It is often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home, and for many families this is exactly true. Not only is it the place where meals are prepared and eaten together, but it also tends to be the space that people naturally gather in and socialize. Because it gets a fair amount of traffic and use, it can also start to show signs of wear and tear faster than the other rooms in your home. While it would be great to just undergo a makeover and renovations the minute your kitchen starts to feel tired, unfortunately it tends to be one of the most expensive projects you can do in a home.

With that said, we’ve come up with five inexpensive ways you can update the look of your kitchen, breathing life back into but without having to spend a fortune for the results.

Give Your Appliances a Facelift

A good place to start is with your actual appliances. If they are starting to look grimy and worn, it may be that a deep cleaning is in order. Clean off the surfaces of all appliances removing fingerprints, dirt, and grime. Next you can clean the inside of the various appliances. When it comes to the fridge this involves taking everything out, cleaning shelves and drawers, and really giving it that deep clean.

If that still hasn’t done the trick, then you may want to look into re-facing the appliances. Take a look at the faux stainless steel film reviews on the Frugal Fabulous Finds website. This film is meant to instantly update your appliance and make it look like it is stainless steel. It is a fiber optic vinyl self-adhesive product that is quick, easy, and much cheaper than buying new appliances.

Refinish Your Cupboards

Cupboards are another common area that really start to show wear and tear over time but replacing the entire cabinetry in a kitchen is very expensive to do. Instead look into refinishing the cupboards. This is actually something you can do yourself, creating a look that is fresh and new. Just be sure you research what products to use and the right technique.

You can top off the look by replacing the existing hardware on the cabinet doors.

Go for the High-Contrast Look

A simple way to get that designer look in your kitchen, without spending a fortune, is to go for that high contrast look. If you are repainting your cupboards, paint the uppers one color and then pick a different color for the lowers. This will instantly make if feel like a custom kitchen, but you don’t have to spend extra money to achieve it.

Repurpose Items from Your Home

Here’s a tip that costs nothing at all but can still provide you with beautiful results. Look around your home for items that are not being used to their full potential, either furniture wise or décor, and then figure out how you may be able to repurpose them in your kitchen.

Install New Lighting

The final tip is to install new and modern lighting. This project alone can have a huge impact on how your kitchen looks and feels.