The Less Than $50 Kitchen Redo
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on my site, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.
This is the less-than-$50 kitchen redo that I DIYed in my small bungalow kitchen.
What do you do when you have a very small kitchen you want to update, but don’t have the money to get much done?
You get creative.
Start With Coats Of Paint:
First, I painted all the lower cabinets. They were already white but pretty dinged up, so I gave them another fresh coat of paint.
I was at a loss for what else to do when I suddenly thought about decoupage. So I went to my crafts bin and dug out graphics I’d collected for my decoupage project.
I just improvised as I went along, gluing papers this way and that.
I realize that this concept isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But I didn’t want it to be ordinary. Colorful and fun was my aim. I used the window curtains I made when I first moved in as my creative inspiration.
My favorite poems, quotes, and vintage photos came out of a box where I store them, and I glued them on the cabinet doors below.
Pan Lid Recycled As A Towel Holder:
The pan lid you see on the wall is one I picked up at a garage sale or somewhere. I’m using it as a kitchen towel holder.
The kitchen cart above is one that I saved from the trash. I rolled it in here and gave it a coat of paint.
Then I placed a small red bookshelf on top for mugs and other items. I put coffee pods into a clear glass container and spray-painted the lid red.
Decorating With Stencils:
I got out my stencils and stenciled a cup of coffee on each door. This really defined this coffee bar cart and its intended purpose.
The upper cabinets in the above photo had doors. The shelves are useless because I have to climb a step ladder to retrieve anything.
Open Up Your Kitchen By Taking Off Cabinet Doors:
I took off some of the doors, and that’s when I saw the ugly electrical wires inside. Not only that, but I don’t think the inside had been painted in probably 30 years.
I decided to hide the electrical wires with decor and use this space for decorative items. Remember my motto: If you can’t fix it, try hiding it.
I whipped out the paint again and had to put four coats inside these cabinets. But it is done, and the doors are now stored in the garage.
You can see the electrical wires hanging from the ceiling, but oh well. This is a real person’s kitchen, and it is far from perfect.
Using Strips Of White & Black Checked Scrapbook Paper:
The black-and-white checkered paper I used on the front of the shelves is scrapbook paper.
The papers were stiff and hard to decoupage with, unlike lighter-weight scrapbook paper. But I persevered, and now they’re glued down, flat, and staying in place.
If this is where I’m going to “hang my apron,” then I will have fun in this room. I love seeing my favorite quotes, poems, and graphics that have been hidden inside boxes for years.
Now I can view them every single day.
There are no rules about decorating. If you live alone, you can do as you wish because you don’t have to please anyone but yourself.
Have fun decorating your house. If you use what you have and only buy what you need, you can do it for less than $50.
That just looks so awesome! You did a wonderful job any new changes?
It looks great and I'd love to see you what you've done with the rest of your house
I just got through reading how you did your kitchen.. I love your humor.I too am in an old kitchen. I have collected red and white kitchenware for over 30years. I stopped adding years ago.. because I need a lot of real estate space for it and my kitchen ( I thought ) didn't have any more to give. I am rethinking my cubboards as being short there are ones I never use.What a great way to display. I have my grandmothers cookbooks and recipes am thinking of all the ways to use them as well. oh boy.. this summer when it is hot here in the south .. I will be redoing my kitchen in the air conditioning.
I am looking at a house that needs the kitchen redone but I do not want to buy all new cabinets…I like your ideas. I am gonna take the old one ( don't care what size), remove the doors, paint and set them all against the ceiling (even turn tall ones sideways). then put various size used cabinets under them along with open shelves…paint and wash every thing…maybe not even all the same color.
Fun and colorful!! I love it Brenda. I also immediately thought of Mary Englebreit's designs. The wonderful thing is that you did it using what you had.
Like Athena, I am new to your blog and am so enjoying going through your older posts. Such a happy home you have. Tell your daughter not to worry. At least you haven't painted each wall a different color…yet!?
I'm new to your blog and just going through some of your older posts, and had to let you know how much I am enjoying reading your blog, and how much I love your bright and happy kitchen! This is a place where I would be happy to cook and spend time every day.
who is Mary Engelbreit??
She is an illustrator that uses black and white check in her images often. She used to have a Magazine that shared how you could make your home look like hers. Google her to see more.
I love your kitchen! It's so cozy and cute!
I never tire of this post. I love your sense of humor, and of course I adore your kitchen!
Brenda, I love your style and your can-do attitude. Your home is charming and warm and inviting and you didn't spend a bundle to make it look like that. Your creativity is inspiring to me. Imagine, a pan lid for a towel hanger! Thank you for letting us see all this!!
This kitchen is EXACTLY what I want to do to mine!!! Ahhh! I finally found my inspiration! I have always loved red and you nailed this. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the wonderful photos because now Im going to get everything I need and copy yours. (Is that ok?) 🙂 Im telling you…this is the blog that caught my eye and now Im a follower!!
Love yout cozy kitchen and that you do whatever your heart delights when it comes to decorating! I for one am tires of so many "right" and "perfect" interiors I see on blogs and in American magazines. Sometimes people are so uptight about decorating rules 😉 Oh and I spotted your fork, knife, and spoon on the wall – cute!
I LOVE WHAT YOU DID TO YOUR KITCHEN!!! I WANT IT!
Brenda, you have definitely "Engelbreited" your kitchen and we all LOVE IT!!
What more can I say? I have always loved Mary Engelbreit's style and you have captured it.
Now, on to the living room, the bedrooms, etc.!! 🙂
I love how you have made the kitchen yours! So much inspiration! You are a very clever girl!
Love it, Brenda! So colorful, and just homey.
I totally agree that we should do as we want to our homes. Everyone likes something different and we should choose what pleases us.
I love your very colorful kitchen…just so cute.
I LOVE all the different colors. As mentioned before it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it makes you happy. It makes me happy, and I buy it. 🙂 Smiling every time I walk in the kitchen would be automatic for me. Thank you so much for sharing!!!