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The Less Than $50 Kitchen Redo

Decorating & DIYs, Frugal Tips, Kitchen
79 Comments

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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.

My 1934 kitchen I decorated with decoupaged papers glued onto the cabinet doors

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.

The less than $50 redo I accomplished with paint and printed out graphics

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 white refrigerator to the side of the cabinets I decoupaged for less than $50

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.

The window of my kitchen where I did the less than $50 DIY redo

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 white kitchen cart I saved from the trash which is now my coffee bar in the kitchen I redid for less than $50

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.

The stenciled cups of coffee I painted on the rescued white kitchen cart

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 high shelf above the stove that I decorated with things I wouldn't have to reach for often in my less than $50 kitchen redo.

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.

The decor I used to put into the high shelf cabinets above my stove.

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.

All my kitchen plates and such are now on display in the open cabinets in my less than $50 redo.

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.

My coffee bar salvaged from the trash where I decorated with lots of red because it's my favorite color.

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.

An alternate view of the lower kitchen cabinet doors I decoupaged printed graphics onto.

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.

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79 Comments

  1. whimsical, cheerful and totally unique.. looks like something right out of a storybook and so it is, storybook of all your favorite graphics.
    good job~!

  2. I agree with the others, it does look very Mary Englebrietish, so colorful! You definitely won't see another kitchen quite like it. Imperfections just add to the charm.

  3. Hi. As I looked at the photo of the open shelving over the microwave oven, my husband walked past, looked over my shoulder at the photo and said, "Huh. That's cute." So, there you go — it gets a real He-Man stamp of approval. I love it all too. The main thing is, YOU love it. My favorite part is the fork, knife and spoon decoupaged onto the wall. I never would have thought of doing that. I love how you turned the fork the other way, to make it really interesting. I, too, thought of Mary Engelbreit when I saw the photos, but, really, it is Brenda-Bright!

  4. Hi Brenda, your kitchen is lovely…I too have a tiny Kitchen that I wrote about a while ago so I understand….I say if I take a fork out, I've made a mess. I read somewhere a long time ago not sure if it is true but that in Victorian-Era or the Victorians when they created something like embroidery they would purposely make one mistake to remind themselves that they are not perfect….thought you would like to know. Here is a tip that I used to do when we lived in our Brooklyn apartment, my microwave doubled as a breadbox as well as a microwave! Loved all the colors, enjoy it!!!

  6. Absolutely adorable. Tht kitchen would start and end anyone's day on a cheery note.

  7. If they only could have seen you rolling around on your gardening stool OR standing on top of your countertops doing over the fridge! I should have taken pictures! LOL looks just like you – very unique and so Brenda.

    Judy

  8. Brenda, I would loved to have seen you sliding around on your garden cart. It's a good thing you had it. It really paid for it's self.
    I really think pictures of your kitchen should be in a magazine. It is so creative and colorful. You've used every "nook and cranny" for something.
    Like someone else said, you'll enjoy it this winter when it cold outside. It would be such a cozy place to have a meal.

    Your house may be old but it has a great amount of counter space and I'm still loving the window over your sink.

    Keep those creative "juices" flowing.. You've come up with very fascinating décor and for very few $$$$$.
    Charlotte in Virginia

  9. I think this re-do is SO you! Who cares what anyone else thinks? It's cheery and vivid and has all the colors and things you love. And imperfections? Even with you pointing them out, I can't see them! I think you did a great job.

  10. Bright-Fun-Unique. I love it!! This was a huge task and you did a great job. Very Mary E. I don't know if you had her in mind but she would love it too, and you should send her some photos of your work…

  11. FUN . . . FUN . . . FUN

    I love the idea of using the pan lid to hang the towel. I have an enamel lid in the garage that I was saving for no reason, but now I have a use for it.

  12. Brenda I think it works in your small kitchen! Love all the color and pattern and quotes. Very YOU and that is the most important. My kitchen is Dulls-ville, but I've not been here long enough to really get some decorating done I must admit. I think you did a great job and I love the open cabinet over the stove.

  13. You never have to worry about being ordinary, Brenda

  14. I applaude your efforts. The kitchen turned out very cute and unique. I know you will enjoy it.

  15. Hi Brenda,

    I know all that decoupaging took a lot of work! It came out great and I bet it gives you a lot of joy just being in your kitchen (which I don't remember ever seeing before).

