Don’t want to commit to an expensive kitchen renovation right now? Don’t worry, there’s a whole raft of inspirational, budget-friendly design tweaks that can transform your space…
If you’ve been looking around your kitchen and concluded it needs a serious upgrade, there’s no need to panic. You’ll be happy to know KBB journo Amanda Cochrane has found that there are lots of easy and effective ways to reinvent your space without ripping out your existing kitchen and splashing out on a brand new one.
From replacing your splashback and painting existing cabinetry to choosing new lighting and replacing the kitchen handles, there are a lot of inspirational changes you can make with minimum fuss. “You don’t have to start from scratch to fall in love with your kitchen again,” says Will Frankling, co-founder of Kitchen Makeovers.
“In fact, with a few clever updates, you can completely transform the look and feel of your space without the cost, disruption, or waste of a full renovation. A budget-friendly kitchen revamp isn’t about cutting corners, it’s about making smart choices. If you spend wisely on the features that matter most day-to-day, you can create a kitchen that feels brand new without the mess or the massive price tag.”
Ready to get inspired? Read on…
Switch up your kitchen handles
An easy and very affordable way to update your kitchen is to swap out the handles for something new and interesting. Start by checking your existing hole centres and, if you are moving from knobs to pulls, use backplates to cover old fixings and create a tailored finish. It’s also worth considering proportions – longer pulls work best on deep drawers, while smaller doors benefit from a finer profile. There are no strict guidelines for choosing new cabinetry hardware; go with the look you like best.
But as a general rule, modern kitchens tend to suit simpler and more streamlined styles, while country-style kitchens work best with more traditional designs. “Handles are the touchpoints of a kitchen, and changing them can transform how the whole room feels,” advises Gareth Hull, design lead at Hendel & Hendel.
Use paint for impact
From sprucing up your cabinetry to painting the floor and revamping the walls, a simple pot of paint can go a very long way to creating a brand new kitchen aesthetic. “Paint is a great way to transform your kitchen without breaking the bank,” says Bailey Oates, colour expert at Earthborn.
“Different paint finishes are best suited for different needs, so consider what material you’re painting and whether you want a matt, silk, or gloss finish, and also if you need scuff-resistant paint, which is especially important in high-touch areas like a kitchen.”
Painting your cabinets, in particular, can be a great way to give your kitchen a new look – it’s cost-effective, better for the environment, and gives you a chance to have some fun with your redesign. “Your upper and lower cupboards don’t have to match,” says Emma Bestley, creative director and co-founder of YesColours. “Consider opting for a grounding bolder hue for the lower units and lighter for the upper; this will instantly lift the design.”
Making sure you thoroughly prepare for the project is important, too – allow time for sanding, priming, and applying a couple of layers of paint, including 24 hours between coats. And don’t forget to remove the cupboard knobs, take the doors off the hinges, and take out any additional hardware beforehand.
“Use a good primer such as Zinsser to get a durable finish,” advises Nicola Crawford, owner and creative director of Finch Interior Design. “If you don’t want to DIY it, there are also plenty of companies who can re-spray your units for you. To create a bit of visual interest, consider painting your kitchen island in a different colour to the rest of the units.”
Replace the splashback
Switching up your splashback is one of the quickest ways to update your kitchen’s mood. Consider swapping out ageing metro tiles for a large-format tile, or lay a classic design in a new way. “A vertical stack or a basketweave can feel instantly fresh without being shouty,” says Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca’ Pietra. “If you are keeping the units, use tiles to bridge the old and new: a slim tiled upstand that wraps behind the sink, and a feature panel behind the hob, will make repainted cabinetry feel intentional.”
Avoid going for thin tiles that might chip at the edges, busy patterns that fight with veined worktops, or a splashback that leaves raw edges around the sockets. Also, if you decide to tile on top of existing tiles, make sure to check adhesion and weight limits, and work out how the width and size of the new tiles will work with your existing taps and worktops.
Investing in a skilful tiler is pretty crucial for this job, adds Grazzie. “A good tiler mitres neatly, trims in a finish that matches your sockets, and aligns tile courses to sightlines and shelf heights. That craft shows every day.”
A crisp grout refresh or replacing white with coloured grout to existing white tiles such as a metro design can be another real game changer. “Grout is the unsung hero of revamps,” continues Grazzie. “A deliberate contrast shade can make existing tiles read as new. It’s a day’s work with a pro, and the impact is huge.”
Keep the carcass, ditch the doors
If your kitchen carcasses are in good shape, keep them. You can get the look of a brand new kitchen for a fraction of the cost and time by only replacing your door fronts. “A kitchen can last for many years and, when the design starts to fall out of fashion, it’s not always the best course of action to rip it out and replace with a new one,” says Jayne Everett, co-founder of Naked Kitchens.
“The cost of replacing doors with Naked Doors is around 30% of designing the kitchen with our new kitchen cabinetry.” And even if you’re planning to change the layout of your kitchen, this doesn’t have to mean starting again. “With a few thoughtful upgrades and clever use of what you already own, you can achieve a bespoke, high-end look on a budget,” advises Nicola.
“Many UK kitchens – from brands like Howdens to similar manufacturers – are modular, meaning it’s usually possible to order extra units that match your current style. In one of our projects, we kept the original kitchen and simply added four new units, completely transforming the layout without a full replacement.”
Curtains are also a great way to update your kitchen and conceal unwanted items, so why not opt for a sink skirt to replace that worn-out cabinet door under your sink? It will keep small appliances or bins out of sight while adding a charming touch.
Opt for open shelving
Replacing cumbersome upper cabinets with open shelving will help to break up rows of cabinetry and make your kitchen feel lighter, while lending more personality. It’s an opportunity to add your favourite ceramics, cookbooks, plants, and other whimsical pieces among plates and bowls.
“Older kitchens often feel top-heavy,” says interior designer Uns Hobbs. “Removing the upper cabinets and replacing them with open shelving can transform the space.”
Upgrade your kitchen lighting
Spotlights are often standard in kitchens – possibly because they’re an easy installation choice for builders – but by swapping them out for adjustable or flush-mounted ceiling lights, you can better direct the light to where it’s needed. Wall lights are useful for adding mood lighting and can also help to illuminate your worktops, making food preparation much easier and more pleasant.
“Small changes can make maximal impact,” says Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville. “Updating a lamp’s shade or changing a pendant over the island from plain to ribbed or subtly coloured glass can refresh the space instantly.”
There’s no need to go to the expense and hassle of rewiring, either; you can use cordless or rechargeable lights – there are lots of great design choices available from retailers such as Pooky, John Lewis, and Dunelm – and move them around where you need them.
Additionally, LED lights are easy to install and cheap to run. “The LED strips have a very shallow profile, so can be added to floating shelves and wall cabinets to introduce another mood and task lighting,” says Jayne.
Most importantly, creating a new-look kitchen with these small (yet impactful) updates is an opportunity to have a little fun and mix things around. It’s a real chance to get creative, whether you are adding new paint colours, incorporating vintage finds, rethinking the lighting, or installing funky new tiles. Plus, all these changes can be done gradually over time, so your kitchen evolves with you and really becomes the heart of your home.
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