Whether you’re rehabbing an outdated kitchen or designing a new one from scratch, these 20 gorgeous kitchen remodel ideas will inspire you. Personalize the heart of your home with pendant lights, open shelving, tile backsplashes, and more ideas.
From morning rush hour to midnight nibbles, the kitchen remains a hub of daily activity. Dubbed the “heart of the house,”‘ it’s more often than not where we congregate with family & friends. An inspired kitchen design should reflect your personal taste and feel just as comfortable as any other living space.
While the main components of any kitchen may be the same (cabinets, appliances, countertops), kitchens don’t need to be a difficult room to remodel. An updated color palette, appliance overhaul or cabinet makeover are practical ways to incorporate modern style.
Check out these creative kitchen renovations from real homeowners. You can see all the before & after designs with the links.
Budget-Friendly Kitchen Remodel Ideas
These kitchen remodel ideas can kickstart new ones!
- Start with decluttering: Clearing countertops of unnecessary items instantly expands your space. Organizing the pantry or incorporating new ideas for cabinet organization can be a game changer.
- Give older appliances a modern facelift: These DIY Refrigerator Makeovers are simply amazing.
- Add a new backsplash: A peel and stick backsplash is good for beginners or you can upgrade by learning how to tile a wall.
- Add a new faucet: A simple fixture swap makes a big impact.
- Modern countertops make a huge difference: Follow our handy guide: 5 tips for replacing countertops for professional looking results that save money.
- Paint: Paint old cabinets or add new hardware for a big change.
- Update light fixtures: Installing pendant lighting or a well-positioned hanging globe adds focal interest.
- Fresh greenery enhances any space: Potted herbs, succulents, hanging vines or fresh cut flowers are inexpensive ways to add punches of color to your kitchen.
20 Ideas for a Kitchen Remodel
1. Add Some Color
I love that color has made a comback, especially in new ways like colorful or dreamy cabinetry. From soft blues to bold maroons, this opens up a whole new world of fun possibilities.
See also our best tips on choosing the best blue paint colors for cabinets.
2. An Architectural Detail
No space is wasted in this clever DIY kitchen makeover from The Honeycomb Home. Extending cabinets to the ceiling and installing built-in boxes above the refrigerator adds eye-catching architectural details while improving spatial function.
3. Open Up The Space
This fun kitchen from Life On Virginia Street utilizes all the light from an outer wall by having a large window rather than more cabinetry. Everything is clean and bright for a beautifully breezy kitchen design.
Open-concept kitchens aren’t a new idea, but this layout is what kitchen dreams are made of. Removing closed cabinetry from the walls lends a spacious, sleek feel to the space. Yet no storage has been sacrificed because they have a wall of pantry cabinets. By opening up the floor plan, gatherings feel easy and laid back.
4. Patterned Kitchen Back Splash Tile
Kitchen remodeling stores display a wide array of interesting and colorful tiles and wallpapers, but finding the right use for them can be challenging. Deeply Southern Home added a stylish backsplash to her inviting kitchen. This space is a cozy haven for coffee talk or a hot cup of tea.
5. Unique Lighting
It’s impossible to make light of all of the amazing ideas in this kitchen makeover from ninawilliamsblog. But these globe light fixtures top my list of favorites. The fixtures add visual interest to her kitchen. They provide a welcome contrast to the other textures and elements in the room.
Check out our favorite pendant lights for kitchen islands here.
6. Room with a View
Do you dream of a picturesque view but get nervous about sacrificing storage? This suspended shelf solves the dilemma. The wood and copper pipe and wood wall feature creates extra storage and works in harmony with the other industrial elements. Most importantly, that gorgeous view remains unobstructed. Open shelving is excellent for plants, small serving dishes, or displaying your favorite knickknacks.
7. Create Interest with Dual Tone Cabinetry
Who says everything has to match? Break the rules! Dual-toned cabinetry is a polished solution if you’re concerned about overpowering your kitchen with a wall of colorful cabinets. This kitchen from Sarah Sherman Samuel illustrates a classic look with a hint of color.
Check out our favorite sage green cabinet paint colors with real kitchen examples in this post!
8. A Personal Piece Re-purposed in a Creative Way
This kitchen design from Roeshel @ DIY Showoff is peppered with personal eclectic touches. The use of the dresser as an island is genius! In her kitchen, there are so many little nuanced touches that you’ll find yourself discovering something new each time you look.
