How to get a total kitchen makeover for less than $500

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home - a place where the family socializes and entertains friends. It's no wonder a kitchen remodel occupies first place on many homeowners' wish lists, especially at a time when families are spending less time dining out and more time at home. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most expensive and time-consuming home improvement projects a family will undertake, ranging from $17,000 to $20,000 for a basic kitchen remodel.

"Fortunately, now there's an affordable alternative. For less than $500, homeowners can update their old, outdated cabinets and countertops and make them look brand new thanks to breakthrough coating technologies.


Here's how can get your own kitchen transformation on a budget:

Select a color scheme:
Dark accent walls with neutral colors are all the trend right now, but you'll want to make sure you choose a color palette that expresses your personal style and that you think will be around for years to come. Home decorating magazines and websites are great sources of inspiration when selecting a color scheme for your new kitchen.

Start with the cabinets:
They are the focal point of any kitchen and will set the tone for the look and feel of the entire room. Instead of replacing or refacing, it's easy to transform worn, outdated cabinets to the look of beautiful hand-crafted cabinets with Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations. The refinishing system provides you with all the tools you need to give your cabinets a fresh, new look for less than $150 - without the stripping, sanding or priming associated with cabinet painting. It works on all types of cabinets - wood, melamine, laminate and more. Plus it is available in 70 beautiful finishes and is guaranteed to last for years to come.

Rethink your current countertop:
You don't have to replace your countertop to get a sleek new look. With new Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations, you can transform your worn or damaged laminate countertops at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Available in a convenient kit for $250, the innovative coating system comes with all the tools needed to transform your outdated countertops to mirror the look of natural stone such as granite. The coating was put through extensive testing to ensure it could stand up against daily wear and tear. It's available in five different colors and is so easy to use, the entire project can be completed in less than a weekend.

Don't forget the details:
It's easy to make your old cabinet knobs and pulls look brand new with a few coats of spray paint. Try a spray paint like Rust-Oleum Universal Oil-Rubbed Bronze to mimic one of today's hottest metal finishes at a fraction of the cost. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

If you're not a do-it-yourself home owner, but still looking to save money on that new kitchen? You can find many contractors on Save on Everything.com that'll get the work done for you at a very affordable price.