a feeling of safety and comfort, while red gives one a feeling of passion and desire.

Once you decide on a color, you should decide on whether or not you want to paint your walls yourself or hire someone to do it. We definitely recommend going the DIY route on this one. Even if you aren’t a serious DIYer, painting walls is a really simple and straightforward process.

In order to paint your walls you will need:

• A painting brush: This is the one material you don’t want to skimp on, as a proper painting brush will help you paint faster and with more accuracy
• Painter’s tape
• Roller kit
• Drop cloths

Once you have all of these materials gathered, you’re ready to spruce up your walls with a new paint color!

2. Replace a Major Appliance (Or Two)

When’s the last time you replaced your kitchen appliances? Can’t remember?

If so, that may be a sign that your appliances are in need of an update. Updating your fridge, dishwasher, or other appliance can really make a big difference, especially if the appliance happens to be rather dated.

If you aren’t sure about what new appliance style to go for, we recommend stainless steel. Stainless steel is a timeless choice, and it blends seamlessly with nearly every design style.

Also, keep in mind that the more appliances you replace at once, the less money you have to spend on a plumber hauling out the old ones.

3. Paint the Cabinets

Your kitchen walls aren’t the only thing we think you should consider painting. We also think painting your kitchen cabinets is a great idea.

While painting kitchen cabinets takes a bit of leg work, like painting kitchen walls, this is an update that is highly affordable. Plus, painting your kitchen cabinets is a much faster process than installing new ones.

The most popular kitchen cabinet colors at the moment are white and gray. White is especially great because not only does it make your space look newer, the color will also brighten up the space and make it appear larger.

If you aren’t sure how to paint your kitchen cabinets, these tips will help you out.

4. Bring Life to Your Kitchen With Flowers or Plants

Ok, if you want to talk about an insanely affordable kitchen update, here it is. Adding some flowers or plants to a kitchen may seem like too small of an update, but trust us, it can really go a long way.

If you don’t have much of a green thumb, don’t worry. There are plenty of indoor houseplants out there that are next to impossible to kill. Some of the easiest ones to take care of are the mother in law’s tongue (also known as the snake plant), the ZZ plant, the spider plant, the peace lily, and the jade plant.

If plants and flowers really aren’t your thing, consider adding other simple decor pieces, such as a new rug or a painting.

5. Rethink Your Lighting

Just like color, lighting really helps set the mood and atmosphere of your kitchen. If your lighting is too bright, your kitchen is going to feel more like a doctor’s office. If your lighting is too dull, it can make your kitchen look old and drab.

Try to find a happy medium. Generally, you’ll want lighting that’s a bit more on the brighter side, but be careful not to overdo it.

Besides the brightness of your lighting, you should also consider swapping out your light switch panels so that they match your hardware. Matching light switch panels to hardware can help boost the overall feel of the kitchen, plus it’s a super simple project.

You may also want to consider adding in some under-cabinet lighting, as this can help you show off pretty display pieces as well as add a bit of drama to a space.

6. Enhance Storage Areas

The kitchen is one of those rooms in the house that tends to accumulate a lot of clutter.

Minimizing chaos in the kitchen will not only make the space look better, but it will also make you feel better when you enter it.

Purchase some decorative storage bins and baskets for storing infrequently used items. Then, you can tuck the bins and baskets above the cabinets.

Also consider corners, backsides of doors, and brackets as potential storage areas.

Kitchen Updating Ideas: Are You Ready to Give Your Kitchen a Makeover?

As you can see, there are many kitchen updating ideas that are both affordable and hassle-free.

And, the best part is, because they are so affordable, you can choose to do as many of them as you want, therefore giving your kitchen a whole new look.

If you have any questions about these ideas, please drop us a comment below.

And, once you’re done updating your kitchen, it’s time to move onto the outside of your home. Check out these patio decorating ideas to get ready for summer.

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