9. Mix Textures and Surfaces
This beautiful kitchen belongs to The Rambling Redhead. The combination of textures, such as rough pine beams and subway tile backsplash, shine without competing with the other natural elements. Mixing textures and surfaces adds depth to her design.
10. Farmhouse Goes French Country
While the American modern farmhouse look is fizzling out, elements of French country style have lasted centuries and the refined, yet rustic add a positive addition to set the mood of your mornings. DIY your own chalkboard menu with this simple tutorial.
11. Custom Island
My friend at Seeking Lavender Lane designed an island that feels like an extension of the rest of the living space. The overall design goal: cabinetry modeled liked furniture. They nailed it with careful attention to details!
Even if you don’t have space for a large island like this, you can an elevated style by either building your own kitchen island or adding trim to an existing kitchen island.
12. Think Beyond Subway
I love subway tile in the right application. However, there are so many effortless options to add a little sparkle to the kitchen. For our kitchen makeover, we opted for a honed marble to complement the traditional elements of the cabinets while keeping everything light and brightened up.
Read more about creative subway tile patterns for a fresh take on the classic backsplash!
13. Old World Charm
This renovation brilliantly blends polished urban elements and old-world charm. A charming brick wall, raw wood kick plate, and candelabra-style chandelier are some of the unexpected details in this very modern makeover. The effect is a clean yet naturally homey vibe.
14. Create a Pantry outside the Kitchen Remodel
Many older homes have odd nooks or small bonus rooms, seemingly difficult to work around. This kitchen lacked a proper pantry, so the homeowners masterfully transformed an awkward nook into a custom alternative. The added storage and counter space are handy for everyday use and can quickly become a coffee station or bar area when entertaining guests.
Need tips to keep your small pantry organized? Read our pantry organization ideas.
15. Statement Piece Sink
An apron style sink anchors the coastal cottage vibe in Sustain My Craft Habit’s kitchen. The sink serves as a focal point in this kitchen layout. Selecting an apron style with brushed metal finish, adds panache to serene blue and white decor. Note how perfectly the light fixture compliments the sink. Magnificent!
16. DIY Range Hood Cover
The challenge we often face while making the kitchen feel cheerful is the jarring appearance of appliances and other kitchen equipment. When Confessions of a Serial DIYER set out to create a light and airy gathering place, they covered every detail. The DIY Range Hood Cover seamlessly blends an unsightly but necessary component of the kitchen into its elegant design.
17. Black is the New Black
Don’t shy away from the dark side! Add instant sophistication to your kitchen with black accents. This is Our Bliss created an inviting and modern space with a bold color palette and complementary clean lines. Every carefully selected element of this kitchen shines.
18. Broaden your Backsplash Borders
Why hide beautiful backsplash behind the stove or sink? Break out of the backsplash box and make a focal wall. Sand and Sisal used a marbled swirl of sea glass-inspired tiles to frame the entire back wall in this stunning coastal-inspired renovation.
Check out more coastal decorating ideas for seaside vibes any time of year.
19. Warm Organic Finishes
Simplicity reigns supreme in this texture-rich kitchen remodel idea by Studio McGee. Character-driven details like warm oak cabinetry, unlacquered brass hardware, and gleaming black and white marble countertops invite your eye to drink in every detail of this timeless design.
20. Chef Grade Appliances
Embrace your inner chef and invest in professional-grade appliances. Busy home cooks dream of even cooking and streamlined efficiency. I simply adore how this renovation by White Cottage Home & Living blends cottage-style quaintness with industrial capability.
Our Best Kitchen Remodeling Tips and Projects
- The Ultimate Guide to Vinyl Flooring
- How to Paint Oak Kitchen Cabinets
- How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring
- What to Know Before Painting Kitchen Cabinets Black
- How to Add Crown Molding to Cabinets
- How to Refresh Tile Grout
Frequently Asked Questions
Cabinets! The average cost of cabinets can be around $15,000. Cabinets are required for functional space usage and storage. Finding ways to implement what you already have is a huge money saver!
Plan for anywhere from three weeks to four months to complete your renovation project. Several variants, including the size of your kitchen, and the project complexity, may factor in.
Cutting your remodeling project into phases can reduce stress and budget woes. A phased plan allows time to address each step separately, so the kitchen remains functional during construction.
