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If you're planning on selling in 2 years, I wouldn't spend much on the kitchen. It's a notoriously expensive room to "upgrade" with serious project creep. A quartz counter and new sink can easily cost a few thousands, for example, and then raises the question is it worth it to install on old cabinets, etc.

Your kitchen cabinets do not need to match the trim throughout the house.

I agree. I would not spend on a project like this. Get with a realtor now and have them take a look at your home . They will help direct you on the best places to put your money so you get the best return and makes your home ready to sell.

If you need a change of pace, maybe just paint, change handles, change/add light fixtures, re grout tile floors and even do a new backsplash. Those are not huge investments but they can make the space feel fresh and new.

Post pictures when you can...

I agree with the above posts. You'll be needlessly spending money for a sale in 2 years. I'd focus on cabinet/drawer pulls, painting a more neutral color, and removing as many things from countertop, etc. as possible. I'd also look for another place for pots as pans, to better open the view and convince buyers "there's a place for everything", even if you have to pare down. Not every buyer will prefer what you do, and your return on investment will not be 100%. Insure cabinet and refrigerator contents are labeled as need, clearly visible, and appear as they might in a House and Garden showcase home. If you need undercabinet lighting, make it LED, on dimmers. Increase your ceiling lighting, as well, because cooks and bakers want great lighting in their workspace.

Thanks for the pics. That plank flooring is dark. Wouldn't be my first choice because it shows dust so readily.

Totally agree with Debbi, talk to a realtor now to see where to invest your money in this house. Two years can be a very short time to recoup a reno budget, depending on the market. Two years with that kitchen? I'd paint the walls (lighter colour) and spend my time and energy planning the next kitchen. I wouldn't consider a new backsplash because the current counter has one already. I'd want to change the pendant lighting because it doesn't look optimal for the space in the pics (height and size-wise).

Updating should become staging. It isn't too early to be making your place real estate ready. The red paint and the pot rack will have to go when you put it on the market, so why not do those things now? Let the buyer gut it and start over. Sounds like the gifted flooring started you in this direction, but if there isn't enough of it to do the kitchen and adjoining rooms, I would pass. Don't open any cans of worms at this point. When you bring in a realtor, be sure the clutter is entirely gone and you'd be willing to lick your surfaces yourself, they'll be so clean!

Paint the walls. The red is really dark. I’d go white or nearly white. Redo the counters and sink. That will cost $3-5,000. Consider deleting thempot rack. If the floor is in good condition, keep it.

Please post a photo of the pantry door. The comments above hit the nail on the head. Think of staging the kitchen for sale, not changing it for your last 24 months in the house.

Paint out the red with something white. Add lighting, including under cabinet lighting. Clean and declutter. Stop.

Agree -- ditch the red and the hanging pot rack. Add overhead lighting. I wouldn't invest in under cabinet lighting, not sure you'll recoup your money on that -- hardwiring undercabinets doesn't come cheap. And cheap add-on fixtures are...cheap.

let me show you some examples of what you can do to make that kitchen look better. painting cabs will cost you 5K to do it correctly. new countertops/splash, another 5K. The flooring? maybe another 2K.

You can spend less than half of that, do a little work yourselves, and have it look great. You said you were selling in 2 years, so that's why the short cut. if you were planning on staying for another decade, then I'd say remodel the whole thing.

Ok, some ideas.

Lighting. those pendants should really go and be replaced by something else. I can't see the ceiling or what else is going on, so it's hard to give ideas.

But spend the money for some decent lighting. can you do a few cans? maybe a stronger ceiling light?

pot rack. adds to a cluttered look. any place you can do some more storage? or maybe purge some items to make room for the pots?

Paint the walls. The red isn't doing you any favors.

But these darker charcoal colors look amazing w/oak.

if you're in to warmer tones, you can do this.

want to go lighter? here are some other colors

see if you can do a drop in farmhouse sink. Kohler Whitehaven is one.

if you decide to go for new countertops and splash, (ADD HARDWARE!)

white quartz, subway tile, some painted tongue and groove on the ends, new pendants, lighter wall color, and a medium oak flooring. Oh, Black Harware!

any my fave. granted, yours aren't this high, but the look can still be had.

lastly, painted uppers. new counterts/tile

Look at Beth's #2 photo--all very warm with light paint and oak cabinets. Way to go. Paint the walls a warm white throughout. It's all broken up the way it is. Take off all the stuff on top of the cabinets and on the fridge. Clear off the countertops as much as possible with just a few things that all go together. Ditch the pot rack.

Don't change the floors, which harmonize with the cabinets. Dont' accept dark plank flooring just because someone has it. Save your money for your next place.

Look for Pinterest page with oak cabinets and same color countertops and floors as yours and see which things work.

See if you can find better, more streamlined shades for your lights.

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As suggested, stage your house now instead of renovating--see some articles below. Absolutely decluttering is a big part of staging a house, so start with the kitchen and all those doodads on top of the cabinets, countertops, fridge, etc. Maybe you can take advantage of this pandemic period when everyone's activities are more restricted than usual to do major, major downsizing of clutter, furniture, closets, bathrooms. If you have a lot of wood trim and warm wood floors, then a neutral paint job in a warm white throughout (Gentle Cream, Benjamin Moore is great in rooms with wood trim) will give you a sense of flow, space, and airiness.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/11-terrific-paint-color-matches-for-wood-details-stsetivw-vs~9025200

New buyers will likely want to do their own renovations. Jennifer, upthread made a good point about realtors. It's easy for them to say redo the kitchen, bathroom, etc. to raise selling price of the house. Even if they don't, most real estate agents will suggest decluttering, painting all rooms in neutral colors, deep cleaning, improving lighting throughout, improving curb appeal. Why not start now by staging your house for yourself?

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/home-staging-261185

https://www.easyagentpro.com/blog/promotion/home-staging-ideas/

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/stage-your-home-and-sell-it-fast-stsetivw-vs~498008

Paint walls; grey, green, blue.