A full kitchen renovation can be unaffordable for many, with prices starting at around £6,000 according to property expert Jonathan Rolande. That’s why Toolstation investigated the best ways for households to transform their kitchens on a budget.
After scouring online data about kitchen remodelling, Toolstation collated a list of the top kitchen trends that homeowners can DIY for affordable prices, alongside step-by-step expert advice on how to make these changes.
Six affordable changes to update your kitchen
1. Install a splashback
Splashbacks are a popular trend for this year, increasing in popularity by 50% since the beginning of 2024. Specifically, searches for stone splashbacks have increased 136% since 2023, and 189% in the last few months. Splashbacks can be picked up for affordable prices and are easy to install yourself, saving on installation costs.
Cara Yates, Kitchen Senior Category Manager, says: “Splashbacks can be incredibly easy to install, and many products are self-adhesive. They’re perfect for DIY beginners, as most of the time you just have to cut, peel and stick your splashback to the surface.”
2. Change your taps
The study found that brass, gold, and copper are popular materials for kitchen taps, with brass taps notably receiving an 83% increase in the last three months. Interior design expert Sophie Clemson says: “Bronze, brass, and copper materials work well in kitchens because they can add warmth compared to chrome and silver finishes. Brass is particularly popular as hardware in shaker-style kitchens, as this finish works so well with the timeless design of shaker cupboards.”
New kitchen taps can be picked up for as little as £35 and, for experienced DIYers, can be installed yourself for free. For those with little DIY experience, call a trusty tradesperson to install the tap professionally.
3. Update your lighting
Property expert Jonathan Rolande lists lighting as one of the most important aspects of a luxurious kitchen. He says: “Your kitchen will look most attractive if it is bright, so improve lighting as required. LEDs at floor level are cheap and effective.”
The data revealed pendant lights as a top kitchen trend, as Google searches increased 49% in the last three months. Pendant lights can be picked up for less than £15 and have been seen in glamorous kitchens such as the Beckhams’.
4. Use upstands to change your countertops
Changing your countertops is a dramatic way of updating your kitchen, but these can be on the pricier side to install. As an affordable alternative, using upstands can add some extra colour to your countertops without completely replacing them. The study found that copper, marble, and oak countertops are all a trend for 2024, so purchasing upstands in these materials provides a simple way to incorporating trends into the kitchen without completely overhauling it.
Upstands start at under £100 and can be installed yourself, whereas prices for a good quality worktop are closer to £200 plus installation fees. However, if you are looking for affordable worktops, the data also found that laminate worktops are trending this year. Sophie Clemson explains: “Laminate worktops are a great budget-friendly option to get a realistic-textured kitchen worktop such as marble without the costly expense. They have really improved over the years, and there are now a variety of finishes to choose from.”
5. Change handles and knobs
Changing drawer knobs or handles can take less than an hour and is an extremely affordable change that can elevate any kitchen. According to the research, gold, brass, and stainless steel knobs have proven popular in recent months, with searches for gold knobs increasing by 39% during the past three months.
Cara Yates, Kitchen Senior Category Manager, says: “Changing up your kitchen knobs or handles can instantly transform your kitchen at a very low cost. If you are just changing out the knobs, it can be as simple as unscrewing the old ones with a screwdriver and replacing them with new, stylish knobs.
“It becomes slightly more complicated when you want to change the position of your handles. For this, you’ll need a drill to create new holes in the desired position. The old holes can be easily filled with wooden dowels and wood glue.”
6. Incorporate trending colours
The data revealed that brown is the biggest colour for kitchens this year, with an incredible 929% search increase since 2023. White also seems to be making a comeback, with a 353% search increase from last year. Beige, purple and silver have all seen a 300% increase in searches over the past year. Other colour trends for 2024 include red (167% increase), orange (140%), grey (139%) and green (88%).
Cara Yates, Kitchen Senior Category Manager, says: “Adding colour to your kitchen doesn’t have to be difficult – small changes such as installing a colourful splashback or painting kitchen cabinets could make all the difference. Purchasing colourful appliances can also be an inexpensive and less permanent way of injecting colour into your kitchen.”