6 DIYs to Beautifully Update Your Kitchen

Everyone always says that the kitchen is the heart of the home.

We spend more time in the kitchen than in any other room in our home. During our family gatherings or parties, everyone always ends up gathered in the kitchen.

For as much time as I spend cooking, it’s really nice to have a space that I enjoy being in. While our kitchen still needs work, it has come a long way from the old oak cabinets we transformed a few years back. 

Most recently, we gave our kitchen pantry closet an amazing makeover – and we are loving it! It’s incredible how small upgrades here and there can completely transform a space. 

Today I’m sharing 5 home improvement DIYs that can beautifully update your kitchen – from lighting to cabinet updates to pantry makeovers, these kitchen DIYs will definitely help you love your kitchen. 

DIY Kitchen Home Improvement Projects

Not only is the kitchen is the heart of the home, but when it comes to resale value, kitchens are a big deal. People usually invest a lot in kitchen upgrades, and it can can cost more than a brand-new car.

If you’re thinking that you can’t afford a kitchen upgrade and are tired of the same old kitchen, you are not stuck.

You can definitely tackle some of these DIY projects. Not only can these DIY projects transform your kitchen, but they can even boost the resale value of your home. 

Wood Beam Chandelier

So many kitchens (including mine) have those outdated fluorescent light fixtures. You know that ones that seem to collect all the bugs?! Updating the lighting in your kitchen makes for a huge transformation. You can do so much with lighting in a kitchen – you have pennant lighting over an island, a gorgeous fixture over your sink area, and a beautiful chandelier over your kitchen table. 

Megan from Two Feet First built this awe-inspiring wood beam chandelier for her sister-in-law. She custom made it according to her sister-in-law’s vision and shares every step of the process so you can make it too. 

If you have any outdated light fixtures in your kitchen, swapping in a new one can totally makeover that space. Just fixing up old lighting can bring a kitchen or other room into a new decade. Even if you can’t DIY it, there’s tons of gorgeous light fixtures that can update your space. 

Kitchen Island Shiplap

Shiplap is everywhere these days, and I am here for it.

Usually, you see shiplap used on accent walls, like we just did our mudroom makeover.

Yet, Christina from The Frugal Homemaker, used faux shiplap on her kitchen peninsula, and it is just gorgeous!

Not only does she share exactly how to replicate this on your kitchen island or peninsula, but she’ll show you how to save money with shiplap too. She did the faux shiplap project for less than $25! Definitely check out the details and speaking of awesome kitchen updates, be sure to see how Christina’s kitchen has transformed over the years!

If you love shiplap and don’t have a peninsula or island in your kitchen, look for other areas in your kitchen you could shiplap – such as a pantry, your backsplash, or a coffee station area. Shiplap adds so much elegance and character.

Pantry Shelves Makeover

My husband and I redid our pantry a few week back- taking it from boring metal shelves (covered in contact paper) to these gorgeous wooden shelves with drawers! Let me tell you, drawers in a pantry are a gold mine of space, hiding all those usual eyesores and hubby’s bags of chips, of course.

I love the wood stain we used, which actually has ZERO VOCs and no smell at all. It’s super natural and green. Check out our post for all these details. 

Additionally, our pantry walls were so aged, so we covered those with this faux brick wallpaper. Peel and stick wallpaper is perfect for a whole new look, and I share exactly how to apply wallpaper. 

This is a perfect example of how a small project can totally transform a space. As far as resale value, a pantry is a space that can usually look pretty boring. Pantry updates are a great way to add a wow factor to a typically drab area.

Every time I open the pantry door, I expect to see how it used to look – the change is so refreshing!

We were able to build this in one weekend, and we share all the details on how you can do the same 🙂

Also, if you’re wondering what kind of shelf is on the left (below pic) it’s a repurposed CD tower that was on it’s way to the curb!

Faux Marble Countertops (Using Paint)

Wow, this tutorial just blew my mind! Diane from In My Own Style shades how to paint formica kitchen countertops to look like Carrara marble. She shares her painting tips and tricks and exactly how she created the veins. 

The before and after pictures are absolutely amazing! If your countertops are in need of an upgrade and you don’t want to spend the money on stone, definitely check out Diane’s tutorial on how to paint a faux marble countertop. I have to think about where I can incorporate these painted marble countertops into my home!

Under Cabinet Lighting

Whenever you’re in the kitchen, you can always use more lighting when your chopping or cooking. A small but powerful update you can make in your kitchen is installing under cabinet lighting. It’s convenient, useful, and helpful. 

This DIY from Amy at Health, Home, and Heart is not only convenient, but she makes installing under cabinet lighting so easy. She found these awesome battery-charged, adhesive lights that took her five minutes to install.

Brightening a space is always a good idea – and these under the cabinet lights are an awesome addition to any kitchen. 

This is a perfect example of a simple DIY that has a big impact. Head on over to Amy’s post to check out this easy kitchen update! 

Painted Kitchen Cabinets

Although a big undertaking, painting your kitchen cabinets is the perfect way to update your kitchen on a budget. Replacing cabinets costs a fortune, and you can get a gorgeous look by simply painting them. 

Christine from The DIY Dreamer painted her 1960s kitchen cabinets, and they turned out amazing. She shares all the steps she used, along with the fusion mineral paint that she used. The paint has ZERO VOCs and no odor. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed picking paint colors, check out Christine’s tip how to decide on the perfect color. 

Updating your kitchen cabinets is a great idea if you’re cabinets are the originals. A few years back, we used gel stain on kitchen cabinets – and even though it was a huge project that I took on right before the holidays, it looks massively better.

If your kitchen cabinets are driving you nuts, definitely make a change and check out Christine’s tutorial for all the steps on how to paint them. 

Time to Update Your Kitchen

These 6 DIYs from talented home improvement bloggers are simple ways that you can update your kitchen to get that look that you love. Whether it’s your cabinets, countertops, lighting, or pantry that needs an improvement, pick one project and start from there.

When you update something in your kitchen to make it prettier, more functional, or just bring it into a new decade, it’s amazing how happy it makes you feel. 

And, when you’ve saved money and completed the work yourself, it’s an amazing feeling. 

With the kitchen being the heart of a home, a few DIY updates can absolutely help you feel happier in the space. 

Not sure where to start?

If you aren’t sure where to start on redoing a room in your home, check out our room makeover workbook, which walks you through the process of how to transform a room in your home. 

More DIY Home Improvement Projects

See more DIY home improvements projects, including how to DIY a fireplace, how to recaulk your stairs, and how to install hardwood flooring.

Most of these home improvement projects are part of our At Home DIY monthly challenges. Next month’s challenge is an outdoor one so be sure to check back for the next DIY challenge. 

You also might like…

• Have an extra space between your fridge and the wall? Build a sliding spice rack like this one. It emptied out an entire kitchen cabinet – not to mention all the organization it brought. 
• Need another way to bring a wow factor into your kitchen? Switch out your old pantry doors for French doors. French doors instantly adds a bit of classic elegance to any room. They turned our old kitchen pantry nook into a beautiful space. 
• Have an awkward kitchen desk? Transform the desk into a cabinet for more kitchen storage. This tutorial will show you exactly how to make this kitchen storage update the easy way.
• Looking to add backsplash to your kitchen? This tutorial will show you how to easily install backsplash.