You know your kitchen needs a refresh, but you don’t have the money for a refit, or hiring tradies to get stuck in? No worries! Here’s our top tips on how to DIY a kitchen renovation on a budget.

Stick to the current floor plan

To keep costs down, you’ll need to stick to the floor plan you already have. Once you start thinking about moving sinks or appliances, you’re in tradie territory - you need a professional to take care of those kind of things. Also be mindful of your skill set before you start ripping out cabinets, or doing any demo. You really don’t want to get stuck with a kitchen that looks unfinished just because you aren’t sure how to fix it.

Start from scratch

The next thing to do is clear out the kitchen completely - all the cupboards and drawers, and remove everything from the bench tops. You don’t want to be working around ‘stuff’ otherwise you just won’t get a good finish, especially if you are painting.

Having the space free of clutter will also help you get a clearer view of what changes you can make.

Pick a style - and follow it through

Want a kitchen worthy of a photo shoot? Pick a style you want to incorporate - whether it is monochrome (black and white), shabby chic, or a sleek scandi look. All stylish kitchens have a cohesive theme running through them, and knowing this from the beginning will also help you to think about what new accessories you need to buy, and colours to incorporate. Don’t forget to sign up to Pinterest to get all sorts of inspiration, particularly if you’re not 100 percent sure of what you want.

Consider a spray for brand new surfaces

Can’t afford a new bench top or cupboard doors? Consider using a spray-on paint. It is a really cost-effective way to spruce up the surfaces in your kitchen, without the huge replacement cost. You’ll need to get a special paint for the various materials that you will be spraying over, and be sure you follow all the advice on how to achieve a professional looking finish.

Colour can really make a difference here, so have a good think about the end result you would like, and work from there. (For example, if you have a dark kitchen full of wooden cabinetry, spraying them with an off-white paint will really lighten up the space).

Small space? Go up high

If you feel like the most frustrating thing about your kitchen is a lack of space, then maybe going ‘up’ is the solution.

Use empty walls to their full advantage by installing cupboards and shelves (for an ‘open pantry’ look - think glass jars and stacking your serve ware on them).

Read more: 7 steps to live with less... and how your home will benefit

Swap out all the little details

From tapware to cupboard handles - changing these small items can really make a difference to the look and feel of a kitchen. If you are wanting something more modern, chrome could be a good choice, or if you want an eclectic look, maybe mismatched handles is the way to go?

You can also get some fabulous stick-on splash backs suitable for use in kitchens, which is a great opportunity for injecting some colour, or continuing with a particular theme or style.

Don’t forget finishing touches

From a small herb garden on the window sill, to tea and coffee canisters that deserve to be on show, it really is the finishing touches to a kitchen that can make a DIY renovation look complete.

A few other things you could do to make everything look refreshed and stylish: a glass pump bottle for hand soap, dot decal stickers or matching magnets for the fridge, a statement fruit bowl… the list is really endless! But the point is - don’t forget to accessorise. Remember that you want a kitchen that looks new, without the big cost of a renovation, and this can only be achieved by putting fresh details into the space.    

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Completed your DIY kitchen reno? Maybe it's time to pop your refreshed home on the market - so make sure you check out our free guide on how to prepare your property for sale.