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Small Budget Kitchen Remodel Before and After

If the budget doesn’t allow for a full fledged kitchen renovation, have no fear! This small budget kitchen remodel before and after shows you can make over a kitchen – and make it fabulous! – for under $200.

 

How to do a Kitchen Remodel Before & After On a (tiny!) Budget

Details of the kitchen space before the budget friendly remodel

The big kitchen space in our old historic farmhouse had lots of potential when we first moved in. The view out the window of the ocean was breathtaking. But inside?Just sad.

The layout was awkward, cabinetry was perched on top of European cupboards, and wasted space everywhere.

$159 Kitchen Makeover Reveal

Painting the old kitchen’s walls was a quick, temporary fix 

Although it was a strange hodge podge of elements, we first painted the upper cupboards white, the walls candy apple green, and lived with that for a few years.

green kitchen with cupboards

A budget friendly kitchen remodel sometimes starts by removing cupboards.

One night on a whim, we made the decision to go ahead renovating this space with as much creativity as we could come up with ~ since our budget was basically non-existent!:)

vintage kitchen remodel
Once the upper cupboards were ripped out, we knew we were committed! Throughout the entire process we tried to focus on making the most of what was already there, re-purposing items we already had, and sourcing out specific items we needed at thrift stores.

Here are the  inexpensive kitchen make over ideas included in this kitchen makeover remodel:

1.We removed the doors on the upper cupboards and added shelves and crown molding above them.

The largest part of the budget ($100) was spent on building materials for the upper cabinets. it was definitely a high impact change for low money! We think it was money well spent.

$159 Kitchen Makeover Reveal

2.Painting out the wood strips of the European cabinet doors and adding handles made them much more modern and up-to-date looking.

Rather than rip them out, we gave the melamine kitchen cabinets a makeover.  

$159 Kitchen Makeover Reveal

3. We searched out thrift stores for creative ways to DIY elements we needed – like a light fixture above the sink.

This thrift store light was spray painted to give an old farmhouse feel to the space.

4. By sourcing out discount cabinets, we were able to utilize former un-used square footage.

On the other side of the room used to sit an empty wall. Then we added a very functional (but admittedly strange!) concoction of cupboards (without doors!) that we scored at the local ReStore.

$159 Kitchen Makeover Reveal

4. Unusual and “out of the box” ideas – like fabric cupboard doors, gave the space a handmade farmhouse feel – and didn’t cost much money!

$159 Kitchen Makeover Reveal

5. Thick, beadboard wallpaper created an interesting back splash idea that tied in with the overall look of coastal farmhouse.

Here are instructions of how we installed the Beadboard wallpaper .

6.A fresh coat of Benjamin Moore’s Gray Cashmere paint completed the look of this budget friendly kitchen remodel.

Here’s a reminder of how the kitchen looked when we started (partway through):

green and white kitchen
And here it is now! :

beach cottage kitchen reveal

We absolutely love it, and encourage others not to be scared to add budget friendly changes to spaces you don’t like. It’s amazing how a few well placed changes can completely revive a worn out old space.

Other Budget Friendly DIY Home Decor ideas for a Kitchen Remodel:

Every little piece of this process was documented here on the blog. For all the details & tutorials, click on the links below.
From Black to White – A Dresser Makeover
DIY Kitchen Curtains
Painting European Cupboard Doors
Restoration Hardware Inspired Pendant Light
Old Window Message Board
Fabric Cupboard Doors
Beadboard (Wallpaper!)

Paint Colors:

    • Walls: Designer Gray from General Paint (a close match to Benjamin Moore’s Gray Cashmere)
  • Backs of cupboards: Stratton Blue from Benjamin Moore
  • Trim and cupboards: Cloud White from Benjamin Moore

Would you like to do a room makeover in your house, but don’t know where to start or how to do it? I created a FREE course with you in mind. Click below to find out more and join today!

