Kitchen Upgrades That Make the Biggest Impact
The average full kitchen remodel costs $70,000-$95,000 — and while that’ll buy you an awesome fresh start you can enjoy for years, it’s also a little painful. You don’t have to do it that way.
Smaller kitchen upgrades can, when they’re planned out well, make a huge immediate impact. Every new upgrade builds on the last, until you end up with a modern kitchen you love.
Not sure where to start? These five (and a half) kitchen upgrades are the ones that make the biggest functional and visual difference the fastest. The beauty? They work in any order.
Refinish Or Refresh Your Kitchen Cabinets
Refreshing your kitchen cabinets makes an immediate difference you’ll enjoy every day. Cabinet doors and drawers still in great shape? Sand, stain, oil, or repaint them — and add new panels if you like. If they’re slightly worse for wear or you hate the style but your boxes are still going strong, think about having just the doors and drawer fronts replaced. Boxes also dated? Refinishing or Veneers can fix that.
Once you’ve picked a style and color you love (and that’ll fit in with your future plans), make sure to replace the hardware, too. It’ll really finish the look.
Add New Countertops (+ Sink and Faucet)
New countertops will — depending on what you choose — be among your more expensive kitchen upgrades. Think about what you want very carefully, because you’ll be stuck with it for a while. New countertops are in second place because of the immediate visual and experiential difference they’ll make, but it’s actually best to leave this project until after you have a new backsplash (if that’s on the agenda).
Engineered quartz, natural stone (marble, soapstone, granite…), a butcher block countertop, stainless steel, and concrete are among your most durable picks. You’ll be happier with them for far longer than you would with laminate — so if you can splash out, do it.
Be sure to get a new sink and faucet at the same time. They’re really tricky to add on separately later.
Invest In New Appliances — But Pick Carefully
Skip this step if your appliances are still relatively new and don’t interfere with any of your other plans — but if your appliances are old, battered, and not a pleasure to use, you’ll see a massive difference right away.
Every season has its own trendy appliance designs. Many of those date quickly. Don’t look at what’s fashionable right now. Go for what you want and what fits in with the rest of your plan for your kitchen. There’s one trend that you can’t go wrong with, though, and that’s a good energy rating. It’ll save you money, and you’ll be able to feel good about making a sustainable choice.
Go for a Different Backsplash
Your backsplash might still serve its purpose, but you need to upgrade it if you’re after that “new kitchen” feel. Play with contrasting colors or textures. At the same time, keep in mind that you may upgrade your kitchen cabinets again sooner than you might think if you’re only having them refinished for now.
Upgrade Your Light Fixtures and Lighting
New light fixtures and under-cabinet lighting make more of a difference to the overall look of your kitchen than you might think. As a nice bonus, it’s also one of the cheapest upgrades you can make. If you’re even a little handy, you can even go the DIY route.
Bonus: The Little Things That Make Your Kitchen Great
Not sure what you want yet? You can do a lot even without total commitment. Sink skirts are easy to sew and hang up with tension rods. Painting the walls is an easy DIY project that doesn’t require much commitment. And little touches like fresh herb stations, spice racks, posters with recipes, lazy susans, and cabinet organizers can do more to freshen up your kitchen than you might think. Bonus points if you can color-coordinate everything loosely.
How to Prioritize Kitchen Upgrades on a Budget
If you’re working within a tight budget, start with upgrades that offer the most visible change for the lowest cost. Cabinet refinishing and lighting changes often have the biggest visual impact without breaking the bank. Paint, new hardware, and a backsplash refresh also offer high returns on minimal investment. Save larger purchases, like countertops and appliances, for last — or when deals are available.
Final Thoughts: Build a Kitchen You Love Over Time
You don’t need to gut your entire kitchen to fall in love with it again. Strategic upgrades — even just one or two — can make your space feel fresh, modern, and functional. Whether you’re working in phases or going all-in, each improvement builds momentum. In the end, it’s not just about having a beautiful kitchen. It’s about creating a space that works for your lifestyle and brings you joy every day.
Kitchens Redefined
At Kitchens Redefined, our mission is to provide you with a hassle-free experience, from the initial consultation through the finished project. We specialize in kitchen cabinet painting/refinishing, cabinet refacing/redooring, countertops, backsplash, cabinet hardware, and cabinet storage solutions. Our experienced staff work tirelessly to make sure your project receives the attention it deserves, and the quality craftsmanship required to meet and exceed your expectations.
Fill out our form to schedule a free in-home consultation for a kitchen cabinet makeover, or call us at (402) 505-3381 to schedule a consultation.