5 Kitchen Upgrades Under $5K That Increase Home Values

Boost your kitchen’s appeal and home value without breaking the bank.

It’s likely you spend much of your time at home in your kitchen, cooking, entertaining friends over a glass (or two) of wine, or talking through your day with family. But there may come a day when you look around and notice that this well-loved space is starting to look a bit worn. Suddenly, your favorite gathering spot has become a place you rush guests through, and you’re concerned that potential future buyers will be turned off by its outdated appearance — especially if you’re in a luxury market.

There’s no need to shy away from kitchen upgrades, though. Here are the seven upgrades suggested by design experts and real estate agents on how to rehab your kitchen (and increase your home’s value) for less than $5,000.

1. Repaint your cabinets and change out hardware

Estimated cost: $250 for hardware, $300 for paint

Painting cabinets in a semigloss finish and adding new hardware are painless ways to give your kitchen a quick face-lift without breaking the bank. “One of our favorite tips for updating a kitchen is to swap out standard hardware,” says Marika Meyer of Marika Meyer Interiors LLC. “Hardware can change the feel of the space, making an out-of-date kitchen feel more modern, or noncustom cabinetry feel like an upgrade.” Try options like a recessed ring pull and traditional bin pull for stylish hardware that’s simultaneously timeless and trendy.

2. Replace or add a backsplash

Estimated cost: $2,000

Tired of doing dishes and looking at an old backsplash with yellowed grout? Renovate! Kathleen Hay, principal at Kathleen Hay Designs, suggests changing out what you have for new tile. “Consider changing a tile backsplash to a modern glass, mosaic tile, or a classic white subway tile, which never goes out of style,” says Hay. “It now comes in many sizes/shapes and can be laid in a herringbone or soldiered pattern for an updated and fresh look.” Neutral tones will make the kitchen feel bigger and brighter to you and potential buyers.

3. Replace the lights

Estimated cost: $75 to $250

Good lighting is important for everyone and in every room. Jeffrey Osborne of Hark and Osborne Interior Design recommends sourcing “stylish yet affordable” pendant lights (he likes Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. Lighting) to hang above an island or countertop. Add undercabinet lighting to give the kitchen a higher-end look — or simply exchange the bulbs for LEDs in existing fixtures to cast the kitchen in a better light (and get some energy savings to boot).

4. Install butcher-block or concrete countertops

Estimated cost: Starting at $300 for concrete countertops

Since most of your time is probably spent in the kitchen at your countertop — eating, preparing food, planning the next party, etc – you want your surface to be durable, without over-spending. Search for remnant granite (pieces left over from other projects) or buy a butcher-block or even concrete countertop, which can be stained to match the space. “Go to a store that has reclaimed materials and grab a beautiful slab of wood or a commercial metal countertop to use as the accent on the island,” says Lisa DeStefano, founder and principal architect at DeStefano Architects. “Tile countertop can be fairly inexpensive, but the challenge is the grout and keeping it clean on what should be a sanitary surface.” Use more expensive materials, like granite or marble, on smaller spaces to give impact to the space, without a significantly higher price tag.

5. Add a new kitchen sink

Estimated cost: Starting at $299 for stainless steel

A sink is one of the most important elements in a kitchen: choosing one that doubles as a centerpiece turns what seems to be a purely functional element into a showpiece. Interior designer Laura Umansky, president and creative director at Laura U Interior Design, says that a new sink, such as an apron-front farmhouse sink “feels custom and thoughtful” and gives potential buyers the perception that the home has a greater value.

Source: Trulia