If you like this budget friendly makeover, then you just might want to check out this one, too!

beach cottage bedroom facebook image

            Beach Cottage Bedroom Reveal

$159 kitchen makeover reveal

Linking up to these great parties: Miss Mustard Seed, My Repurposed Life, Remodelaholic, Romantic Home, Chic on a Shoestring, At the Picket Fence, funky junk, tatortots and jello, lovely crafty home, I heart naptime, sisters of the wild west, my uncommon slice of suburbia, thrifty decorating, Freckled Laundry
Home Stories A – Z, One Project Closer, Making Lemonade

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112 Comments

  1. What a great after! The new color is so nice and that crown molding is awesome. I love your open shelves!

  2. Wow. this is a big difference and it looks wonderful. I love the change up of where the fridge was to where it is now and the use of the bureaux there in the white paint looks fabulous.

  3. Oh my goodness, I love it all. I think you have done a wonderful job. i would love to have you come and write a special guest post about this at Remodelaholic. If you are interested please elt me know!

    Thanks,
    Cassity

  4. This is beautiful!!! Great transformation! I thought my $1,200.00 remodel was a deal! (I did have to replace cabinets, and bought a dishwasher and garbage disposal, that I didn't have before!!!)

    I guest posted on Remodelaholic, too! Congrats!

    Happy Blogging!

    ~Mikey @ Shabby French Cottage
    http://www.shabbyfrenchcottage.com

  5. You did a FANTASTIC job and should be proud of your efforts – well done, the kitchen looks beautiful!!!

  6. Wow~ it is absolutely beautiful and on a budget! I love the open cupboards and all the details you added and the soft blue is just beautiful! Would love if you would come share this at Feathered Nest Friday 🙂

  7. Nice job. I love a cost-conscious remodel. It shows vision and hard work.

    You are brave to have open shelving. It's a great look.

    How do you get away with not having a range hood? Downdraft?

    Thanks for commenting on my blog.

  8. The wainscotting is so beachy!! I too have a very large clock in my kitchen. It's funny because not only does the stove have a clock but the microwave does too. It's all for the love of style!! Great job!

  9. What a great transformation for such a great price. Everything looks beautiful, I love it!
    Great job!!!

  10. I love the color, the wainscoting, and curtains! I'm your newest follower. I hope you can visit me sometime soon!

  11. This is just a fantastic transformation! I remember seeing your darling curtain cupboards and it is so neat to be able to see the rest of the makeover. Everything is just lovely and we are so glad you shared it at Inspiration Friday this week!
    Vanessa

  12. Oops, only half my comment showed up!

    Love the changes to your kitchen. You did a great job unifying the look and updating it. We have those same cabinets in our basement, my parents' former in-law suite. Now I am inspired to take the doors off the top and painting the lowers to hide the oak trim. Do you mind sharing your paint brand/type? Thanks so much.

  13. Lesson learned, I should check the links BEFORE asking the question. I just read the post describing the painting of the cabinets. Thanks!

  14. You must be so happy to have completed this. I love the cornice you added above the overhead shelves. Really gives it a custom made look. Well done. Kylie

  15. Your hard work and vision paid off … this is amazing! It's to light and fresh … love the skirts and great shelving!

  16. Great job! . I am just finishing up the decorating projects before I share any pictures. Good to know it does end.

  17. Wow I love your kitchen! It is similar to the look I would like to go for.

    Can I ask you some questions? Do you have your food located somewhere else? Was the beadboard wallpaper the paintable kind? We found some on clearance at Lowe's and I picked it up but haven't used it yet as I can concerned about the cleanability of it… I have to be able to clean the surface really well.

    Once again… great kitchen!!!

  18. What a fabulous makeover! I just love the new, breezy look. And those skirted cabinets… attached to the drawers? BRILLIANT!
    (found you through Funky Junk Interiors Facebook post)

  19. Rita Joy, this is fabulous. Inspirational that anything is possible with a bit of imagination and a can of paint!

  20. Love the countertops and the open shelving! The pendant light and curtain are perfect for the space. Love the color behind the shelving also!