Isn’t it inspiring to see how functional spaces can be customized down to the smallest detail? We appreciate these creative homeowners for sharing their before and after stories with us. Ready to tackle your own renovation? I’d love to see some of your favorite inspirations.
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More Creative Kitchen Ideas
PS I love seeing your creations! Be sure to take a photo and tag #cravingcreative on Instagram! You can also stay in touch with me through following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and subscribing to the newsletter!
Julia@Happy House and Home says
I love something about each and every one of these kitchens! I would love to incorporate a little more color in my kitchen… thank you for the ideas! Also thanks for linking up to Merry Monday Linky (sunda 6pm PST). See you again! Julia
Pam@over50feeling40 says
My kitchen could use an upgrade! Thanks for the great ideas and for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
SHELLEY R ZUREK says
So many beautiful and soothing ideas. I love the architectural and color pop ideas the most.
Jeannine O'Neil says
Connected with you on Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. I love all the photos but my fave is A Punch of Unexpected Color. I LOVE Aqua and will be pinning a few of these images. Great post!
Rachel says
Thank you so much Jeannine! Aqua is one of my must have decor color right now. In fact, I am doing a moroccan stencil in the dining room in two shades of it! Hopefully it will be on the blog in a few weeks. Thanks for the pin and glad to have inspired you!
Jeannine O'Neil says
Sounds great! I can’t wait to check it out!
Michelle says
Ooooh! *sigh* These kitchens are beautiful. I like them all. I especially love the unique industrial lighting.
Carrie @ curlycraftymom says
This is a great post, especially since I am thinking of redoing our kitchen. I’ve been dragging my feet on it, because it is SO expensive and such a mess to gut and redo a kitchen. I love the kitchen with a pop of color and with an architectural interest.
Rachel says
Your right, redoing a kitchen is EXPENSIVE. I am keeping our cabinets at the new house, but the counter tops alone are going to be around $3.5-4k. The cabinets were the only thing nice about our new house (a foreclosure) so I want to keep them.
Amy | Canary street crafts says
Fun ideas Rachel! Just shared on Facebook 🙂
Life Breath Present says
Great ideas! I know we’ll be incorporating some into our new place as one of our first major projects will be the kitchen! 🙂
Stopping over from Merry Mondays!
Rachel says
Oh fun! I am in the middle of redecorating and renovating a foreclosure we purchased in march. I am hoping to get an update on the blog soon. It is so exciting and such hard work at the same time.
Kim @ The Cookie Puzzle says
What inspiring ideas…I love a little bit of each of them! I dreamed of cement counter tops…love the look for sure. Those Yellow bars stools…swoon for sure! That pop of teal inside cabinets…LOVE! Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful ideas!
Adrian says
These are gorgeous. I particularly like the one with the pop of color. #SITSSharefest
Melissa @ Simply Sweets by Honeybee says
I love this post! I’m not too fond of my kitchen & love looking at others for inspiration. One day I’ll transform my kitchen into what I want. The island in #7 is a dream! Oh man if I had that kitchen I’d never leave it.
Rachel says
I love everything about that island. I am actually planing on expanding our kitchen island. I am hoping to convince my husband to let me paint it and then we are wrapping the front where the bar stools go in a charcoal faux stone. It is going to be magnificant!
Julie says
i love all of these ideas! My favorite is the pops of color in the cabinets! Such a great way to add a little something without overdoing it
Rebecca says
I love pops of color, especially in splashes of tile! You have fantastic taste
Rachel says
Why thank you! What is really funny about all of this is that as much as I love those beautiful pictures and ideas, I can’t paint my cabinets white. Oh, it would look stunning for about five minutes until there was spaghetti sauce everywhere. But also, I have GOREGOUS high end solid cherry cabinets where you can see the wood grain and all that. I can’t bring myself to paint something like that. I am not even a huge fan of cherry wood, and I still can’t paint it. And besides, my husband would kill me.
Roeshel says
Thanks so much for the shout out, Rachel! Great collection of style ideas! xo
Mo at Mocadeaux says
Great inspiration! I have always wanted to incorporate a chalkboard in my kitchen. I love this one! Stopping by from SITS Sharefest.
Rachel says
Thanks for stopping by, Mo! Chalkboard is really a big trend and I love how functional it is! Whoever came up with chalkboard paint is a genius. I want to make a homework station for my son and I am hoping to include some chalkboard in the design.