Kitchen makeover

Budget kitchen renovation with paint! Katja transformed an ’80s kitchen from dark to dreamy for under 1,500 euros

Finnish blogger Katja Rinkinen painted her 1980s kitchen in soft tones as part of her budget kitchen renovation. The paint cost under 400 euros, and the entire update, appliances included, cost less than 1,500 euros. Read on to see how she did it!

Author Katja Rinkinen

Images Katja Rinkinen

April 28, 2025Lue suomeksi

Here’s what the kitchen looked like before the budget kitchen renovation:

Here’s what the kitchen looked like before the makeover. — The 1980s kitchen was still in good condition. The solid wood doors added value to the cabinets. However, the dark tones on all surfaces made the space feel dim. This low-cost kitchen remodeling approach allowed the terracotta floor and dark ceiling beams to shine.

The kitchen cabinets and countertop painted in a light color. — The soft umber gray completely brightens up the look of the old kitchen cabinetry. Painting takes effort, but it’s an affordable way to refresh a kitchen. Three 0.75-liter cans of paint were used for the cabinets, 0.75 liters for the countertops, and less than 0.5 liters of finishing product. The total cost for the kitchen paint and supplies came in under 400 euros.

The window wall after the update. — The countertop in front of the window was cut away. This freed up the window recess and allowed for a small breakfast nook near the window. The appliances were replaced with affordable surplus pieces and finds from Tori. Only the stove, range hood, and faucet were purchased new. The sink from an online marketplace was left over from another kitchen renovation.

Painting the kitchen cabinets and countertop—supplies:

Frenchic Sugar Soap cleanser
rags and buckets
paint, e.g., Frenchic Lazy Range in the shade Salt of the Earth for the cabinets and Frenchic Al Fresco in the shade Wedding Cake for the countertop
Frenchic Tuff Top Coat finishing layer
synthetic brushes in various sizes
foam brush
120-grit sandpaper or sanding sponges
Rubinol wood filler and a filling knife

Photo of the kitchen cabinetry after painting. — The decorative plastic strip at the back of the countertop was removed, and the screw holes were filled with wood filler. The overall look of the kitchen became lighter, and even the old backsplash tiles now look fresher.

Kitchen cabinets painted in a light color

Step-by-step photo of finishing the kitchen cabinet doors. — The cabinet knobs were replaced with porcelain ones, and any extra holes were filled with wood filler before painting. It’s easier to apply filler by placing it in a plastic bag and cutting the corner open. If the doors have curved designs, it’s best to start painting those areas first with a small brush.

Painting the kitchen cabinets and countertop—instructions:

Remove the doors and drawer fronts if possible. Wash all surfaces with a sugar soap solution, then rinse with water. This ensures any grease stains are completely gone. Fill in any holes with wood filler if needed. Lightly roughen door and shelf surfaces with sandpaper, then wipe away any dust with a damp rag. Surfaces subject to minimal wear, such as decorative trim, may not need roughening.
Paint the surfaces of the cabinets, doors, and toe-kicks twice. Let dry for at least an hour between coats. Have brushes in different sizes on hand. Narrow brushes are best for edges, while wide ones work well for smooth surfaces. Start with any curved shapes first, move on to straight surfaces, and tidy up the edges last. Soaking brushes in water helps with cleanup.
The kitchen’s laminate countertop was washed and sanded just like the cabinets. The white shade gradually covered the dark surface and required a total of six coats. Finally, the heavily used countertop was sealed twice with a finishing product applied with a foam brush. Painting laminate countertops is an easy way to give them many more years of use.

The kitchen’s range hood wall after the update. — The tiles on the range hood were removed, and the surface underneath was leveled with drywall compound. The hood’s upper part was lightly sanded for a smoother finish. A uniform color that matches the cabinets helps this oversized hood blend beautifully into the room. They first tried using the same white as on the countertop, but it made the hood look even bigger.

The kitchen’s painted walls and island. — The walls were painted with a self-tinted Domus Natura clay paint that covered the orange wallpaper in a single coat. The warm green shade was mixed from raw umber, pistachio green, and ochre.

The island was made from an old table!

A low, old table can be turned into a conveniently tall island or side table by adding a countertop and furniture legs. See Katja Rinkinen’s instructions here.

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Budget kitchen renovation with paint! Katja transformed an ’80s kitchen from dark to dreamy for under 1,500 euros

Here’s what the kitchen looked like before the budget kitchen renovation:

Painting the kitchen cabinets and countertop—supplies:

Painting the kitchen cabinets and countertop—instructions:

The island was made from an old table!

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