Easy Do-It-Yourself Kitchen Upgrades

By Farnoosh Torabi, Yahoo! Finance | Financially Fit – Wed, Feb 22, 2012 12:00 PM EST

Considered to be the heart of the home, the kitchen is where your family likely spends the most time, and, it's one of the most important rooms to potential home buyers. Therefore, it's worth investing in some upgrades in this space. Experts say even a minor kitchen facelift can earn you back more than 80% of the cost. Leslie Grete, the star of TLC's While You Were Out and Trading Spaces, offered the following easy kitchen upgrades that, together, cost less than $1,000!

Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
"This is probably the easiest and most affordable project you can take on as a homeowner to deliver the biggest bang for the buck," says Segrete. "For $40 a gallon you can buy a really good quality paint, and all you need is a couple of hours or a weekend and you can really transform your space."
 
Refinish Your Cabinets
"If you're unhappy with your cabinets, you're going to be unhappy with your kitchen," says Segrete, who upgraded her own cabinets when she bought her home eight years ago. "The cabinets were looking a little worse for the wear so we cleaned them, lightly sanded them, re-stained them and they still look good today." Do this yourself and save over $500.

If your cabinets are still structurally sound, spruce them up with paint, or by resurfacing, which typically saves you 50% over what replacing the cabinets would cost.

Another quick fix is to update your faucet fixtures and door handles. "For a couple of hundred dollars cosmetic changes are super easy do-it-yourself projects that can completely change the look of your kitchen. Head over to your home center, grab a simple guide, which slides right on the cabinet's door-front. You'll know exactly where to drill and never make a mistake," says Segrete.
 
Glam Up Your Lighting
 New ceiling lights and chandeliers can go a long way and add that "wow" factor to an otherwise dull room. Segrete suggests installing a pendant light, which doesn't require the help of an electrician and can cost less than $50. "It screws right into the socket where the light bulb would go, then a canopy slides up and covers the high hat fixture. For a little money and no electrician you can change the look of your space." For an even more dramatic look, a chandelier sometimes does the trick. Ikea has trendy pieces for less than $50.
 
Beautify Your Backsplash

Retiling your backsplash on your own can cost as little as $140 and "it doesn't have to be difficult," says Segrete. One of her favorite products for DIYers is the Bondera Tile Mat Set. "It's basically a super sticky contact adhesive that you put right on your existing backsplash. Tile directly to the Bondera, grout the same day, and you are done with that project." A whole roll of Bondera costs about $40.
 
Opt for Laminate Countertops


Changing your countertops can seem like a daunting process, but Segrete says, not so. "If you're looking for something affordable that you can do yourself, think about laminate. It costs $10 to $40 per square foot about four times less than quartz or granite," she says. Your local home improvement store may be able to cut the laminate to the exact size you need for even added convenience.

Share your low-cost home-improvement tips with me on Twitter @Farnoosh, using the hashtag #finfit.