10 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Design Ideas to Update Your New Home

The kitchen is the centerpiece of a home. It brings people together more than any other room, and also sets the tone for the overall design of your house or apartment. A sleek, well-designed kitchen can update an otherwise older home, while a dated kitchen can instantly take away from other modern spatial features. For all the emphasis put on the kitchen, however, it can be difficult to find kitchen design ideas that allow you to update this all-important room without completely blowing your budget. But if you've just finishing moving into a new home and you're looking to bring it up to speed in terms of taste and style, the kitchen is where you should be starting. Here are 10 easy, wallet-friendly kitchen design tips that you can use to give your new space an updated look

1. Let there be (new) light

   One of the quickest design upgrades you can make in any room is to ditch old light bulbs and/or fixtures and replace them to be more in line with modern styles. How dramatic of a change you opt for depends on your taste and how much you want to spend, though you'd be surprised how much of a change you can achieve just by replacing brash fluorescent bulbs with warm-lit LEDs. If you want to take it a step further, replace entire fixtures-particularly pendant lights and flush mounts. You can score fantastic deals on new fixtures at sites like Wayfair and Joss & Main so that you don't have to spend big to make a big impact.

2. Paint your cabinets

   Your cabinets are main focal points in your kitchen, so it makes sense that painting them is one of the kitchen design ideas that makes the biggest splash. It's a whole lot cheaper than replacing them entirely, and doesn't require quite as much DIY know-how as you might assume. Look for a paint color you like in a gloss, semigloss, or satin finish (or just let the clerk at the home improvement store know you're looking for paint that's suitable for cabinets and they'll be able to guide you to the right varieties). Before you start painting, clean, sand, and fill in any imperfections on your cabinets so you get a flat surface, and always be sure to allow paint to dry completely between layers. With just $50 to $75 in supplies and a weekend of your time you could have a completely new look to your kitchen cabinets.

3. Swap out hardware

   If you want to go all-in on your cabinet redo (or if you don't want to paint your cabinets but do still want to see a big change) remove existing cabinet pulls and knobs and swap in some new ones. New hardware is one of the very best of budget-friendly kitchen design ideas, since they're incredibly easy to install and have the power to instantly update the look of your space. How much you spend depends on the material of the hardware you choose (brass is going to run you more than chrome, for example), as well as how many pieces of hardware you need. Look online to price compare and ensure you get a good deal, and be sure to purchase hardware that's the same size as the pieces you removed so that you can easily screw them in to the existing drill holes.

4. Remove cabinet doors

   Looking for more kitchen design ideas that can help you give those cabinets a completely new look? Choose one or more of your cabinets and remove the doors entirely to bring some exposed shelving into the space. It's a super simple way to brighten up the room and bring in more visual interest, plus you'll be able to display some of your favorite plates, bowls, and glasses. Be sure to remove all joints and hardware that were securing the doors in place, and refresh the shelving on the inside of the cabinet if you need to with a fresh coat of paint.

5. Have fun with chalkboard paint

   You can turn pretty much any surface in your new kitchen into a chalkboard (yes, even your refrigerator!) for just the cost of some magnetic primer and chalkboard paint-about $30 total. A chalkboard accent feature is a great way to bring in some utility and flair, and also ensures that you always have a place to write your grocery list or the weekly menu. Designate where you want your chalkboard to go-the pantry door or the cabinet next to the fridge are always a good choice-and then be sure to outline it off with painter's tape so that you don't end up with an errant chalkboard surface where you don't want it. This is an especially useful kitchen update if you have little kids, since they can keep busy drawing while you cook dinner.

6. Shop antique stores for retro kitchen appliances, décor, and dishware

   Modern kitchen design doesn't mean completely shunning retro features. In fact, a touch or two of vintage décor can bring in loads of charm and personality, especially if you're a fan of farmhouse style. Plan a day trip to go antiquing and look for pieces that can add a luxurious touch-think copper pots and pans (here are some tips on how to restore them to their old shiny finish), glass cake stands, 50s-style milkshake mixers, and farm signs ("Fresh Eggs," "Pies Baked Daily," and so on). Spend as much or as little as you're comfortable with, focusing on pieces that are in good condition or can be brought back to their previous luster with a little bit of elbow grease.

7. Bring your backsplash up to date

   Updating your backsplash can make a huge difference without requiring a huge investment. The difficulty level of this DIY depends on what your kitchen's current backsplash situation is-if it's just a painted wall you'll have a bit of an easier go than if you have to remove existing tiles first. Another way to make the process a bit simpler is to opt for a peel-and-stick backsplash so that you don't have to actually lay any tile. Whichever way you choose to go, the beauty of putting in a new backsplash is that you can keep it both budget friendly and ultra-chic, since you generally won't need a ton of tile to fill the space.

8. Add in some under cabinet lighting

   Under cabinet lighting is incredibly useful. It's also super efficient at bringing a ton of added brightness into your kitchen. To minimize the installation process, look for plug-in or battery-operated LED lighting strips that you can simply adhere to the bottoms of your cabinets (they'll run you about $130 per 32″). If you want the look but don't want to spend a ton, just put strip lighting above the counter spaces that you use the most, such as the areas next to the stove and sink.

9. Go green

   There is really no space in your home that can't benefit from a touch of greenery, and that goes double for your kitchen. Add plants in spaces that could use a pop of color and freshness, such as the tops of your cabinets, an exposed shelf, or your kitchen windowsills. If you don't have a good surface, go for a hanging planter, which you can install anywhere that won't get in your way. Choose your plants based on the amount of light your kitchen gets so that you can be sure they'll do well in there, and consider adding some fresh herbs into the mix so that your greens don't just look good but can also be used to create delicious meals.

10. Resurface laminate countertops

    A complete countertop re-do probably isn't in the cards if you're updating your kitchen on a budget, but that doesn't mean that you have to settle for drab or dated laminates. Check out this step-by-step guide to resurfacing laminate countertops, a process that's pretty easy to do and can be accomplished for just a couple hundred bucks. The result is glossy countertops that look like they were installed yesterday, instead of a couple decades ago.

Don't settle for a kitchen that you hate. By incorporating even just one or two of these kitchen design ideas you can completely update your space without having to spend a lot of money or bring in a professional contractor. And don't worry about doing a ton at once-tackle a project at a time, focusing on your least favorite features first. Soon, your new home will have a kitchen that you truly love to spend time in.

Source: www.moving.com