I think you could make a big impact by getting rid of the large lightbox in the kitchen.

What does "at low cost" mean? That means different things to different people. Replacing the tile and carpet with wood is going to be a big expense, but will have a big impact.

What do kitchens look like in your area in houses for sale?

You will probably get a lot of feedback that says nothing short of gutting this kitchen and putting in a new one with an improved layout will have very much impact for resale. They aren't wrong necessarily. If you are updating just for you, and the expectation is that the house will be marketed and sold as a house that needs to have a kitchen remodel, that's one thing. If you want to update in order to sell the house, that's another thing entirely.

My client also had a 1990's hickory kitchen.

We painted the bases Navy. Removed all uppers and got new KraftMaid White wall cabinets to the ceiling with a crown molding. ($3000)

-New quartz tops ($6000)

-New floating shelves ($600)

-New tile backsplash ($2295)

-Installation of cabinets, moldings and hardware ($2200)

-Drywall work on OLD 1920s walls ($1200)

-Electrical work and lighting ($2700)

-New slate floor (unknown...DIY)

-New appliances. (unknown....DIY)

-New hardware (unknown....DIY)

Looks like a brand new kitchen. Wasn't cheap! My work came to $17,995. But wasn't a $50K to $80k remodel either. This was supposed to be a temporary fix until she could remodel in 8-10 yrs....but decided she loved it after it was done.

See the BEFORE PICS of this project.....

White - Navy - Brass Kitchen Makeover · More Info

White - Navy - Brass Kitchen Makeover · More Info

White - Navy - Brass Kitchen Makeover · More Info

Find a LVT that looks like slate.

Replace the counters

Get rid of that hideous light fixture over the island

Get modern looking cabinet pulls that match the hinge colors

Do nothing else because you will never get the money back when you sell

When you sell, declutter and clean

Yeah, I'd probably look into taking out that terrible dropped light, but even just doing that could turn into a give a mouse a cookie situation. You don't know what you'll find up there or what heroic ($$) efforts it will take to rectify it. And no way I'd put new counters on those dysfunctional old cabinets, except maybe a laminate if I could do it for less than a grand. Even then you're talking new sink, backsplash, etc... I've talked myself out of that, even. Do nothing.

On the other hand, what if you stay ten. Not every decision on a place where you Live has to be based solely on return on investment. Maybe decide how much you could spend without recouping any of the additional money spent.

Living room: Either remove the cabinets at fireplace (optimal) or paint them white. New decor for shelving.

The overlay rug...I'd rather see the wall to wall carpet (cleaned).

Lots of dark tones....brighten the room up. Carpet looks like a light neutral so inspirations for you:

Replace the fan with a chandelier. It will add style when lighted for open houses.

Kitchen: Remove ceiling light and replace with something up to date.

Remove wallpaper border.

Add black hardware.

Paint the island and have the color work with the floor.

Remove red valances and don't replace.

Rug for under table.

I agree with the others regarding the kitchen - if you want to make changes for yourself, go for it, but I would not try to guess what a future buyer might want. If you are sure you are selling soon (3 years FLY by in my world!), save your money and price accordingly.

I can absolutely see replacing the counters, but I would get a laminate for sure. Adding hardware to the doors and drawers will not only make a big visual impact for small cost, but make using the kitchen a lot more pleasant. I think the kitchen tile would look a lot different without the tile counters.

In my area, vinyl flooring is a big step down from ceramic tile in buyer-perceived quality. If I were planning to sell in three years, I'd simply hire professional tile and carpet cleaners once or twice a year. There are also new robotic floor cleaners (not just vacuums) that might be pretty good now. They could be worth checking out.

I would replace the kitchen light fixture because it is the elephant in the room.

There's no guarantee that your aesthetic and material choices will attract buyers anymore than the funky '90s look.

That lightbox is too much though.

Pixlip

Lightboxes have evolved.

That “new” style light box reminds me of a tanning bed! ( or maybe a grow house…)

The house I bought recently was built in 1979 and had never been updated. It had the lightbox in the kitchen. And arched golden oak cabinets would have been a big step up from the cabinets that were in the house. Formica countertops, . . well - you get the drift. I was so happy they left everything the way it was and didn't muck it up with half-baked and cheap changes. The price reflected the state of the house (functionally and mechanically the house was fantastic, just not aesthetically).

We gutted the bathrooms and kitchen, and I got the kitchen of my dreams. We took a pass on other houses that had been "updated" but either not to my aesthetic or standards. Cheap changes do not improve a house.

We all have different likes and dislikes. What jumps out to me when I look at your kitchen relative to cheap fixes are the wallpaper border, the curtains, the tile countertops and backsplash, and the ceiling light box. I would leave the tile flooring and cabinets as is since you intend to move and don't want to spend a lot on renovating.