The Budget Kitchen Refresh
Painted cabinets, new hardware and a backsplash. The kitchen we have, made into the kitchen we wanted, for under $900.
- Time
- 3 weekends
- Cost
- $700-$900
- Skill
- Weekend warrior
- Posted
When we bought this house the kitchen was fine. Fine cabinets, fine counters, fine everything. We couldn't afford a remodel, so I gave myself a budget and three weekends.
The layout didn't change at all. Paint, hardware and a backsplash did almost all of the work, and the drag-to-compare photo above still surprises me.
Here's everything I used, what it cost, and what I'd do differently.
Before & after
Materials
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| 2 gallons | Cabinet enamel paint |
| 1 quart | Bonding primer |
| 4 rolls | Painter's tape |
| 24 | Brass cabinet pulls |
| 40 sq ft | Peel-and-stick backsplash tile |
How I did it
Empty and label
Take every door and drawer front off. Put the hinges in a bag and label the bag and the door with the same number.
Degrease
Scrub every surface with degreaser. Kitchen cabinets are greasier than you think, and paint won't stick to grease.
Scuff sand
A light pass with 220 grit is all you need. You're giving the primer something to grab, not stripping the wood.
Prime
One coat of bonding primer. Let it dry overnight.
Paint
Two thin coats of enamel, 24 hours apart. Lay the doors flat on sawhorses so the paint levels.
Hardware and backsplash
Make a drilling template from scrap wood so every pull lands in the same spot, then tile the backsplash.
Along the way
What I'd do differently
- Label every door and hinge before you take them off. Every one.
- Buy one extra pull. You will strip a screw.
- Give the paint two full weeks to cure before you go back to slamming doors.
