{"id":2126,"date":"2022-03-19T16:01:23","date_gmt":"2022-03-19T23:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=2126"},"modified":"2026-04-02T08:33:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T15:33:30","slug":"kitchen-update-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/kitchen-update-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Kitchen Updates That Cost Less But Sell Your House For More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the past two years, we\u2019ve spent a lot of time in our homes, and boy, are we ready for a change! According to a survey released in January 2022, 35% of homeowners<\/a> want to remodel their kitchens<\/a> because they \u201ccan no longer stand\u201d their old kitchens. However, thanks to a surge in the savings rate<\/a>, 45% of respondents say they\u2019re remodeling now because they \u201cfinally have the means to\u201d bring their kitchen update ideas to life.<\/p>\n

Regardless of why, renovating your kitchen can be pretty expensive, ranging between $3,600 to $60,000. The national average for a kitchen update is $25,736<\/a>. Fortunately, if you\u2019re doing a minor kitchen upgrade, you can recoup up to 81% of that cost<\/a> when you\u2019re going to sell.<\/p>\n

This means that if you\u2019re on a limited budget and want kitchen update ideas that aren\u2019t in the five-digit price range, or if you want to find the most affordable kitchen updates with the most significant return on investment, there are plenty of options available.<\/p>\n

Here are 8 easy(ish) kitchen update ideas that won\u2019t break the bank but will increase your property\u2019s value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Considering a Kitchen Upgrade? Check Your Home's Value<\/h3>\n

If you’re considering upgrading your kitchen in anticipation of a home sale, start with an estimate of your home’s value with our Home Value Estimator. It only takes two minutes to answer a few questions, and you\u2019ll receive a detailed analysis of your home straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n \n

\n Get Estimate<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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1. Revitalize the space with a fresh coat of paint<\/h2>\n

A new paint job is one of the most straightforward kitchen update ideas every homeowner should do before listing their homes. The National Kitchen and Bath Association<\/a> reports that the average size kitchen in a newly built house is 161 square feet, or 13\u2019 x 13\u2019, and the project could be completed in a single weekend. First, of course, you\u2019ll need painting supplies and paint.<\/p>\n

In terms of color, Liz McCarthy<\/a>, a top-rated real estate agent in Marin County, California<\/a>, whose listings sell at an average price point of $1+ million, advises:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe use <\/i>Swiss Coffee<\/i><\/a>, but not tan colors. Tan colors tend to have a yellow tone and make things look dated. It\u2019s hard to tell our sellers that when they\u2019ve painted something with a yellow undertone, it\u2019s a brand-new painting. We highly recommend repainting because it looks older, tired, and doesn\u2019t work well with lighting.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Average range:<\/b> $150 to $250<\/a><\/p>\n

Estimated ROI:<\/b> 107%<\/a><\/p>\n

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2. Don\u2019t forget to paint the cabinets for a complete transformation<\/h2>\n

Did you know that new kitchen cabinets can cost between $1,860 to $9,187<\/a>? They can cost a lot more if they\u2019re custom-made. So the more cost-effective alternative is just to paint the cabinets. White cabinets are very trendy right now, but Delaware County<\/a>\u2019s top-rated agent, Megan Toll<\/a>, isn\u2019t much of a fan.<\/p>\n

\u201cHomeowners don’t realize that if you have kids, they\u2019re a total pain in the butt to clean. We have white cabinets in our kitchen, and I absolutely hate them now. I love the <\/i>trend<\/i><\/a> that you have darker cabinets on the bottom and the white ones on top because the sticky little fingers aren’t getting all over them.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

She points out that unless you\u2019re staying in the house for the next five to ten years, you have to be mindful of what would appeal to buyers.<\/p>\n

Average range:<\/b> $175 to $2,600<\/a><\/p>\n

Note:<\/b> If you plan on painting your cabinets, you\u2019ll want to make sure you use hot water and Murphy Oil Soap to remove any dirt, grime, and grease that may have accumulated over time.<\/p>\n

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3. Replace existing cabinet hardware<\/h2>\n

Replacing the hardware on your cabinets is a quick and easy project that makes a significant impact. You can find new cabinet hardware that only costs a few bucks per piece. When you\u2019re choosing what kind of hardware to upgrade to, consider the other metal finishes in your kitchen (like your light fixtures and the faucet).<\/p>\n

Kitchen cabinet hardware comes in a wide variety of styles, finishes, and types. Black and polished bronze are popular finishes, but PHCP Pros 2022 kitchen trends<\/a> predict we\u2019ll see a lot more unlacquered brass, chrome, and polished nickel, copper, and gold.<\/p>\n

You can learn more about all the different types of hardware by referring to Wayfair\u2019s guide for choosing the proper cabinet hardware<\/a> for your kitchen.<\/p>\n

Average range:<\/b> $130 to $275<\/a><\/p>\n

Estimated ROI:<\/b> \u00a085% to 100%<\/a><\/p>\n

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4. Shed some light with new fixtures (and bulbs!)<\/h2>\n

\u201cA lot of times, the light fixtures themselves are dated, so we not only change the light bulbs [to LED], but we change the whole light fixture because it\u2019s a very inexpensive cost that immediately elevates the look. A lot of the time, we use black fixtures with <\/i>Edison lightbulbs<\/i><\/a>. But, there\u2019s a lot of different styles right now, so it depends on if it\u2019s an overhead light or a hanging light,\u201d <\/i>McCarthy shares.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure what type of lights you should choose, you can\u2019t go wrong with a simple modern pendant light<\/a>. Simple pendant lights have clean lines that won\u2019t overpower the overall design of your kitchen. For example, pendant lights work best over a kitchen island<\/a> (if you don\u2019t have an island, a chandelier<\/a> will work fine over a table), and recessed lights are preferable in the work areas.<\/p>\n

Bob Vila has an in-depth guide that highlights the best under cabinet lighting<\/a> if you like the look of under cabinet lights but don\u2019t know how to choose between LED strips, puck lights, or bar lights.<\/p>\n

Average range:<\/b> $151 to $894<\/a><\/p>\n

Estimated ROI:<\/b>\u00a0 65%<\/a><\/p>\n

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5. Invest in a new countertop (or refinish existing ones)<\/h2>\n

Depending on your budget, installing a new countertop could be pretty expensive, especially if you\u2019re opting for high-end materials like quartz, granite, or marble<\/a>. But, since we\u2019re going over affordable DIY kitchen update ideas, that\u2019s not going to work.<\/p>\n

So what other options do you have?<\/p>\n

If you have a tile countertop, you have two options: use good old-fashioned elbow grease, a toothbrush, and a grout cleaner<\/a> to clean the grout so the counters don\u2019t look so old and dirty. Or, you could cover them up with concrete or epoxy.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t<\/i> have a tile countertop, there are more ways to cover up the dated countertops:<\/p>\n