Are you tired of the outdated look of your kitchen but are short on cash?
According to Remodeling Magazine, and their annual survey, a minor kitchen remodel will recoup the homeowner over 92.9% of his or her initial investment.

Not all kitchen remodels have to cost a fortune. The following are the five ideas a homeowner can use to update a kitchen without busting his or her budget.

1) Replace the flooring. Install laminate floor over old linoleum, vinyl or chipped tile. It costs just $1 to $5 a square foot and there are many modern, easy-care styles that look like wood, stone or tile and don’t include the hefty price tag.

2) Modernize and replace the lighting. Nothing dates a kitchen like outdated lighting. A new ceiling fixture costs less than $100 and will brighten up the kitchen. Adding some under-the-cabinet lights or pendant lights over work areas will illuminate work surfaces and brighten up the whole kitchen.

3) Give the cabinets a new life. A coat of good paint and new hardware is the cheapest way to go. If the budget is not too tight and the homeowner is able to spend from $4,000 to $6,000 on the project, hire a refacing company to replace the doors and drawer fronts. Make sure you replace the old hardware with some new hardware and you’ll be on your way to adding a fresh face to tired old cabinets.

4) Don’t forget to refinish the appliances. For a few hundred dollars, an appliance refinisher will re-enamel your stove, refrigerator and dishwasher door in the color of your choice, including a stainless steel look-alike. Go to an appliance store or home to inform yourself on the latest kitchen appliance colors. Make sure you get rid of colors like gold and avocado, which are a throwback to the 70’s, and repaint with fresh modern colors.

5) Make sure you update the backsplash. Replace the space between your cabinets and the countertop with fashionable stone, inexpensive wallpaper or a fresh coat of paint. A fresh coat of coordinating paint throughout the kitchen will give the whole kitchen an updated, new feel. Try to stick to neutral colors if you are planning to sell your house in the near future.

All or a few of the above ideas should make a dramatic change in a kitchen and provide the homeowner with a good return for the money invested when it comes time to sell.