Update Your Kitchen for Under $100

The easiest and cheapest way to a new look is paint (surprise, surprise)! Updating your kitchen walls with a newer, more modern color can transform your room. And paint is not just for walls. Are your cabinets looking tired? Paint those as well. The best way to paint cabinets is to remove them from the hinges.

Scrub the cabinet doors with a cleaning solution called TSP (trisodium phosphate). Make sure you rinse well and allow the cabinets to dry thoroughly. Use a wood filler to fill in any holes are scratch marks. Then sand with a fine grit sand paper. This will allow the paint to stick to the surface better. It's a good idea to choose a paint made specifically for use in kitchens and baths, which are formulated for damp areas. Use 2 coats of paint. The cost of this project will only be the one or two gallons of paint you will need, plus the rollers.

While you have the cabinet doors off, freshen up the look of the handles and hinges by either purchasing new ones or using a metallic spray paint on existing ones. After painting, spray with a clear coating to protect the handles from wear and tear. You will be amazed at how new your cabinets look with painted doors and hardware! Even if your cabinets look good without paint, updating just the hardware is an inexpensive way to liven up your kitchen.

Tired looking appliances? If your appliances work just fine, but look outdated, paint can again be the answer! There are specialty epoxy paints designed for appliances manufactured by companies such as "Dutch Boy" or "Rustoleum". You could probably get away with a plain epoxy paint for your refrigerator, but you really need a specialty paint for your stove and oven, one that is heat tolerant. And all epoxy appliance paints come in a spray can, which can give you a nice even coat (with practice!). Two 12 ounce cans can easily cover a refrigerator, with allowance for practice.

To paint an appliance, the first step is to clean the surface thoroughly. Then do a light sanding to rough up the surface. If a metal appliance has rust on it, sand away all the rust, or it will eventually bleed through the paint. Then follow the directions on your paint can to apply.

New countertops can be expensive to install. If you currently have laminate counter tops but don't like the look, you can purchase a thin sheet of laminate that can be glued down over the existing surface. Laminate sheeting is available in a wide variety of sizes and colors. The cost of the laminate sheeting is only a few dollars per square foot, depending on the type.
This can actually be installed by the do-it-yourselfer over a weekend. If the existing surface is undamaged and not loose, all you need to do is clean the surface and lightly sand before installation.

Measure and cut the laminate sheet to fit. You can cut it with either a utility knife, circular or hand saw. Apply the adhesive according to directions to the counter top and the back of the laminate sheet. Then lay the laminate, and use a roller to smooth out any air bubbles. Use a routing tool to smooth the edges, and around the skin hole area. Caulk the seams and replace the sink.

If your flooring is tired, consider vinyl tile. Vinyl tile is now available in an easy to install peel-and- stick product. The tiles can vary in size, just as regular ceramic tile can. The vinyl tiles can look like wood, ceramic tile or any natural stone. The cost can vary, but easily under $100 for an entire kitchen. It is very easy to install by the DIYer. After doing a dry run for fit with your tile, all you have to do is peel the paper off the tile and press in down onto the floor. How easy is that? For a tight seal, going over the tile with a heavy roller will make sure all contact is being made by the tile.

Updating doesn't have to be expensive, and much of it can be done yourself! You can easily do at least two of the above projects in your house for under $100 in total.