Before & after: This kitchen is the cream of the crop after a budget makeover

When you first move into a house, it isn't always possible to tear out the old kitchen and replace it with shiny, brand new (and expensive) units. And if the cupboards and drawers are still in good shape, why would you?

Crafty Becky Lane managed to totally transform the old-fashioned dark pine kitchen in her family's new home in Surrey with a few liters of paint. And the whole makeover only cost $100/£100 – including the kitchen sink! We couldn't wait to find out how she did it.

And, if you're inspired to makeover your kitchen after seeing this transformation, we've got loads of kitchen ideas in our guide!

The before

Becky, who shares her enterprising home makeover tips on her instagram account @21oakham, had moved with her family from London to Surrey, UK.  

She set about brightening up dark and dull spaces in the house for an instant update, and to make it feel more cheerful.

“The kitchen was dark pine and not to our taste,' she recalls. 'But it also made the space feel very dark and depressing when we wanted a lighter airy, modern feel.'

The process

Hard-working Becky only took a weekend and a few evenings to complete the makeover, rolling up her sleeves and getting the brushes out when the kids were asleep.

'To begin with, I sanded and cleaned all the units, paneling and tiles. Then I painted tiles first after preparing the area and masking up the switches and sockets. I did three coats on the tiles. Next, I did all the wall paneling and units, the first coat taking the longest as my unit doors had grooves. The wall paneling soaked up the paint quicker than expected. Without paneling we would have only needed two pots of paint, which would've saved even more money.

The after – a $100/£100 kitchen makeover

And here is the gorgeous end result!

Becky continued, 'After this, we did two coats all over and varnished the wall tiles to harden the finish. While everything was drying, I started the project to clean the floor tiles. I spent about four hours straight on them and could have easily spent days on them, but I got them to a clean level.'

The details

One of the key things that pulled the look together was the sink. The old silver steel sink and draining board didn't go with Becky's gold fixtures – so she got her husband to paint that as well.

'I’ve never seen a sink spray painted before, I was worried the paint may chip away due to use,' she admits. 'We decided to leave the basin as it gets the most amount of wear but sprayed the sideboard and the surround. We feel it’s really set off the kitchen – we love it. Then the final job was adding the new gold handles which also helped with finishing the full look '

With the biggest expense being paint, Becky was delighted that she managed to totally change the look and feel of the room for less than $100/£100.

'I bought four pots of Wilkinson (a UK home goods store) chalk furniture paint at $10/£10 each as I wanted a matt finish instead of satin or gloss. I painted the tiles in Ronseal tile paint, which was for $10/£10, then used a varnish over the top for $9/£9. For the floor, I used an extreme power cleaner with a drill brush scrubbing set which I already own from another project. Then for finishing touches, I got door handles, which are $14/£14 from Ebay, and spray paint costing $15/£15.'

If you want to know more about creating gorgeous kitchens on a budget - here's how to update your space for less.

Top tips for a quick kitchen transformation

If you want to revamp your kitchen on a budget, Tap Warehouse and Becky @21oakham have teamed up to share their insider tips on how to do it.

1. Transform kitchen cabinets with paint and new door handles

One of the main things that holds people back from transforming their kitchen is the cost of new cupboards. However, this obstacle can be overcome with a lick of paint which can leave your old kitchen cabinets looking brand new. You can also replace the door handles; we love gold and brass handles at the minute, which have really helped set off the full look in Becky’s kitchen.

2. Use plants and accessories to add a luxury feel

Accessorising your kitchen costs very little and can make a huge difference in its appearance. We recommend adding houseplants to brighten up the space. You can also choose appliances that match your kitchen aesthetic, such as a brass kettle and matching tea pot, or tea kettles and coffee pots.

3. Cute storage baskets for on display shelves

Most of us have shelves that are filled with boxes, leaflets, and general bits and bobs that have accumulated over time and which we’d rather not have on display. Getting storage baskets to sit on the shelves is a great way to hide them away – and make your kitchen look super stylish and on trend.

4. Use Pinterest for inspiration

Pinterest is a great starting point for any DIY transformation, especially If there’s something in your kitchen which you know you can’t afford to change. In Becky’s case this was the flooring. Try to look for themes that match with the element you can’t change and use that as your starting point. Becky found the best one to match her kitchen floor tiles was a white Mediterranean theme with gold accessories.