Kitchen Makeover for Little or No Money

A bare bones kitchen makeover for under $35....can it be? Without being fancy and going to designers - and putting a little elbow grease into the project - yes it can! Recently a kitchen project was undertaken because the window coverings were so dark and drab. The kitchen wasn't the heart of the kitchen because it was tired and worn. While a new floor would be nice - that wasn't in the immediate budget. And more storage would be nice but in a mobile home expanding usually isn't an option. A few changes, however, made a bit difference.

The first change - a fresh look. Looking at the kitchen from a storage standpoint there was clearly wasted room above the cupboards - the tops torn out, recycled wood laid in there for shelves and for no money there is more storage space.

Add to that under $10 for a bottle of Murphy's Oil Soap and a bottle of Old English. Having gotten sponges in bulk at a dollar store those were already on hand. Wiping down the cabinets with Murphy's in water , wringing the sponge out to not leave excess water, took about a half hour. This was getting the borders, getting the dust that accumulates in the ledges. While that was drying clearing and wiping down the counter ($1 cleaner and a few paper towels the only cost there - both on hand!) became a target as well as washing down the stove...even when doing these things regular it's amazing the difference it makes to do a half hour thorough cleaning. A dry sponge and the Old English provided much needed relief for the worn cabinets - and made a huge difference! They were very dry so got two coats and the difference was clear to see. Removing old wallpaper didn't take long. The rich wood instead of reflecting warmth added to the darkness, and painting wasn't an option - the look of wood was a positive point in the kitchen.