How to Refurbish an Old Kitchen

Repaint the walls. If your kitchen is smaller, open it up with a light color. A larger kitchen can handle darker colors, but keep in mind that it is best to use a dark color on one wall as an accent, rather than painting the entire kitchen in this color. A fresh coat of paint can go a long way toward refreshing a room and making it look brighter and happier.

Refresh the cabinetry. If the cabinet doors are broken, they can be replaced. Measure the correct size, and have new wood cut to fit. Strip old paint or wood stain off the cabinets with a chemical stripping agent. This will take it back to the original wood, and you can either paint or stain it, according to your preference.

Tile over your counters. To give your counters a new look, add ceramic or even granite tile. Thoroughly clean the counters, add a thin layer of mortar, and place the tiles, using grout spacers. Remove the spacers and grout between the tiles. Another option is taking out the old counter tops and replacing them with butcher block. This is an economical fix but does require more labor. It also requires exact measurements, so you may want to hire a professional for this job.

Tile your backsplash. Brighten up the areas behind your sink and stove with a new backsplash. You can use either traditional tile with mortar and grout, or you can use a peel-and-stick backsplash. These come in a variety of styles and materials, even stainless steel.

Redo the flooring. If your old kitchen flooring is carpet, tear it out, and replace it with either linoleum or laminate. Both are kitchen friendly and resist water and spills. If your current flooring is linoleum or vinyl, and you want to change it in a budget-friendly way, apply peel-and-stick vinyl tiles over the flooring.

Change out the drawer and door pulls. Adding new pulls to cabinetry can have a dramatic effect on the room. Because these items can be expensive, visit a salvage yard and see if you can find any surplus pulls there. Other options include flea markets, consignment stores and discount stores. Refurbish the pulls if necessary, and put them on your cabinets.