What’s a cheap way to update my kitchen counters & cabinets

Regina Gatling
by Regina Gatling
My kitchen looks old and dated. Help
  11 answers
  • Mogie Mogie on Jul 12, 2018

    Paint them. Kits are sold for countertops at home improvement stores. Turn those countertops into ones that look like marble or granite for around $100.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Jul 12, 2018

    Dear Regina, You have too many things on your counter. I can't make some things out. I see a loaf of bread, you can put that in a nice bread box. I see canisters, put them in a closet or pantry. You paper towel could be hung up under your cabinets, in a convenience place. The cabinets can be painted like the butcher block. Put the watermelon in the frig. Looks like mail, find a small basket, no handle for it, find some place to put it.

  • Gloria Owenby Gloria Owenby on Jul 12, 2018

    I have white counters through the years still got stains I cannot get out even with bleach.

  • Jenny Evon Jenny Evon on Jul 13, 2018

    Have you tried proxcide and soda. Make a paste put it on the stain for a couple of hours.

  • Candi Feinberg Candi Feinberg on Jul 13, 2018

    Cement counters tops and paint kit for cabinets

  • Rebecca Brantley Rebecca Brantley on Jul 14, 2018

    I have those exact 1970s butcher block counters.. I found this idea on Pinterest while searching for painted counter ideas.. Peel & stick wall paper.. I got one of the bulk rolls at Walmart on the spray paint aisle.. It took one roll for both counters.. Rolled it out & cut to fit.. I got the distressed white/gray barn board pattern & laid it horizontal to resemble long planks.. Total improvement & you can't tell that it's not real wood.. It's not "paper" like the modern wall paper that rips.. This is just like contact paper but wall paper.. Easy clean up, I use hot plates too.. I was skeptical at first when I found the idea but now we have gotten use to our NEW counter tops.. Love how this simple, easy, & inexpensive tip turned out.. I also used solid wood pine boards & refaced all of the cabinet doors, left natural bare wood look, sanded & sealed.. I painted my fridge to match the gray in the covered counters & used twine to wrap the fridge door handles.. For the refaced cabinets I used the old style screen door hardware, hinges & pull handles, which I twine wrapped also.. Big difference now than before.. I was going for farmhouse look & got it! One roll peel & stick $29.97 Walmart.. Boards & hardware all free from other projects.. Twine $0.30 dollar general..

    Hope this helps!

  • Cheryl Cheryl on Jul 20, 2018

    My kitchen is very similar to yours, countertops and cabinets. I haven’t done anything with it yet, but I want to paint the cabinets white. I love dark butcher block so I’m trying to figure out a way to stain my countertops just to make them darker and allow the butcher block pattern to show throug. My countertops aren’t wood.

  • Eileen Eileen on Jul 20, 2018

    I like your kitchen counters! I would paint the cabinets white and maybe fresh hardware.

  • Twyla J Boyer Twyla J Boyer on Jul 24, 2018

    Paint the cabinets (white will soon be on its way out, though, so some light color - maybe a light gray?) if you are allowed and able. If you can't paint (because you rent), attaching something like light colored beadboard panels (Have them cut to size at the hardware store from the sheet products) to the doors and drawer fronts using Command strips would at least make it look brighter without causing damage.


    Add sleek hardware like door and drawer pulls (assuming you don't rent - if you rent, get written permission before drilling holes). Spend the extra few bucks and get the template. Trust me on that - I learned the hard way.


    Add some undercabinet lighting - the LED strip kind can be either hardwired or plug in (some are even battery operated) and attaches with staples and is inexpensive.


    Add a rail and hanging baskets along the wall or some shelves to get stuff up off the counter so you have more space at your disposal. If you can't attach anything to the walls, get or build some of those "over the sink" shelves to raise stuff off the counter.


    Utilize the space above the cabinets for storage by adding large baskets for things that aren't so pretty like paper products or infrequently used utensils (for example, special occasion napkins that you drag out only once a year, the cookie press you use only at Christmastime - put stuff in bags so it stays clean) and large decorative items that are not frequently used. If you can tuck some additional LED strip lights up there pointing up, it would brighten the space for night time. If you are allowed to install stuff on the backsplash wall, install a magnetic knife holder so you can get the block off the counter.


    You can update the backsplash easily and relatively cheaply with either stick on tile or Fasade products that are inexpensive and easy to install. (Just google Fasade - you will find a whole new world of possibilities - I used one of the stainless steel looking kind on my backsplash.)


    Use Command hooks inside the cabinets to store things that you can hang up (like measuring cups and such). You can even use Command strips on the outside of the cabinets to hang smallish decorative stuff like interesting picture frames painted to match or coordinate with the cabinet doors.


    Whatever you do, post after photos, please.

  • Michelle Michelle on Aug 08, 2018

    Paint upper cabinets white and bottom cabinets a pop of color. All new hardware. I would keep butcher block. Too much clutter on countertops create a coffee zone, small appliances not in use daily put in lower cabinets. Hang a paper towel holder underneather upper cabinets

  • BBB BBB on Feb 06, 2019

    I would do shaker doors and paint it all white... and Spreadstone or Ardex feather finish for the countertops. I don't think white ever goes out of style and if you have a small kitchen it can look incredible. The uppers are still a work in progress but eventually it will all come together.