Revamp your kitchen without blowing the budget

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Budgets are tight at the moment for many of us, so a new kitchen could be out of the question for a few years. But if your kitchen is looking tired, how can you renew it without needing to rip everything out and start again?

Upcycling is the obvious answer and thankfully there’s more than one way to do it. This means it’s easy to find a solution that fits your finances. So, let’s take a look at what you can do to update and restyle your kitchen without ripping the cabinets out.

Renew your worktop

A new worktop can instantly freshen up a tired kitchen. You can minimise the cost of replacing kitchen worktops by overlaying your existing one. This method simply places a thin worktop on top of your old one, so there’s no need to remove anything. This cuts down on installation and material costs if you’re after a high-end finish such as quartz.

Alternatively, you can try refurbishing the worktop you have. Wood can be sanded and reoiled to bring your counter back to life, while laminate tops are suitable for recovering. You can even use sticky-backed vinyl to do this yourself.

Replace the tiles

Tiled splashbacks on kitchen walls tend to be no higher than a few rows, making them easy enough to remove and renew. Replacing dated patterned tiles for plain white ones won’t cost you much but can make a huge difference to the overall look of your kitchen. A pack of basic tiles can be picked up for around £10, so it won’t break the bank. White tiles have the added advantage that they won’t date easily and will work with most colour schemes.

Of course, you might fancy going for some on-trend tiles instead. But you can still keep your costs down by sticking to a single row of tiles. This means you’ll only need a few packs of tiles and minimal adhesive and grout. It’ll also be easier for you to DIY.

Cover the floor

Just because your cabinets are staying in place, it doesn’t mean your floor needs to. A tiled floor might not be easy to lift up, but these can often be painted over and sealed to give them a new colour scheme or pattern. You may also be able to cover your floor with vinyl tiles. Some have self-adhesive backing, making this a quick job for a competent DIYer.

Dress up the doors

Keeping the cabinets in your kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t change how they look. In fact, there’s plenty of ways update cabinets and make them appear new again.

If your doors are looking shabby and you don’t think you can save them, then you can simply replace them. Most cabinets come in a standard size but there are companies who make cupboard doors to order if you’re struggling to find off-the-shelf replacements.

Another option is to get your doors wrapped. This is a good option when the existing veneer has become damaged or warped. Alternatively, it’s possible to remove the veneer from many MDF kitchen cabinet doors by warming the surface and peeling it off. Once this is done you can sand and paint your doors using specialist cupboard paint. If you’re lucky enough to have solid wood doors, these can easily be repainted or varnished after a clean and light sand. As a tin of kitchen cupboard paint costs between £15 and £25, this is a thrifty option.

Update fixtures and fittings

There are lots of small improvements you can make to breathe new life into a tired kitchen. If you’ve already updated your cupboard doors, then new handles are a must to complete the makeover. But there are lots of other areas you can update too.

Stylish switches and sockets along with new light shades will lift your electrics and a new blind or some shutters will reframe the view out of your window. Updating and coordinating your small appliances and accessories will help your kitchen feel more modern too. Add in a few new plants and some fresh artwork, and you could have a super stylish space in no time.