Weekend kitchen projects decrease the stress factor involved with a long remodel while giving you a custom look and design. Not to mention, doing it on your own will cost you just a tiny percent of what you would spend if you hired labor for the job.
These DIY kitchen remodeling ideas are low-stress and high-reward ways to freshen your kitchen’s look. Try a combination of them for a bright new feel, or use just one to add a little flair to your space.
Create a Tin Tile Backsplash
Tin tiles can add both a bright metallic touch and a much-needed refresh to your kitchen’s backsplash. These tiles are incredibly inexpensive, and you can customize the look with a variety of finishes and colors. As a reflective metal, tin is sure to bright the kitchen. However, if you aren’t sold on the all-tin look, you can use the tin tiles as accents in patterns. Try interspersing these with porcelain tiles, and make your own unique patterned backsplash.
Freshen Up Your Faucet and Cabinet Hardware
The gleaming metal of your faucet can make an otherwise drab and unfocused kitchen into a statement piece. Having a strong correlation between your faucet and your other metal hardware in the kitchen makes the space feel more coherent. It’s also a great time to reflect on your faucet, making sure it’s one you like, or upgrade to a chef faucet, which is designed to wash dishes more quickly and with less backsplash than your typical kitchen faucet. Upgrading the hardware doesn’t mean every bit of metal needs to match, as long as you use the right metals in the right spaces to create a strong theme.
Use Open Shelving and Wall Storage
While it may seem counter-intuitive, open shelving can make a space feel larger and more open. Take this with a few caveats, however, since you will need a good deal of covered storage space in order to keep your open shelves from appearing cluttered. Open shelving can refer to open cabinets or floating shelves, often used for decorative storage purposes. Wall storage can mean installing hanging racks for pots, pans, and other utensils. Not only does this add volume to your walls, but the ability to hang your kitchen items keeps them off your counters during drying time.
Paint the Cabinets
A simple layer of paint can go miles towards giving your kitchen a new look. While painting does take patience, it can be done in a weekend, and it can add the dramatic or thematic effect you need to bring some life back into your kitchen. Make sure to take your time and protect your space with tape, drapes, and cloth, and you will come out of it with photo-worthy kitchen cabinets.
Install Fresh Lighting
Kitchens have so many surfaces, corners, and spaces that it’s common for them to suffer from bad lighting. Lighting that’s mounted under the cabinets will show-off your splash, particularly if you have reflective tiles. It will also give additional light to your countertops for meal prep. The best DIY approach is to add lights that won’t require additional electrical wiring such as task LEDs. You might also consider upgrading to new or fresh lighting fixtures into the same spots.
Put Together an Enviable Island
Kitchen islands can add storage, functionality, a breakfast bar, and a focal point to your kitchen space. While islands can be an expensive remodel to hire a team for, DIYers have made beautiful kitchen islands from scavenged resources. The best thing about building your own island is the opportunity to customize and modify it to your specific needs.
If you’re looking for inspiration, try incorporating furniture, such as cabinetry from an antiques store as your island base. This can then be topped with a countertop of your choice, and don’t be afraid to mix and match countertops, such as putting in wood butcher blocks for your island instead of your usual stone countertops.
Make Custom Organization and Roll-Out Pantry Drawers
Pantry-space can easily become disorganized, cluttered, messy and difficult to navigate. This is particularly true for those who have deep or narrow pantries. One way to make a pantry easier to organize is to install roll-out drawers. These additions offer you the opportunity to pull the various shelves out into the open when you select and put away what you need. Using simple tools, such as a drill and measuring tape, you can install your own roller pantry drawers and forego the big bucks of a custom pantry remodel.
Kitchen renovation costs (in both time and money) add up quickly, and sometimes it can be difficult or intimidating to even begin. However, there’s no reason not to make your kitchen a warm and welcoming place. Doing it yourself gives you the ideal amount of personal say and customization while minimizing the cost you would normally spend on hiring someone.
