5 small-budget kitchen remodels: check out these before & after photos!

1. This post-war home’s kitchen freshened up with just a few hundred euros of cosmetic renovation

Veera Kuittinen owned a post-war house with 1980s kitchen cabinets that were still in good shape. By painting, wallpapering, replacing the countertop, and removing the vinyl floor, the entire space got a fresh new look. The highlight of the kitchen is the cylindrical wood-burning stove, painted black. Veera’s renovation cost only about four hundred euros.

Veera’s kitchen before the renovation:

In Veera’s renovation, the cabinets got a green coat of paint. Patterned wallpaper completes the look!

2. Katja got rid of the the brown 1980s style with a fresh coat of paint

Parolan asema-blog influencer Katja Rinkinen’s 1980s solid wood kitchen cabinets were still in good condition, but the dark shades on every surface made the space feel dim. Katja brightened it up by painting the cabinets, countertop, hood, and walls with soft hues. The total cost for paint was under 400 euros, and the entire renovation including new appliances cost less than 1500 euros. Thanks to the reuse renovation, the terracotta floor and dark ceiling beams were beautifully highlighted.

Katja’s kitchen before the renovation:

Soft gray paint brightened the old cabinetry. Katja replaced the appliances with low-cost surplus items and online secondhand finds. She purchased only the stove, range hood, and faucet new. The sink found from an online marketplace had been leftover from another kitchen remodel.

3. Leena bought her kitchen cabinets used and saved a big sum

Leena Kandelberg didn’t want to spend a lot on a kitchen renovation, so she decided to buy used cabinets. She also thrifted the fridge and dishwasher online. Leena encourages others to think about recycling:

“Four years ago, when I bought a used kitchen, I didn’t have to compete for it. Now I’ve noticed there’s more interest, and many kitchens get sold by bidding on Facebook marketplaces. There are so many used kitchens available, and you can get a well-maintained one at a reasonable price.”

Leena’s kitchen before the renovation:

As soon as Leena bought the apartment, she began browsing Tori online marketplace. “The furniture set the tone for the rest of the kitchen,” she says.

4. Kirsi pulled off a big transformation on a single parent’s budget

Kirsi Välimaa wanted to update the kitchen in a house built in the early 2000s without a huge budget. By using recycled materials and doing the work herself, she managed to transform the space completely. A small pantry adds the finishing touch! Altogether, the renovation cost around 800 euros.

Kirsi’s kitchen before the renovation:

Kirsi papered part of the kitchen walls with William Morris’s Pimpernel wallpaper. “I figured it would look nice in the kitchen, and since I’m not covering the wall all the way to the floor, I wouldn’t need too much of the expensive wallpaper.”

5. A bright green 1970s kitchen turned as good as new

Sarita Koskinen wanted to remove the bold colors and wear of time in the 1970s kitchen of the apartment she bought. She planned to rent the apartment out, and wanted to modernize everything from the floor up, but she wanted to keep her effort and budget to a minimum.

A new coat of paint preserved the original cabinets so well that many people don’t believe they’re old at first glance. New hardware, a laminate countertop, and leveling compound on the backsplash completed the transformation.

Here’s how Sarita’s kitchen looked before the renovation:

The cabinets were finished with new brass knobs, which Sarita installed herself. Black and brass already worked well in her previous home.