Home 7 Easy Ways to Update Your Kitchen Without Renovating Get closer to the kitchen of your dreams, without splurging on a remodel. By Caylin Harris Caylin Harris Instagram Website Caylin Harris is a freelance writer, stylist, and crafter with over a decade of experience in the media industry. She is a regular contributor to magazines like Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle, Rachael Ray Every Day, Good Housekeeping, and Parents. Served as craft producer for season three of the Emmy award-winning TV show, Naturally, Danny Seo. Whether she's working for editorial or brand clients, she loves helping people learn new and exciting information about all aspects of their homes and lives. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 24, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images While we might all have visions of our dream kitchen dancing in our head, or multiple images pinned to a Pinterest board—doing a full-scale remodel might not be in the budget at the moment. But that doesn't mean there's nothing you can do. Here are a few easy ideas to update your kitchen—no renovation necessary. The #1 Rule for How Much to Spend on Your Kitchen Remodel 01 of 07 Introduce Open Shelving If you've got a massive blank wall to fill, you might want to consider adding some shelves. They're a great way to show off your beautiful glassware, a collection of serveware, or gorgeous cookbooks—and they'll give the room even more storage space. Add sculptural or minimal brackets for that extra touch of elegance. 02 of 07 Paint the Cabinets Yes, painting your cabinets is quite a bit of work, but it's incredibly affordable! It's the cost of a can or two of paint (plus primer!) and some elbow grease if you're doing it yourself. Whether you opt for a dramatic black or a soft dove gray, a couple of coats of paint will completely transform the look of the entire space. RELATED: 7 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Painting Their Kitchen Cabinets 03 of 07 Swap Out the Hardware You won't believe how quick and easy it is to give your old, outdated hardware a refresh. Warm up your finishes with a brass option in a sleek, modern shape. This will instantly make your kitchen look on-trend, but it won't cost a fortune to achieve. 04 of 07 Add Under-Cabinet Lighting Give this space some drama while showing off pretty display pieces. You can find a bunch of options, including LED battery-operated versions that just stick on. It's a softer lighting option than overhead lighting—and it creates a warm ambiance at night. 05 of 07 Paint the Walls Maybe you love your cabinet color, but the rest of the kitchen is feeling a little blah. Punch it up with a new color on the walls. Whether you opt for a bright white or a darker hue, just make sure to pick a color that complements your cabinets. RELATED: 7 Colorful Kitchens That Will Inspire You to Pick Up a Paintbrush 06 of 07 Rethink Your Cabinet Space If the main reason you're wishing for a reno is to gain more storage in your current space, reconsider the cabinets you currently have. Double your cabinet space by purchasing graduated shelving inserts, dividers, or a turntable. Just assess your storage needs before going nuts at The Container Store. 07 of 07 Cover Your Countertops Unfortunately, we don't all have the countertops of our dreams. A quick way to refresh them is by covering a section of your counter with an oversized cutting board or a slab of marble. This idea works especially well if you'd like to camouflage a spot with damage until you're ready to redo the countertop entirely. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit