When Jessica sent us her before-and-after kitchen photos, we were amazed at how far she and her husband stretched a $400 budget. Here’s what she wrote:
I’m always inspired by what I see on your site. My husband Josh and I recently tackled a budget-friendly kitchen makeover and found that $400 can go a long way toward updating an 80s kitchen into something more current. That budget covered paint, an electric sander, a jigsaw, new hardware, primer, Liquid Nails, finishing nails, and beadboard — everything we needed to transform the space.
The “before” photo was taken before we moved in, so please excuse the outdated light fixture and temporary furniture. We really disliked the faux wood paneling under the bar and along the cabinet sides, so we installed beadboard and painted it white. It was simple to install, especially because we had the wood cut at the store and borrowed a tack gun, and it’s definitely our favorite part of the whole makeover.
For paint, we used Benjamin Moore’s Mountain Lane for the green and Sherwin-Williams’ West Highland White for the trim and beadboard. There’s more detail about the full redo on our blog. Our next project is a nursery — we’re adopting a baby from Russia — and I can’t wait to see how yours turns out! I’m sure I’ll pick up more ideas. Thanks for the inspiration! — Jessica (& Josh)
Here’s their kitchen before the makeover:
And here’s the same space after just $400 of upgrades:
It’s a striking transformation. Jessica and Josh’s DIY energy is infectious: they weren’t afraid to use bold color and smart, affordable solutions like beadboard and fresh paint to hide what they disliked and highlight the features they loved. Their approach shows that not every kitchen overhaul requires thousands of dollars or a crew of contractors — thoughtful materials and a clear plan can deliver big visual impact on a small budget.
Are you inspired to paint a bold wall, refresh your cabinets, or add beadboard? Small, focused upgrades can completely change a room’s look and feel without breaking the bank.
Looking to paint cabinets like Jessica and Josh did? Try a simple cabinet-painting tutorial to help you get the job done right.