Renovating the kitchen is a big job and can cost tens of thousands of dollars to completely redo yours. But if you’re updating on a budget, here are 5 budget-friendly DIY kitchen upgrades to consider.

Under Cabinet Lighting

Under-cabinet lighting can transform a dark, shadowy kitchen into a beautiful, bright space. And it can even save you money on your electricity bill if you opt for LED lighting.

You can go with simple, push button LEDs or, if you’re mechanically inclined, hardwire in a string of lights. Your options in under cabinet lighting are many so do some research and find the right solution for your budget.

Replace Cabinet Handles and Hinges

It’s amazing what a small change like updating the handles and hinges on your existing cabinets can do. It can completely change the feel and modernize your cabinets. You can even pull in new accent colours by adding in coloured glass handles.

Just be sure to take stock of the type of handle you have and get the same size/style to avoid having to drill new holes and fill in the existing ones.

Paint Your Cabinets

Your cabinets are the main feature of your kitchen and a change to them can completely transform the look of your room. A coat or two of paint or stain allows you to update your cabinets without the expense of putting in new ones.

You can refinish the entire cabinet or focus only on the doors, trim, or shelves to cut costs. This project will take a few days and advanced planning is required. Here are a few tips to avoid common mistakes:

• Thoroughly clean each surface
• Label doors as you remove them
• Fill in nicks or holes with wood putty
• Make sure cabinets are dust-free before painting
• Sand the surfaces between paint or stain layers
• Allow the paint to dry completely

Peel-and-Stick or Tin Tile Backsplash

A new backsplash can change the entire feel of a kitchen. Peel-and-stick backsplashes are easy to install and the patterns are nearly limitless. You can even buy kits that come with everything you need in some stores.

Paint Your Sink

Yes, you heard right, I said paint your sink. Change that stainless steel sink into a trendy black or white, or any colour really. Use sandpaper and a can of spray paint designed for metal. Now, you’ll have to remove the sink for this one and you’ll need the right kind of metal-etching primer and paint. Here are step-by-step instructions to get you started with this project.

Give these five budget-friendly DIY kitchen upgrades a try if you’re looking to keep costs down.

If you’re renovating to get your house ready to sell, you can also get renovations done without paying upfront through our Property Concierge program. We invest our capital to increase your resale value and you don’t have to pay until you sell.

Download this brochure to see our system and how it could work for you.