How to Renovate a Kitchen for Less Than $1,000

No, this isn’t a trick! You really can renovate a kitchen, transforming it into a modern or contemporary space, for less than $1,000. Moreover, you can update your kitchen over a weekend if you put your mind to it. The key is selecting products wisely and spending your budget on items that offer maximum impact.

If you know anything about Ross’s Discount Home Centre, then you will know we’re all about offering top-quality products that deliver excellent value for money, and this is what’s needed to pull off a renovation on a $1000 budget.

With the average kitchen renovation coming in at a median spend of $30,000 (Houzz’s Overview of Home Renovation in 2022 and 2023), It’s important first to be realistic about what you can achieve with a $1,000 budget. But don’t be discouraged. I did mention that you can transform your kitchen into a more modern and contemporary space for this amount, and that is a fact.

As the head of purchasing at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, I have extensive knowledge of our entire product line and can provide you with the essential tips, advice, and products required for this task. So, let’s get started then!

Key Takeaways

• A kitchen renovation under $1,000 is achievable by focusing on high-impact changes like replacing the splashback, sink, and tap.
• Updating the splashback is cost-effective, with affordable tile options starting at $20 per square metre, and can dramatically refresh the kitchen.
• Replacing old sinks and taps offers a significant style upgrade, with sinks starting at $130 and taps from $120.
• Cabinetry can be updated without replacement by changing handles or painting the doors for a budget-friendly facelift.
• Spending wisely on visible areas and addressing the most outdated elements ensures the best results within a limited budget​.

Spending where it matters most

As mentioned above, it’s not realistic to think you’ll be able to get an entirely new kitchen for $1,000, which is why it’s vital to put your money where it matters the most. By this, I mean spending money on materials and products that make the most significant impact.

The kitchen splashback, tap, sink, cabinet doors, and fixings should be where you focus your attention. These are all obvious areas that are most noticeable.

Out with the old, in with the new

Stand back and take a good look at your kitchen. Identify the apparent issues. Does your splashback feature tiles from the ’80s that will never be back in trend? Is your kitchen sink dented, scratched, and, well, simply pasts it’s used by date? Does your tap drip or wobble when used?

There’s no point renovating a kitchen if the most glaring issues are overlooked. The examples above are all common and can be fixed easily on a $1,000 budget.

Update your Kitchen Splashback

My first recommendation for a budget kitchen renovation will always be to update the splashback. You can lay new kitchen tiles over existing tiles for further savings, and the outcome will provide your kitchen with a brand-new look. We have suitable splashback tiles in our tile range from as little as $20 per square metre, and when you’re tiling such a small area, it delivers incredible ‘bang for your buck’, as they say.

If you are looking to replace or update your splashback, some popular choices include our affordable Gloss White Wall Tile 20x20cm at $20 per square metre and Gloss White Wall Tile 10x30cm at $30 per square metre (subway tiles NEVER age). These economical tiles are modern and will complement any existing cabinetry. However, for something more attention-grabbing, consider one of the many feature tiles or mosaic tiles in our range—just be mindful of your overall budget!

Check out our kitchen splashback trends and tiled kitchen splashback trends articles for some other great ideas.

Update your Kitchen Sink

There are just as good offerings in our kitchen sink range. You’re sure to find the same size to match your existing sink cut out in our affordable range, which starts at a low $130.

If your list includes upgrading your kitchen tap, then I highly recommend our Round Hi-rise Sink Mixer at just $160 and the Elle Project Stainless Steel at a mere $120. Both these taps offer high style impact at minimum expenditure, and they are also rated WELS 5-star and 4-star, respectively. If you have more budget flexibility, then at just $249, the contemporary black Lauren Project Sink Mixer will make an immediate impact and knock years off the age of your kitchen.

Budget kitchen cabinet upgrade

Now, our kitchen cabinets are cheap, but even our prices won’t get you new cabinets for $1000. However, don’t be disheartened. There are many ways to update cabinets without replacing it.

My first suggestion is a simple and economical kitchen cabinet handle upgrade. You’ll be shocked by the difference new handles can have to the overall appearance of a kitchen, especially if you have original handles from the ‘70s or ‘80s still intact.  From as little as $6.00 per handle, you can choose between stylish handles such as our black, chrome, or white “C” handles, which are in our Kitchen Accessories range.

If your cabinets need a lot more than new handles to make them look decent, then you can either give them a DIY paint job (you’ll be amazed by the difference) or consider having just the doors replaced. Bear in mind, even replacing doors alone could consume your entire budget. So, opt for this only as a last resort! There are too many other areas you can upgrade that offer more significant impact!

For more great tips, check out our article on DIY Kitchen Cabinets on a Budget.

Conclusion

The fact is, you CAN change the entire look of your kitchen on a shoestring budget of just $1,000. You just need to be a little bit savvy with how you divide up the budget. Don’t blow it on areas that are not visible, and always tend to the problem areas first.

The key is to get maximum bang for your buck, and this is achieved easily by replacing old fixtures and fittings with new. Look to replace your old kitchen splashback with new splashback tiles. Replace your old sink with a shiny new sink. Replace your old kitchen tap with a stylish kitchen mixer tap.

Kitchen cabinetry won’t be replaced for $1000, but there are ways to give it a facelift. Adding new handles is the easiest option. Additionally, you can give the cabinet doors a DIY coat of paint, or if they are past a paint repair job, then consider replacing only the doors with new door fronts.

Renovating a kitchen with a $1000 budget is easy if you know what to do. It’s made even easier if you choose to shop with Ross’s Discount Home Centre. You can purchase all the products mentioned in this article online from our online store, and what’s more, delivery to Perth Metro is free!

If you’re after more budget kitchen renovation ideas, check out our post, Top 3 Upgrades to Consider for a Mini Kitchen Renovation and Budget Kitchen Renovation Under $1000.

Save in more ways than one with Ross’s Discount Home Centre. We hope to package your order soon.