Its the Little Things

New hardware is about the cheapest, easiest way to update your kitchen - especially if you opt for unfinished wooden hardware and do the finishing yourself; if you prefer contemporary to customizable, go for chrome or stainless steel hardware. You can pick up a high-quality faucet for around $200, and replace the overhead fixture and/or add under-cabinet lighting for a relatively small cost. Just be sure your new hardware and fixtures match (or at least complement) each other.

Goodbye Harvest Gold

If your appliances work fine, but could use a cosmetic facelift, you have a few options. You can order a front panel and trim kit from the manufacturer or a refacing company. Applying a vinyl film or magnetic cover is a great way to inject some personality into your kicthen - they come in a variety of colours, themes, and materials (e.g., chalkboard, whiteboard, or stainless steel panels). Or there's also appliance paint, available in brush-on and spray-on varities and found at home improvement and paint stores.

Make a Splash

A new backsplash doesn't have to cost more than a can of paint; a chalkboard, whiteboard, or magnetic backsplash adds some whimsy (and some functionality) to your kitchen. Other options include laminate; porcelain, ceramic, or glass tile; sheet glass; and mirror, ideal in smaller kitchens. If your kitchen's size is enough to make doing so affordable, you could splurge on natural stone (e.g. slate or granite) or metal tiles (e.g. stainless steel or copper).

Ground Level

Natural stone, tile, and hardwood floors are great in terms of resale value, but pricey. While those options may not be out of reach if your kitchen is on the small side, if you have a budget and a big kitchen, laminte or vinyl floors are your best bet. Laminate flooring can replicate the look of stone or wood and is relatively easy to install, thanks to its snap-together, tongue-and-groove design. Vinyl flooring, the most economical choice, comes in two types: sheet and tile; and though you can install both types yourself, vinyl tiles are easier to work with.

Blow the Doors Off

If your cabinets are in sound shape but look dated, you can reface them with new doors and drawer fronts, then paint the rest of the cabinets to match. It's less expensive than refinishing cabinets, sanding and/or stripping, and then painting or staining them. If you don't like the style of your cabinets, however, refinishing them doesn't make much sense. If you really want to change things up, consider removing some cabinet doors altogether or replacing door panels with clear or frosted glass.