8 creative DIY kitchen makeovers to inspire you

Is your kitchen a dream come true? If not, it’s time to revamp the space with colors, eclectic furniture, and a touch of humor. Check out these delightful creations where homeowners’ personal tastes and styles get to shine. And remember, a cohesive look doesn’t require sticking to just one color or material.

The vintage hostess

The lower kitchen cabinets are repurposed from an old sideboard, with the oven installed where the drawers once were.

This striking cabinetry was sourced secondhand, piece by piece, and assembled from chests of drawers, display cabinets, and an old sideboard. The new built-in oven fit perfectly where the sideboard’s drawers once were. The surface of the ensemble was finished with linseed oil paint and wax.

Lemon, please

A modern kitchen can certainly handle a dose of old-time charm. A stunning shade of lemon!

If you’re beginning a renovation and the kitchen has old, solid wood built-in cabinets, consider keeping them. Here, the bold lemon-yellow color perfectly ties the nearly hundred-year-old cabinetry in with the modern lower drawers and the dark back wall.

Pot parking

A section of log wall adds a dash of gourmet to this modern kitchen.

Do you have a cupboard full of beautiful pots and pans? Arrange them into a lovely wall display near the stove. Attach a sturdy rail with S-hooks to the wall and hang all your frequently used cooking and frying utensils. It’s beautiful, practical, and saves cupboard space.

Double the storage space

Remove the drawers from a dresser and wallpaper their bottoms. The drawers become an attractive arrangement of shelves on the wall. The dresser, in turn, gains open shelves.

It’s a shame to keep beautiful dishes hidden behind doors, so turn them into decorative elements. Remove the drawers from an old chest, wallpaper their bottoms, and mount them on the wall as shelves. The empty chest works great as open shelving, effectively doubling your storage space.

Bring in the memories

A beautiful antique piece adds the finishing touch to a modern kitchen.

Even a modern kitchen benefits from a touch of nostalgia. Mount a rustic antique cabinet or grandma’s old plate rack on the wall. The contrast makes both elements look fresh.

A different kind of island

Assemble side tables into an island of your desired size and shape, and place stools around it.

Old, beautifully worn side tables come together to form a charming island. Appreciate their original colors, or if the surfaces are too worn, sand and refinish them. Store dish towels and napkins in the small drawers.

Shelf space from the pantry

What a delightful surprise behind the door. Wallpaper the back wall of the pantry with in a bright color and attach individual shelves. So much space!

Transform an old built-in cabinet into a pantry for flour, grains, and other dry goods. Wallpaper the back of the cabinet in your favorite pattern, attach shelf brackets and shelves. Leave space at the bottom for recycling bins with lids. You’ll be delighted every time you open the door.

Straight from an old farmhouse

More storage space was added to this old kitchen by extending the line of the lower cabinets. A beautiful fabric curtain serves as the door for the wide shelves.

The original kitchen of this old house is small but worth preserving. Storage space can be added by building open shelves as an extension of cabinets. A long countertop unifies the look, and curtains that match the style protect your items from dust and prying eyes. Attach the curtain rail to the bottom edge of the countertop.