  16. I have done similarly in my kitchen – cos I can't afford a whole re-do. But mine is more pastel tones – largely Cath Kidston notepaper which was £5 & post cards of retro kitchen products. But you have made me think I should do more and not just the wee bits I have done!
    Everyone who comes into my kitchen says wow (except the Estate Agent ) who said it would need to be re-done if I ever wanted to sell – spoilsport!!
    A pot lid for a towel holder – fab idea!!
    I took the doors off a cupboard to match another where the door fell off! A kind friend offered to mend both but I politely declined as I like the look!
    Lynn.x.

  17. You are to hard on yourself. Your kitchen is amazeballs! Everything is so sweet, homey, comfy and cozy. I love red. I have a red kitchen too. Alot of cherries. I made window valences out of real cherry crate labels…yes, the old paper ones. I would be rolling around on your kitchen floor for hours admiring all your original work!

  18. I love this, Brenda! How could you not be cheerful walking into a kitchen like this in the morning? I just know it took a lot of work, painting the inside of the cabinets would have done me in (and 4 coats?!!). I agree with the other ladies, very Mary E. and sooo cute! And I just can't get over the pot lid as a towel holder, brilliant!

    Yes, you need to get some rest. Pull up a comfy chair in that kitchen and admire your work! 🙂

    XO,
    Jane

  19. I forgot, I LOVE, LOVE your kitchen. So charming and cheery.

  20. Soooooo awesome to use the cabinets as a spot to display your treasure of favorite graphics . I love it. And I really really loved what you did with the upper cabinets!!!

    Dana

  21. You have a very artistic eye for design. I love how it all falls together…yes, even the tiny imperfections which I love. No matter how hard I tried, I could never come up with something as creative as this. I'm sure anyone visiting would feel instantly at home! Too cozy!

  22. You have a very artistic eye for design. I love how it all falls together…yes, even the tiny imperfections which I love. No matter how hard I tried, I could never come up with something as creative as this. I'm sure anyone visiting would feel instantly at home! Too cozy!

  23. Absolutely LOVE it!!! Lots of color will make for a happy winter when you might not get out as much! And what a cool idea to use the graphics you had stored and couldn't see! Much like using the china that you save for a special occasion, why not enjoy it everyday!! Love, love, love all your unique and personal touches!!!

  24. Brenda, I like all the work you did on your kitchen. You are not afraid of color, that's for sure. It does look a bit Mary Engelbriet-ish like Shelia said. You know we love her. I think red is your true color. Blessings to you Brenda. xoxo,Susie

  25. Brenda, this is amazing! I love what you've done! So colorful! Funny about being able to stage it! I'm glad you can see all your pretty graphics, now!!

  26. Such a fun, cheery kitchen, Brenda! I think my favorite nook is the coffee bar. There are so many fun touches you did to personalize the space. Love the lid as a towel holder. I had to chuckle at the baked potatoes every night. Baked potatoes are a staple in our house as well. We have them at least once a week, if not more. They're easy and filling and if you top it with some broccoli, I feel like it's somewhat nutritious. Thanks for sharing your fun kitchen! Have a great day!
    Blessings,
    Nici

  27. Love what you did to your kitchen Brenda! All the pops of red and those shelves? GENIUS!

  28. Brenda, I love it! The more color and pattern the better as far as I'm concerned. It stimulates my brain in a happy way! I have to admit though, I would worry about resale.. I'm just practical that way. But it's so pretty now and the vignette over the stove looks perfect! Enjoy and keep creating! Cindy @ sunsetcoasting.blogspot.com

  29. You left bread on your toaster ? As if….people really EAT and COOK in their kitchens? : )

    This is so darn cute I can't stand it. Love it! Shelia's comment about Mary Englebriet is so true! OR it could come right out of Vintage Style magazine which is a magazine that I could not resist buying the other day.

    The stenciled coffee cups…so much detail everywhere in what you did here. Just adorable.

  30. Brenda! This is adorable! It reminds me of Mary Englebriet <so?
    I know that's a lot of work but it's darling. Deep in my heart I would love to decorate like this but Mr. Precious wouldn't let me! 🙂
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 🙂

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