You’ll want to makeover your own kitchen when you see how simple it is to create a space you love! These simple updates give this kitchen just the personality and style it needs, without any renovation or contractors. It’s all DIY approved and super affordable!
It’s safe to say I completed one full makeover in my home this year, and it took only 3.5 months. Whoop!! It seems like a long time for a few cosmetic changes, but it’s really quite fast for me. I’m proud of myself for staying the course and finishing something I started in less than a year.
I think writing down my home goals for this year and jotting down my design plans for this room played a huge role in finishing it. Writing down your goals is no joke, and it really does help you stay the course.
Now that it’s wrapped up, let’s look at some simple, mostly budget-friendly cosmetic changes you can make to any space you want to spruce up. Most of these are renter-friendly, too! There was no major demolition or even painting the walls! I hope you find these steps helpful when looking at a space you don’t particularly love. It’s not hard to change it into a space you adore!
But before we jump into the changes, let’s look at a before picture…
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this eat-in kitchen. But I wanted to infuse a little more of my style and personality into the space, and change some finishes and items to reflect my love for all things traditional/coastal farmhouse.
The curtains were a quick purchase back when we moved into the house 6+ years ago. I wanted to hang the curtain rod higher at the time, but I couldn’t find longer curtains I liked. Also, the wall color was darker when I chose the curtains, so they didn’t look quite right with the new wall color. (It’s Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams.)
The table had good bones, but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. And the window blinds were falling apart. It’s hard to tell, but the middle blinds were completely missing. They fell down one day, and we didn’t fix them for more than a year and a half!
And here’s how it looks today! I love how it turned out. So let’s talk about what went down in this room!
I’m going to share the general updates you can make in your own space, and I’ll link to the posts about the specific changes I made for each point!
My Favorite Updates for DIY Kitchen Makeovers
1. Paint or Stain the Furniture
This is always the first step if you don’t love the look of a room. Is there a piece of furniture whose bones you love but not the finish? Or one you’d love more with a little paint or stain? I liked the farmhouse table in my eat-in kitchen, but I didn’t love its finish.
I actually stripped and re-stained the tabletop a couple of years ago but didn’t do anything else with it until recently. So for this makeover, I painted the black base with my favorite easy paint technique. See it here. I love the new lighter look!
2. Change out the Knobs
This is a simple way to give any furniture an extra touch of personality! Our table has 4 drawers, and the knobs were plain wood that matched the tabletop. I swapped them for some green and white, hand-painted ceramic knobs that nod to my love for all things coastal.
3. Add Texture and Interest to the Walls
Think outside the box when it comes to decorating walls. Some ideas are baskets, plates, planters, taxidermy, hats, letters and shells. The only limit is your imagination!
As you can see in the “before” photo at the start of the post, I used to have an “EAT” sign on the wall between the chalkboard and the windows. I made it years ago, and I wanted something different for that space. But I didn’t want art. I wanted to add texture, depth and interest. It took me forever to figure out, but when I finally did, I think it was a home run!
See all the details of this Fintorp hanging system here!
4. Typography Signs
Art is always an option, and I love using all kinds of typographic art and signs throughout my home. I’m a writer at heart and love the written word, so I like having encouragement or inspiration on display, which doubles as art. It’s always fun to hang them in unexpected ways, too.
I love this sign with the verse from Acts 2:46, which is perfect for any kitchen or dining room. The window felt like it needed something extra since the curtain bracket just sits in the middle of that wall. So I hung the sign over the window trim and the top of the blinds. I love how it turned out! Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!
5. Curtains
New curtains are always a fun way to change things up when you’re making over a kitchen or any room! My tip for hanging curtains is to hang them high and wide, which makes the room and window look larger than they really are. I have another tip for a great curtain ring hack I discovered when I hung these curtains. Find it here! (These are the curtains I bought, and the curtain rod.)
6. Blinds
Yay!! Who doesn’t love gorgeous bamboo shades? This was probably my most desired update for this little DIY kitchen makeover. I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out! These blinds are from SelectBlinds.com in the jute wheat color.
I wrote all about everything you need to know to select and install bamboo blinds in your home right over here. Use my code TURQHOME for an additional 5% off their already great prices!
So go check that out if you’re in the market for some. This change made the biggest impact on the space, and while it’s not necessarily a budget-friendly update, it’s worth saving up for. Go get ya some!
7. Mismatched Chairs.
You can use several different styles of chairs around a table to add new life and interest, or just swap out the chairs that came with the table. That’s what I did! I took away the old ladder-back chairs and replaced them with these smaller X-back chairs that I love!
I’ll be honest, I love this new look, but I do miss the heft of the old chairs, especially with my kids being little. They like to climb on the kitchen chairs, and these will tip. So I may have to refinish the old chairs and use them until my kids are old enough to sit still!
8. Lighting
If you don’t love the lighting in your kitchen, change it out! I replaced the chandelier in this room a few years ago because I just couldn’t stand the old light any longer. While this new chandelier is simple, it adds to the more modern farmhouse look I love. It’s super budget-friendly, too, which is always a plus!
Let’s take a quick look at a side-by-side comparison of this kitchen makeover, before and after. I just love a good before and after, don’t you?
It looks so much better than I envisioned, and it’s so much more me! Yay!!
What are your favorite updates for a kitchen makeover?
Sources:
- Striped Navy Curtains
- Curtain Rod
- sign with the verse from Acts 2:46
- Hand-painted Knobs (sold out)
- Bamboo Blinds (jute wheat)
- Fiddle Leaf Fig
- 5-Light Chandelier
- X-Back Dining Chairs
- Hanging Wall System
- Chalk & Chalkboard Eraser Holder
- Chalkboard
- Teak Wood Vase
- Lamb’s Ear Stems
More Posts You Will Love:
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- How to Decorate the Kitchen for Christmas (3-Step Formula)
- How to Decorate Kitchen Counters {Decorating 101}
- Decorating Shelves in a Farmhouse Kitchen
- How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets without Professional Equipment
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