    Following from Funky Junk Interiors hope you can stop by, I linked up also!

    Megan

  21. Amazing job! Very inspiring.
    Maybe will even inspire my husband to help me tackle some of the projects on my endless list 🙂

  22. I can't believe this transformation!!! My kitchen is very much like yours and ive been wanting to remove all the upper cabinet doors…where do you store all your not so pretty things like canned goods and cereals?

  23. The tops that were added to the cupboards make a huge difference along with the painted wood backsplash. Nothing like a DIY project to make a world of difference with a small budget!

  24. Wow so amazing!!! It looks like a major $$ transformation. I'm blown away that you did it for so little.

  25. Great job on the finished Kitchen – it looks fresh, clean perfectly beach cottage. Congrats!

  26. You did an amazing job! I really love the style too. It's so airy and bright.

  27. I love your low budget makeover of your kitchen. I believe there is a lot you can do to a kitchen without spending a lot of money and you proved it. I'm working on a little redo of my own in my kitchen. Your's is very inspiring.

  28. Your kitchen looks amazing! I'd love to add it to the inspiration galleries on my site and include you in a feature post. Let me know if you're interested!

  29. It looks great!!!! I just saw that Miss Mustard Seed featured it- what an honor for you! 🙂 Congrats!

  30. Great Job! I also have light blue walls with white cabinets in my kitchen. I just love the airy freshness of your blue! Interestingly, like your blog name, I used a color by PPG called "Harbor Mist". 🙂

  31. WOW! your kitchen gives me hope! my husband i are currently making plans to update our own kitchen…and a $159 makeover sounds right up my alley! GREAT job! i'm adding you to my feeder to see what else you come up with. :o)

  32. Great job! I love it so much I'm featuring it today on my blog. Thanks for linking and be sure to stop by for a button!

  33. Wow! Great job using what you have. I totally love that. Amazing what losing the doors did. 🙂

    Dixie

  34. So pretty!! You have done SO much work and I can tell you put your heart and soul into it – it means so much when we have a kitchen that we love!!

  35. Wow! I was amazed that the refrigerator seemed to disappear with the blue walls!
    I put beadboard wallpaper in my kitchen last year and love it, too!
    What a difference painting that wood strip across the doors made!
    It's just beautiful and bright!
    Happy cooking and bon appetit!
    HUGS,
    ~me

  36. I seriously love this kitchen makeover, because of the open shelves as well as the fixture over the sink. I have two small cabinets over my sink that I can barely reach, as well as a shelf on either side. I like how you opened that up above the sink, I'm thinking I might do that to my kitchen.

  37. absolutely beautiful and inspiring makeover! and for so little $$$!
    i love love love it!!

  38. Wow Rita! All that hard work has paid off … the kitchen looks amazing!!!! I love how fresh it looks … what a transformation, it was all worth the wait! Coffee would be lovely in there!

    Cheryl 🙂

  39. Favorite things: beadboard, skirts as doors and the painted dresser. Well done! You have a nice, open, fresh place to work now. So inviting!

  40. That is a seriously incredible makeover! I'm not sure I would have been able to see the potential in all that existing cabinetry, but now it totally rocks! I hope you pat yourself on the back every time you walk in there!

  41. Whoa!!! Great job. I have the same counters and they look so ugly, but the way you transformed your area with new color gives me glimmer of what mine could look like:)

  42. Hiya, I found you via Home Stories A to Z. I *LOVE* this makeover. All your choices are just lovely, and I *especially* love that it’s a real makeover spending hardly any money at all!!! AMAZING!! Inspiring because it feels like something ANYONE can attain… Well, financially at least. Well done! Thanks for sharing!!
    g i n a

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