If you're frustrated with an outdated kitchen that's in need of a serious makeover and your budget is stretched as thin as pie crust, the good news is you don't have to roll out the fat dough for a makeover; you can redecorate on the skinny with budget-friendly ideas that are pure gourmet decor.
~Paint
Warm up the walls with fabulous faux finishes-hand-rubbed, rag-rolled and sponged techniques all create high-end decor. The secret to a successful faux finish is using glaze mixed with the paint; it extends the drying time of the paint by allowing more time to work the design, plus, it gives color an exciting three-dimensional effect.
Floors are the first element of design in a room. If they're in bad shape, paint them. All floors, if correctly prepped and primed, can be painted and sealed. Get creative with stencils to make a faux stone or brick floor. Pull up the old vinyl and paint or stain concrete floors for an old-world Tuscan decor.
Paint that outdated back-splash. To keep the shiny ceramic finish, use high-gloss paint formulated for glass and ceramics; select different shades of the same color to create highlights and lowlights on each tile. Don't have a backsplash? Use 3-D (raised) stencils to make one; paint it with textured paint or joint compound mixed to your desired color.
Not enough money in the budget for new countertops? Sand those old formica countertops, then prime with a good primer and faux paint them. Use a splatter pattern or marble veining technique to facilitate the look of natural stone. Several coats of urethane will transform the countertops into slabs of faux granite.
Cabinets take up the most space in the kitchen and will have the biggest impact on a makeover, but replacing and refacing is too expensive for a budget makeover. For a simple visual uplift, change out the knobs and handles; for a dramatic makeover, paint the cabinets. Use a good primer and sand between coats to prevent the paint from chipping.
Add architectural detail to boxy-looking cabinets. Top them off with crown molding and add decorative wood strips to the doors. For the seriously strapped budget, make faux wood strips and embellishments - ropes, braids, motifs - out of salt flour dough. It can be primed, painted and glued onto cabinets with adhesive.
~Appliances
Change out the front panels on stoves, dishwashers and refrigerators for easy appliance updating. You can also change the color with do-it-yourself spray paint that's formulated for appliances. Can openers, toasters, blenders and coffeepots can all be painted using appliance paint or a paint made for plastics. Don't forget to change out the door handles on the refrigerator.
Stainless steel appliances are wish-list items in a kitchen makeover but too expensive for a budget makeover. Faux stainless steel film is a low-cost option. It comes in rolls, is measured, cut and applied much like contact paper; however, that's where the similarity ends. This film is a PVC surface that stands up to intense temperature changes, and the best part is, it resists scratches. For about $100, you can cover three medium sized appliances.
Fabric and Accessories
White sheets are perfect for a budget-conscious makeover; you get a lot of fabric for the money. They can be dyed to match any decor, embellished with trims for a custom look, and you can usually buy them for under $5 at thrift stores. Cut them into curtains, valances, table-runners and placemats to pull the whole look together.
Kitchen makeovers don't have to be expensive. Let your imagination lead you. Budget begins with creativity.