What is it about food, or the potential of food, that brings us together? Oh, yeah…the deliciousness. That’s what. Regardless, the kitchen is the heart of a home. What’s fabulous is the fact that kitchens are as different as their owners’ design (forgive the pun here) tastes – some are sleek and contemporary, some traditional, some rustic, some eclectic.Because the kitchen tends to be a well-visited space, we want it to look its best. Here are five low-cost kitchen makeover tips for high impact.

1. Paint it white. Old oak or pine cabinetry receives an instant facelift and shove into the 21st century with a coat of white paint. Big kitchens, small kitchens, gallery kitchens, awkward kitchens…it doesn’t matter what yours is, this works. This is probably the #1 bang-for-your-buck.{found on creekbedthreads}.

2. Add pattern and color in window treatments. You don’t have to go over-the-top; a simple roman shade in a pretty pattern will do. You could have one custom made, or there are scads of DIY tutorials online. This adds style, personality, and charm all in one fell swoop, for very low cost.{found on cape27blog}.

3. When possible, consider removing upper cabinetry to open the space up. This gives the whole kitchen a sense of airiness and a more modern feel. If you do need the shelf space, consider installing floating shelves instead (which can be purchased inexpensively) for displaying your dishware.{found on mockabeenews}.

4. Repurpose an old table into a kitchen island. This gives you free rein to infuse the space with your own style – you can choose the size, style, and color of the island and customize it to fit any shelving or cabinet needs that you may have. This option also gives you additional countertop space. Win-win.{found on bhg}.

5. Update your countertops. If you don’t like what you have but replacing them entirely isn’t in the budget, consider painting them (yes, there are prefabricated kits sold at home improvement stores for just this purpose!). Sometimes we get so focused on the must-have-granite-to-be-happy mindset that we forget other aesthetic and functional options exist.{found on homestoriesatoz}.