This is a real-life small budget kitchen renovation where we took a dark, dated space and turned it into a light and bright kitchen with paint, ingenuity and hard work! Get kitchen remodel ideas on a budget with all the details for your own space.
A kitchen makeover on a budget is possible! Come take a tour and see what you can do!
This post was originally published March 25, 2014 and updated with new content and format April 6, 2021.
We did it! We survived renovating nearly the entire house and our marriage is stronger than ever.
Yes, it took us some time, but our kitchen remodel is complete! We purchased this colonial home in August of 2012, moving in late October, and spent many months… okay years, renovating. We move in real time around here, no super fast television kitchen makeover on a budget in this family!
The recipe for this kitchen remodel was simple: an abundance of wine. In reality, it took much longer and was of course more expensive than we had hoped. Still, we were undeterred and made it happen when we could!
When we started the kitchen, I dreamed of brass light fixtures and hardware, but they were nowhere to be found or over $1,000 each. Still, the kitchen had a completely different aesthetic with just a little renovation.
Check out this before and after, and tour the whole house Before and After, too! We’ve been renovating a long time, so don’t miss our Oak Kitchen Updates and our New Cream Kitchen, too!
Why You’ll Love these Kitchen Remodel Ideas on a Budget
- Practical + pretty
- White paint plus so much more
- Many of the items can be completed DIY
- Your kitchen is a great investment
- Take it one step at a time or do it all in a week
- True small space inspiration
No extra large kitchen island here! While we had lots of cabinetry, this white kitchen has an extra small footprint. Get all the budget friendly ideas to make it happen in your kitchen!
Budget Kitchen Renovation Steps
- Our kitchen remodel began with removing the white carpet {yes – crazy, right?} and replacing it with hardwoods.
- Cabinets were painted white and new hardware was added. While our cabinets were original to the home, they were in good shape and served our needs. The budget didn’t allow for all new cabinets!
- The unsightly black dishwasher was given a stainless makeover and we completed the first phase with new light fixtures before taking a year hiatus.
- The next phase, was stainless steel appliances. A great Black Friday sale made them possible and we finally took the leap, deciding that we would not tear out existing cabinets, completely redesigning the kitchen but make the most of the kitchen we had. I looked at ways to make every inch functional and found we did not only not need additional space, but we had spare cabinets after the organization transformation.
- Fast forward another eight months and we enter into the countertop and Subway Tile backsplash phase. This phase proved to test my sanity, but a second countertop and another five months later and they were installed, unbroken. Read more about our marble counters.
While there’s absolutely no shame in hiring a professional to help with a full scale kitchen renovation, it’s certainly not in the budget for everyone. Learn my secrets for Designing a Room When You’re Not a Designer.
Details: Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas on a Budget
We worked to make the most of our countertop space, removing the old convection oven and building a shelf that now hosts a small microwave and toaster. We installed new cabinet doors to match the originals to conceal the space, creating an appliance garage.
I can proudly say that we don’t have to take out the trash thanks to this little chute tucked into our subway tile backsplash. It keeps cleanup quick and easy while eliminating the need to take out the trash. It goes directly into our main trash can in the garage!
The vintage champagne bucket doubles as a utensil holder and conceals the trash chute. When you’re doing a kitchen makeover on a budget, the vintage shops are your friend – so many cute accessories can be found secondhand!
Get all my best tips for shopping Craigslist for all the best vintage and secondhand finds here.
The cutting board is a worry free work space when cutting or working with oils. My stand mixer is located in the corner, near the flours and sugar and just below the spice and baking pantry for convenience.
The windows offer bountiful light. The all white kitchen is my sanctuary. Aside from the countertops, my favorite element is the bridge faucet. Isn’t she pretty?
More Budget Friendly Ideas
I love that the inexpensive new knobs give me a spot to hang a pretty tote when we walk in the kitchen.
- Struggling with flooring but don’t have the budget to pull it up? Paint it! Check out my tutorials for How to Paint Ceramic Tile, How to Paint Concrete, Painting Baseboards and How to Paint Vinyl Floors.
- Learn about Trim Paint and Furniture Paint, too.
- Open shelving and Peg Rail is a great way to save money on cabinetry.
- Decorate your newly renovated space with my favorite Free Art Sources.
If you love this little budget kitchen renovation, you’ll also love our Mudroom Laundry Room update from this home!
What are your favorite kitchen remodel ideas on a budget? I’d love to hear from you! If this project inspired your own budget kitchen renovation, please come back and share with me.
What brand are your floors and where were they ordered from? Have they held up, if you have pets? Thanks!
They held up beautifully! https://julieblanner.com/hand-scraped-wood-floors/
Hi, Julie. Yes, I saw it and I loved it, as I did everything you’ve done around your home. Your flair to the detail is admirable! I like going through your posts because they are a pleasure to the eye. Keep spreading inspiration around, Julie.
Thanks Amanda! Don’t hesitate if you need anything! Have a beautiful week!
Oh, I love your kitchen! It is so classy and cozy! I was planning to get rid of all our kitchen furniture and completely reupholster it because I wasn’t able to see how else it could be renewed. Your idea is inspiring, thank you for sharing. I’ve reconsidered and now I know what to keep and renovate and what to throw away from my kitchen and still make it look new. I hope my plan will work. Keep your fingers crossed for me 🙂 Best regards
Thank you, Amanda! Did you see what I did with our dining room? I retained the buffet, china cabinet and table, but softened the set and gave it an updated look by adding new slipcovered chairs. In our “new” kitchen, I made the 80’s orange wood appear a little more country cottage fresh by adding Martha Stewart brass hardware pulls. They made all the difference in the world and was far less expensive than a remodel! Let me know if I can offer any advice!
can you tell me what color and the name of the paint and whether it was semi gloss or mat for the white cabinets please.
It was SW untinted, however I cannot recall the sheen. I *think* I chose satin.
Thanks for sharing your kitchen remodel! It is amazing that white cabinets and new counter tops can make such a huge difference! Your kitchen definitely feels more sleek and contemporary. In fact, I would love to have my kitchen remodeled to look like yours- the white cabinets are absolutely wonderful!
Thank you, Delores! We loved it.