Smart Ways to Renovate a Kitchen on a Tight Budget

with Brian Schwaller

Looking for ways to refresh a kitchen without spending a fortune?

The easiest way to lower the total cost is to cut back on, or avoid, the parts of a remodel that usually drive the price up most, such as structural work, plumbing, electrical updates and new cabinetry.

Brian Schwaller, owner of Schwaller’s Painting, Staining & Drywall, offers practical advice for updating a kitchen on a limited budget.

Leave the kitchen layout as it is. Kitchens contain plumbing and electrical systems that can be expensive to relocate. Structural changes often mean months of planning, permits and construction disruption, leaving the kitchen out of use for a long stretch.

If the existing layout already works well, keeping the same footprint can reduce or even eliminate the need for a builder, plumber or electrician.

Refinish the cabinets you already have. New cabinetry is one of the largest costs in a kitchen remodel, often accounting for 30% or more of the budget. Refinishing instead of replacing cabinets can dramatically reduce expenses.

Don’t assume older cabinets need to be discarded — they may be built better than newer ones. Cabinets used to be made from solid wood and were often constructed more durably than many of today’s lower-cost options.

Older cabinets that are still structurally sound can be refinished rather than replaced. Outdated looks such as the “golden oak” style common in the 1980s can be updated with modern paint colors or a semi-opaque stain that softens heavy wood grain.

“Having a professional paint your kitchen cabinets is far less expensive and much quicker than replacing them, typically finished within a week or two,” Schwaller said. “We refinish the cabinet doors and drawer fronts in our shop, then deliver them finished and ready to re-install. Only the cabinet frames are finished onsite to minimize the mess in your home.”

Think carefully before tackling cabinet painting yourself. Home improvement shows can make the job look simple, but cabinet painting is rarely an easy do-it-yourself project.

To make cabinets look factory-finished, they need to be carefully sanded, cleaned, primed and painted with a professional-grade sprayer. Professional painters avoid rollers and brushes on cabinets because they leave visible marks and can lead to chipping or peeling over time. Using cabinet-specific paint is just as important.

“We don’t use paint from your local home improvement store,” Schwaller said. “You need a high-end, cabinet-grade finish with high washability that is formulated to stand up to household cleaners.”

This results in a smooth, durable surface that can handle everyday use and regular cleaning.

If you prefer the stained look, existing cabinets can still be restored. For cabinets that look tired but are otherwise in good shape, Schwaller’s team can match the stain to repair scuffs and small dents, then reseal the surface. That kind of refurbishment can make cabinets look renewed at a much lower cost than buying new ones.

Swapping out old or damaged countertops can completely change the feel of the room. Countertops are the second-largest surface in most kitchens, after cabinets, and they get used constantly, so updating them makes a big visual difference.

If granite or quartz is beyond the budget, laminate is a lower-cost alternative that can imitate the look of stone and be replaced later when finances allow.

Small updates such as new hardware and fixtures can provide a modest style refresh on their own or serve as finishing touches in a larger renovation. Matching drawer and cabinet pulls, a new kitchen faucet and updated light fixtures are affordable ways to modernize the room.

For a fast, simple change, repaint the walls. A new wall color is one of the least expensive ways to brighten and refresh any space. If you are short on time or not comfortable painting yourself, a professional painter can often complete the work quickly and at a reasonable cost.

Call Schwaller’s Painting at 920-876-4020 to arrange a free in-home estimate for your project.

About Schwaller's Painting, Staining & Drywall

Schwaller's Painting, Staining & Drywall is based in Sheboygan County, has served Eastern Wisconsin for more than 22 years, and is fully insured. Its exterior and interior painters bring more than 120 years of combined experience in painting, staining and drywall repair and installation. The Schwaller’s team has received the Community’s Choice Award eight times. Learn more, view project photos and customer reviews, and request a free project estimate at www.SchwallersPainting.com.

The Schwaller’s Painting service area covers Eastern Wisconsin from Kewaunee to Milwaukee County, including Sheboygan, Plymouth, Kiel, Chilton, Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Green Bay, De Pere, Ashwaubenon, Howard, Suamico, Appleton, Fond du Lac, Grafton, Cedarburg, West Bend, Port Washington, Mequon, Whitefish Bay and nearby communities.