Revamping my kitchen on a budget! (with pics)!

[FloraGreysteel]

Hello everyone. I have about £300 to revamp my kitchen. I can't do anything about the units or the worktop because that's not in my budget, but I can change the handles, add under-unit lighting (the lights I have got are broken), change the flooring, paint the walls and accessorise to my heart's content.

The colour of the kitchen cabinets is really revolting but I'm hoping that changing the flooring so that it's not a clashing brown laminate will help. The rest of the room is my living and dining room so I would rather not change the wall colour to keep the flow.

Has anyone got any ideas? The general mood of the rest of the room is industrial/mid century.

My kitchen is similar. I'm aiming to swap cupboard doors as it's an Ikea kitchen.

We just painted melamine cupboards using v33 cupboard paint from B&Q. White on the top and grey on the bottom for about £60. Took 3 thin coats and was time consuming but hasn't chipped and there aren't any brush marks. Search #v33 on insta.

I'm saving money for tiles, worktops and flooring. I've picked a similar vinyl to the oak herringbone posted earlier.

I actually like your cupboards and would go for an uncluttered scandi look with lots of white.

Thank you everyone for all your thoughtful comments: you've given me loads of ideas where previously I was stumped. I'll go through everything and see what might be possible.

If you are on FaceBook join The Frenchic Fan Forum. Search for kitchen and you will see thousands(!) of examples of where people with kitchens just like yours (not real wood) have transformed their kitchens.

Found it (it was in a magazine). I think you could do a lot with the current cupboards: better tiles, splash of colour etc. The painting is one thing for shabby old wooden units but I'm not sure it fits so well with a modern look. Also spend a bit on clips, hinges, whatever needed to sort out your gaps and sagging doors.

You could try taking the doors off some of the top units for a more open look?

I would take down the 2 cupboards over the sink and put a long light coloured shelf(or 2) above where the tiles finish and attach a steel rod underneath and hang utensils with S hooks.

Also you could remove the door in the rest of the cupboards on that wall and either spray paint with plastikote or use a foam roller using 3 or 4 thin coats to get a good finish to lighten the insides

Here's some ideas

www.tidbits-cami.com/open-shelving/

If you go for new handles, forget B&Q and go to Screwfix. You’ll pay half the price.

I too noticed the floor mug, and I was
not expecting that explanation 😆🦜

If you are really short of money I would prioritise changing the handles. Those are horribly clunky.

I would try painting the cabinets. I painted a plastic kitchen with special kitchen unit paint from b&q. I painted wood effect doors white. They looked fantastic, particularly with a wood effect work surface (wasn’t v expensive). I also got an off cut of Lino that was big enough to do the whole room. It made a dated kitchen look great, and fooled the surveyor (he did the survey when I bought the house and said the kitchen was tired, then did the survey when I sold it. He said the new kitchen was lovely).

Please take a look at the Frenchic Facebook group. The transformations on there are amazing and people have revamped their kitchens for less than £200. The reviews are really good too. Also look on Instagram and follow the frenchic hashtag and you will see lots of people have revamped and painted their units and tiles. I e been inspired to paint my bedroom wardrobes and the paint is less than £20. Ps I'm nothing to do with Frenchic!

I would paint the cupboard doors = make sure you prep really well - spend time not money! that would give you the biggest return maybe a grey blue (other mid century colour I would be tempted with green as a more unusual choice?) and I know you didnt want to change the worktop but I would recommend going to your local kitchen shop and seeing what price they could give you... as a white laminate top possibly with a bit of fleck in - bit like this would really lift the space

www.worktop-express.co.uk/laminate-worktops/white-quartz-stone-laminate-worktops

mid century kitchen....
www.dulux.co.uk/en/articles/designer-sarah-hamiltons-midcentury-modern-home

The cupboard doors are not that bad, they just really don't go with the floor. They need some strong, bold colour to tone down the orangey-ness and make them look like a style choice.
You could experiment with 1970s/midcentury modern styles if that's your thing - for example, dark brown (coffee coloured) floor, similar colour on the walls, to contrast with the white tiles. Maybe some turqoise or orange pattern wallpaper somewhere?
Alternatively - would the floor work better in the same colour as the worktops? Plus some deep, vibrant colour on the walls?

Whatever it is, it needs to feel good, not just look right.

V33 110804 Easy Furniture Paint, Stone Grey Satin, 500ml www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KT163BW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KRymEbD5TPM2K?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
Cover tiles, new handles, bright lino, definitely come in on your budget.

I think I would paint the fronts with French chic and change the handles.
Then take a view.
A slim white laminate worktop (IKEA has good options) would look good .

I second CowfaceMonkey (love the name!!).
Any messing about with vinyl etc will not have a lasting impact. The problem is the counter top.

BTW, I got under cabinet LED lights from Amazon the other day. They were about 10 pounds and are UNBELIEVABLE. Stick on and plug in. No need to spend money on that, put it all into the counter tops.

If you good Decorating Centre Online they do specific kits with everything you need for painting your kitchen cupboards ☺️

TK Maxx had some unusual handles before Christmas. I bought some for a chest of drawers.

Have recently painted my horrendous 30 year old kitchen cabinets with Frenchic Alfresco and could not be happier with the result. Mine were solid dark oak with numerous panels. Your flat doors would be a breeze to paint.
Like others have said above (Hello fellow Frenchicas,) access the FB forum and get some inspiration.

(been looking at you tube kitchen diy hacks)