the small changes that make a difference...

**Sara Noel** · 10-24-2007, 09:09 PM

Often times we would like to update a room such as the kitchen, but don't have the money to do a total remodel or maybe you've done a remodel and there are features that you absolutely love.

Let's share the small updates/changes we can do/or have done to a kitchen that make you or would make you love this room.

As an example, my kitchen is one of the weakest rooms in our house as far as appearance goes. It's a bit of an outdated lost cause. lol When I consider some small things we could do that would make me like my kitchen more...sigh the list is long, but I think for starters a simple change like updating our sink faucet would help and wouldn't cost much.

How about you? What frugal updates make a difference in the kitchen?

**so68** · 10-24-2007, 11:27 PM

A fresh coat of paint on the walls, and cupboards if they are painted. Different shade of blinds or curtains, replace an old toaster/tea kettle, maybe a new modern looking light fixture. New tea towels, dish clothes, etc always help. Replace a theme with something else and hunt around at flea markets, etc such as cow themes, that sort of thing. Some flooring can be expensive, but some can be fairly inexpensive, especially if you can find a good deal and this always freshens the kitchen (or any room!!) up. New place mats, cushions for the chairs, etc. as well.

**mikandmari** · 10-25-2007, 01:53 AM

We used to renovate homes for sale (until the market bottomed out). They were lower priced starter homes, so we would renovate the kitchens with the pre-built cabinets from Home Depot or Lowes. These cabinets are a lot of bang for your buck... inexpensive and well built. Counter tops could be ordered to fit in inexpensive materials.

I was so happy with the results that we purchased 2 cabinets for our own kitchen. We ordered a counter top to go with it, then we created an island where the table used to be. The project cost about $350.

I think home renovations are much easier than many people think, and sometimes the most difficult part is visualizing what could be....

Another cheap thing to do is ceramic tile flooring. It's easy if you stick with an uncomplicated pattern. My husband taught me to do this, and I ended up doing most of these projects myself.

I'll shut up now!

**TheRootedNomad** · 10-25-2007, 06:46 AM

New countertops alone can change the appearence/outdateness of a kitchen. Currently we are living with countertops I believe are from the 50's, with the metal trim that's screwed down around the edges. To change this alone would make a huge difference. We're thinking of taking out a living room/kitchen wall though and are holding off doing anything to the kitchen until we know for sure.

**Cricket1** · 10-25-2007, 08:56 AM

Cabinet harware (drawer pulls, etc.)
Paint
Hang up decorative plates/mirrors (especially across from a window to add more light to the room)
Clean off all counter tops--put away appliances that aren't used daily

**Sara Noel** · 10-25-2007, 09:04 AM

I bought a couple of nice throw rugs and it made a considerable difference. I was actually quite surprised to discover how much it made the floors look better.

I do like some of my cabinet features such as built in lazy susans, spice rack, and pull out trays in the pantry. I'd really love a pull out cutting board. I don't think that would be very expensive.

**FrugalMomof3** · 10-25-2007, 10:42 AM

I agree with a fresh coat of paint or even changing drawer knobs or the faucet, etc....

I often re-arrange knick knacks and furniture and most often people will ask me what I've done that it looks great, lol

On another note, I never pay full price for knick knacks as I search for everything for re-decorating purposes at yard sales and flea markets, you would be amazed at the stuff you can find.

**DaisySue** · 10-25-2007, 10:53 AM

I came from a home where everything stayed the same all through the years. It has made me a lunatic for change!

I go to yard sales and Salvation Army and pick up really cute things that people paid like $20 dollars for and are selling for $1 or so.

I am able to update and make my home country/primitive without spending much at all. I also trade things from room to room cause after a while you stop noticing what you have, but if you redo a wall or shelves all of a sudden you start enjoying your collectibles again.

For a kitchen I would take everything down, do a thorough deep cleaning and then start playing around with some arrangements. Also, I buy pretty much all my curtains from yard sales for a dollar or 50 cents per window and I change them from room to room and also have a few that i have stashed away that I rotate with the seasons.

Good luck and have fun!

**HisDaisy** · 10-25-2007, 11:00 AM

I live in a rental, so we are limited on what we can change. It is amazing what you can do with some new rugs, curtains/valances, and some shelf paper.

**Jaded** · 10-25-2007, 01:36 PM

I have these awful tiles in the backsplash that are 80's motif. I bought some matching adhesive vinyl paper and some cute sunflower stickers from Dollar Tree. Cut the paper to the size of the tile, put the sunflower sticker on it, and covered the ugly tiles. Really brightened up the room.

Also, I bought a cute yellow gingham sheet from Goodwill that was like new and made new curtains. Matched the sunflowers, and the yellow paint in the kitchen, and brightened it up a lot.

I agree with paint, paint, and more paint. I couldn't afford new handles for my cabinets, so I bought a bunch of really cheap unfinished wood knobs. When I repaint the cabinets white, I'll paint those yellow and add them to the cabinets instead of the old 80's mismatched hardware they have now.

So far, the knobs, stickers, and knobs was $15. I'll spend about $15 on paint, then I'll be set.

I'll probably end up painting the countertops eventually, and maybe even the floor. Another $30.

So for under $100, I can have a totally new kitchen.

**baxjul** · 10-25-2007, 01:49 PM

Just today, I took a twin size floral top sheet, folded it and put it on our kitchen table for a tablecloth. Looks cute.

**missyali** · 10-25-2007, 04:06 PM

I agree with the table cloth idea. can brighten up a room. Something else silly ~ I scrub my floor and wax it. Shiny makes me happy!

**Sara Noel** · 10-25-2007, 04:31 PM

My kitchen is totally 80's. We just got rid of the harvest gold fridge when it bit the dust. The backsplash is brown tile with a wheat motif. The floors and walls are matching. It's so ugly. It always looks dirty even when it's clean. Bringing in the new fridge made me happy to have a new fridge, but man is it looking worse contrasted with the country wheat. lol

It was quite nice in its day. lol

I'd love to tackle whitewashing the oak cabinets.

**Sara Noel** · 10-25-2007, 04:40 PM

oops forgot to add that I have a plate rail on top of my cabinets that was empty for years, so I started to add some little things up there. I really don't like having stuff just to have stuff, but I needed to do something with that room to make me happy too.

I decided instead of totally fighting the dated 80's look, it might be better to sorta go with it. I found some Phaltzgraff "Village" pattern pieces at the thrift store and popped them up there. Then added some collectible Anchor Hocking jars. It helped a little bit. lol

**HandyMom** · 10-25-2007, 06:15 PM

I have the white countertop, the kind that can be bleached out and looks good still. I was thinking of a faux granite paint job on that to update it. With a few coats of polyurethane it could hold up for a while. The kitchen flooring is what needs the most attention but that's also the most expensive to replace. Maybe buying a couple pieces of vinyl and painting them on the backside to look like a rug and sealing with poly would at least make an eye-appealing coverup for the UGLY old vinyl flooring beneath it.