Are you tired of the boring and bland kitchen that acts as a major eyesore in your Chicago condo or house? You’re not alone. According to Houzz’s Chicago remodeling costs data, homeowners in the Windy City and suburbs spend an average $24,416 to fully renovate their kitchens. But, that doesn’t mean you need a several thousand dollar budget to incorporate some elegance into the heart of the home.

Minor changes have a big impact on the overall look, feel and function of your kitchen. Consider the following do-it-yourself (DIY) projects to spark new life into your kitchen this spring.

Paint the cabinets

Renters – this tip isn’t for you unless you have a very forgiving landlord. If you own your own home and want to transform your kitchen with a little elbow grease and a few weekends of work, consider painting your kitchen cabinets. This by far will make the biggest impact on your kitchen’s appearance without actually demolishing and rebuilding its current layout.

The cost of new kitchen cabinets can range between $5,000 to $25,000, depending on square footage, customizations and materials used. Professional kitchen cabinet painting can cost around $3,000 for an average-sized Chicago condo kitchen. By painting the existing cabinets at a cost of anywhere between $200 to $500 – including paint, brushes, sanding equipment, and tools – you’ll save a bundle.

Here’s what you’ll need to complete your kitchen painting project:

  • Benjamin Moore Advance Satin Finish
  • Primer (KILZ Premium)
  • For cutting edges: Paintbrush – 2.5” angle brush
  • For rolling out flat surfaces and cabinet boxes: high-density foam rollers
  • Disposable gloves
  • Small paint trays
  • Ziploc bags (to hold hardware)
  • Drill
  • Push pins or painter’s pyramids (to raise doors while they dry on one side)
  • Painter’s tape
  • Brown paper or drop cloths
  • TSP substitute (for cleaning and deglossing)
  • Sponge
  • Bucket
  • 320 grit sandpaper or a fine sanding sponge
  • Dusting cloths or microfiber towels and rubbing alcohol
  • Felt bumpers
  • *Optional: paint sprayer
  • *Optional: power sander
  •    *Optional: molding and trim

Bear in mind, painting cabinets is not an easy project and by far more laborious than canvasing four walls, but it’s definitely doable for homeowners who have strong attention to detail and a great deal of patience. You’ll want to block off at least a few weekends to complete the job in full. If you’re not committed to the project, you could wind up with an uneven finish, in which case it’s best to hire a professional. But assuming you don’t cut corners and are ready to clean, sand, prep, prime and paint, the renewal is well worth the effort. Plus, any money saved can be used on another home improvement in need of a professional, such as installing hardwood floors or replacing bathroom tile.

Swap the hardware

Whether you’re painting the cabinets or not, simply swapping dated cabinet hardware to something more modern is a simple way to refresh up your space. Be careful with on-trend styles as they may not mesh well with your current kitchen color scheme. For instance, contemporary chrome bar pulls won’t suit traditional inset cabinet doors – but cup pulls are a good match. With today’s resources, it’s not difficult to give your kitchen an era-appropriate revamp, so long as you’re willing to shop around. Fortunately, hardware can be changed easily, so if you want to try a more daring style you can always change it back at a later date. If you need to make new holes and cover up the current ones, you’ll need the following:

  • Power drill
  • Wood filler or putty
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Hardware installation kit with template
  • Paint and primer – if needed

Change the faucet

Another easy yet impactful swap for the kitchen is the sink faucet. While it might not seem like a focal point in your mind, the faucet style has a bigger impact on the overall design than you might assume. And, if you’ve experienced any leaking due to a rusted base, it’s best to replace a mid-range faucet instead of ordering new parts since the cost for a while new piece ranges between $100 and $200. Assuming you aren’t replacing the countertops, you’ll need to match the existing placement as your current faucet. The main types of kitchen faucets are single-hole, centerset and widespread. You might have more wiggle room in switching the spray function to suit your cleaning styles better, such as pull-down or pull-out. Just don’t forget to turn off the water from the shut-off valve inside your home or call a professional to handle the installation with ease.

Re-tile the backsplash

Although it’s slightly more involved than hardware or faucet replacement, re-designing your backsplash is another cost-effective kitchen upgrade. The sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to the backsplash, but choose a material or tile that won’t be a hassle to maintain. If you find yourself cooking a lot and need an easy-to-wipe surface, ceramic, porcelain or glass can work better than stacked stone or faux brick. Most homeowners should opt for a backsplash material with a timeless design that also functions with their routine.

In terms of cost, ceramic tends to be the least expensive at around $1.76 per square foot, followed by porcelain ($3 to $6 per square foot), glass ($7 to $30 per square foot) and slate ($5 per square foot). Stainless steel and granite slabs tend to be the most expensive backsplash materials, ranging between $40 to $80 per square foot. If you want to avoid the labor, professional backsplash installation will cost anywhere between $600 and $750 for 20 square feet of space, depending on material and intricacy of pattern, necessary edge finishing or additional cuts for electrical outlets.

Homeowners or renters looking for temporary solutions to cover drywall might consider vinyl wallpaper or removable tile stickers to help spruce up the empty space between the upper cabinets and countertops. You can also try peel and stick tiles which deliver depth to better emulate the real thing without installation headaches, high costs or a jeopardized security deposit.

Declutter and brighten

It seems like no amount of countertop and cabinet space in the world is enough. Unfortunately, cluttering up your kitchen countertops – even with functional appliances and accessories – does little for the overall look of your home. Installing organizers and spice racks on the inside of cabinet doors can help alleviate some of the chaos and free up workspace for preparing meals or hosting social gatherings. Instead of hanging artwork, use floating shelves to hold decorative objectives like salt and pepper shakers or vintage coffee grinders. To store fruit, use a hanging wire basket that’s both ornamental and practical.

Don’t forget about the lighting! If you have dated pendant lights hanging over the island or peninsula, swap them out for something more updated, whether they be transitional carved wood pendants, industrial drums or rustic lanterns. The most important tip is to have enough lighting to brighten up the space – especially if you have a galley style kitchen that lacks windows and natural light. Additionally, under-cabinet and battery-powered LED strips to showcase the details and create a custom, high-end look without the hefty price tag.

Revitalizing a tired kitchen doesn’t require a massive overhaul and even minor décor alterations have the potential to make a lasting and positive impression. Start with simple switches and if needed, graduate to the bigger projects in a few years when renovations make financial sense. In the meantime, you’ll be happier at home and at the bank.