Your kitchen and bath are not only the most used areas of your home they’re also the rooms that home sellers are advised to update when trying to sell.
But what if you don’t have a ton of money to drop on a major remodel? Are you destined to live with a mediocre kitchen and bath?
Not at all.
There are a lot of ways you can improve the looks of your kitchen and your bathroom without spending thousands of dollars or taking out a home equity loan.
Here are 5 DIY kitchen and bath remodeling projects under $500 to inspire your next home remodel.
1. Update/refresh cabinets
If the underlying cabinet structure is good you can refinish your cabinets instead of replacing them.
There are two routes you could take:
- ⬥Replacing the hardware.
This is a quick, inexpensive and easy way to update the look of your kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
- ⬥Painting the cabinets.
A fresh coat of paint will really beautify the cabinets, but unless you do it right, the paint will soon be peeling away just from normal wear and tear.
To avoid this, do the following:
- ⬥Clean the cabinetry with a cleaning solvent
- ⬥Sand the cabinets
- ⬥Paint them with a primer
- ⬥And paint two to three thin coats of paint
- ⬥Paint a layer of polyacrylic
2. Add glass or plexiglass to kitchen cabinets
If you have beautiful dishware or other items worthy of display, why not add a few glass or plexiglass inlays to your existing kitchen cabinet doors?
There are many options from clear to opaque with designs that will complement any kitchen decor.
3. New countertops
Don’t expect to replace all of your countertops on a small budget, but don’t let that stop you from starting.
You can choose a small area and work your way around the kitchen only doing what you can afford to.
Or, you can:
- ⬥Install new laminate over your existing countertop
- ⬥Use a paint that’s designed for use on countertops
4. Replace bathroom accessories
Replacing the bathroom sink and shower faucets is an inexpensive way to update your bathroom, but have you thought about changing out the accessories?
Some features that often get overlooked but can make a difference to how a room looks and feels include:
- ⬥toilet roll holder
- ⬥bath towel racks
- ⬥medicine cabinet
- ⬥cabinet hardware
5. Paint
Finally, there’s no question that a new coat of paint will freshen up a room fast.
A gallon of paint will typically cover 350 square foot, and at a price of $30 to $40 dollars, this is a very inexpensive way to brighten up your kitchen and bath.
For smaller rooms such as the bathroom, opt for washable paint in light colors as darker shades will make a room smaller. If you really want to go with a darker shade, try using it on a single wall, leaving the remaining walls a lighter color.
