Kitchens are by far the most expensive rooms to renovate. Here is some money-saving advice to help you update your kitchen on the cheap.
Linda Harrison's kitchen cabinets look brand new. All it took was a can of paint and new knobs to completely transform her kitchen, which used to be very dark.
"I'm just much happier. It's brighter. It's more cheerful," Harrison said.
"The biggest concern is what your cabinets are made of whether they are a natural wood or whether it [has] a melamine coating on it," said Fiona Wilson of the Home Depot.
If it is wood you can just re- stain --and cover with a clear coat. If it's melamine it's a many step process -- sanding, primer and melamine paint to make a better bond.
Since Linda's cabinets are in good condition, another option would have been to reface them. Either is a whole lot cheaper than buying new ones.
"You could save up to half very easily," said Wilson.
Adding under-cabinet lighting is another inexpensive way to update your kitchen. Consumer Reports tested strip lights and puck lights, which cast a pool of light onto the countertop.
"And they all come in different types of bulb. We have fluorescents, halogens, xenon, and L.E.D," said Consumer Reports' Dan Diclerico.
The tests showed the ones with fluorescent bulbs and L.E.D.s are energy efficient. But fluorescents don't accurately show reds, oranges or purples, which changes the way food looks on your counter. Halogen and xenon lights give much more accurate color, although they do use more energy and get very hot.
Another easy update -- change your back splash tile -- this tile is made out of glass. Finally, consider replacing your kitchen floor. Consumer Reports tests how well various types of flooring holdup to scratches, stains and dents. Plastic laminates are tougher than wood, usually cost a lot less, and they're easier to install.
"You can float them on the surface without the use of fasteners, staples, or glue," said Diclerico.
"It's all about the prep making sure that you have a level floor then picking up tips from our guys on how to use a circular saw or a jig saw and how to make difficult cuts," he said. "Apart from that it's like big kids Lego."
Add it all up and you don't have to spend tons of money to get a great-looking kitchen.
Before you start, take pictures from different angles --take these with you when you shop for paints, lighting and flooring - that way staff can get a better idea of what you're starting with to give you the advice you need.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
