How to Update a Kitchen without Renovating for less than $200!

If your kitchen is outdated and needs a makeover, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a complete renovation.

You can create a space you enjoy being in with some simple and inexpensive changes.

I recently made these 5 changes in my own dated kitchen. I don’t think it had changed since it was first built in 1997, so it was time for some easy updates.

All of the cabinets were oak with an orange tinge to them. There was no hardware on the cabinets either.

The backsplash was a 4 inch strip of laminate, and the walls were cream and baby blue. I was so ready for changes, but on an extremely low budget.

I couldn’t change the laminate countertops or dated appliances. So I worked with what I had.

I’ll share the changes first, then some before and after pictures of the kitchen updates, and finally a cost breakdown and links to the supplies.

How to Update a Kitchen without Renovating

1. Update the existing cabinets.

Instead of replacing your cabinets, you can update them by painting, staining them a different shade, or using Briwax. I personally didn’t want to paint my cabinets at this point, so I ended up using Briwax in the shade Tudor Brown. The cabinets are not perfect, but they are so much better than before. The Briwax took the “orangey-ness” out of the honey oak cabinets. If you want to see how to apply Briwax in more detail, check out this post with video: How to Update Oak Cabinets with Briwax.

2. Add or Update Cabinet Hardware.

You can get inexpensive cabinet drawer pulls and handles on Amazon. There are so many to choose from, and it’s easy to compare prices. I spent $16 on drawer pulls and $20 on door knobs. So for only $36, I was able to update the look of my cabinets!

I went with a classic black because I love that look against the wood. Whatever your style is, you could choose hardware that will help elevate your kitchen.

3. Update the backsplash.

There are a few different options for updating the backsplash. Peel and Stick tile is a popular choice, but it can be a bit pricey. In fact, to add peel and stick tile to my kitchen it would have cost $150! If you don’t mind spend that amount or you have a small backsplash to cover, then peel and stick tile could be a good option for you.

Another option is wallpaper. It’s a budget friendlier option. I could have covered my backsplash for about $50. This is definitely an option that doesn’t require any power tools, however putting up wallpaper does take some time and learned skill.

A third option is to paint a stencil on the backsplash. Here is a DIY Stenciled Backsplash by Lovely Ect. I love how it transformed her kitchen!

Another option is to create a faux tile backsplash with a permanent marker. This is what I did, and all the supplies only cost me $13! Talk about cheap! I shared a blog post tutorial and video here: DIY Faux Subway Tile Backsplash for Only $13.

4. Update Your Kitchen Faucet.

This was the easiest way to update our kitchen and it only cost me $40. I searched and searched and searched for a faucet that I really wanted at the right price. That is the key to updating your kitchen on a budget: do your research. Compare prices and look for different ideas. You con’t have to settle for expensive options if you take your time.

Anyway, back to the faucet. After watching a few YouTube tutorials, I was able to unhook our old faucet and attach the new one all on my own. It was a super satisfying moment!

5. Update Your Kitchen Decor.

If your kitchen feels outdated, it could also be the decor. You can easily upgrade what you already have by spray painting things. I bought a $3 can of black spray paint and sprayed an old frame, mug rack, and lids to my glass jars. This helped create a more cohesive, updated look.

For the rest of the kitchen, I added a basket and greenery above the stove, some greenery by the window, and a serving tray to the wall.

Here are some before pictures of my kitchen.

Here are the after pictures with all of these inexpensive kitchen updates.

Cost Breakdown for Kitchen Updates

I provided as many links as I could. Some of these are different because what I used are no longer available. Also, the prices often fluctuate. So the actual prices may be different. These are affiliate links.

Briwax: $24

Cabinet Pulls: $16

Cabinet Knobs: $20

Kitchen Sink Faucet: $40

Backsplash Prices