Kitchen Design
Remodeling Guides
10 Kitchen Projects That Deliver Big Results
Discover effective, targeted kitchen projects that go beyond a simple refresh but stop short of a full renovation
Sitting in the sweet spot between swapping out cabinet hardware and tearing everything down to the studs, midsize kitchen remodeling projects tackle specific pain points — or seize opportunities — to deliver dramatic results without the scale or cost of a complete overhaul. Here are 10 to consider. Once you’ve found a favorite or two, you can work with a designer or remodeling pro (many of whom can be found on Houzz) to help you determine which updates will have the biggest impact in your kitchen and bring them to life.
At minimum, a station should have an electrical outlet, durable countertop and storage for glasses, mugs, wine bottles and any other accessories you need for the beverages of your choice. Nice-to-haves include a sink and a minifridge. But you don’t have to stop there. Other possible add-ons include a pot filler, a built-in espresso machine, an instant hot water tap, a wine chiller, a beer tap, an ice maker … and the list goes on.
How to Create a Coffee Shop Atmosphere at Home
How to Create a Coffee Shop Atmosphere at Home
2. Add an Appliance Garage
Small appliances like toasters, coffee makers and blenders have a way of multiplying on kitchen countertops, creating visual clutter. You can store them elsewhere, but then they aren’t as easily accessed. The solution: an appliance garage.
A cabinetmaker can retrofit existing cabinetry to add an appliance garage by extending a wall cabinet down to the counter, then adding pocket, tambour or flip-up doors. Another option is to have a shallow, bottomless cabinet box the width of your chosen appliances built or adapted and installed directly on the countertop beneath a window or wall cabinet. The garage can then be matched to your existing cabinetry with paint or veneer, and an internal outlet can be added if one doesn’t already exist.
However you approach it, the update gives small appliances a dedicated home and helps your kitchen look more streamlined while keeping everything within easy reach.
25 Ideas for Kitchen Appliance Garages
Small appliances like toasters, coffee makers and blenders have a way of multiplying on kitchen countertops, creating visual clutter. You can store them elsewhere, but then they aren’t as easily accessed. The solution: an appliance garage.
A cabinetmaker can retrofit existing cabinetry to add an appliance garage by extending a wall cabinet down to the counter, then adding pocket, tambour or flip-up doors. Another option is to have a shallow, bottomless cabinet box the width of your chosen appliances built or adapted and installed directly on the countertop beneath a window or wall cabinet. The garage can then be matched to your existing cabinetry with paint or veneer, and an internal outlet can be added if one doesn’t already exist.
However you approach it, the update gives small appliances a dedicated home and helps your kitchen look more streamlined while keeping everything within easy reach.
25 Ideas for Kitchen Appliance Garages
3. Change the Countertop
Countertops cover a large horizontal space, which often makes them the most dominant material in a kitchen. This is especially the case with boldly colored or patterned countertops and in kitchens with large islands. Consequently, replacing an outdated, worn or simply not-your-style countertop is among the most dramatic visible improvements you can make in your kitchen. What’s more, if you’ve previously had laminate, tile or other less durable, hard-to-clean countertops, replacing them can improve functionality too.
What Kitchen Countertop Colors Should You Choose?
Countertops cover a large horizontal space, which often makes them the most dominant material in a kitchen. This is especially the case with boldly colored or patterned countertops and in kitchens with large islands. Consequently, replacing an outdated, worn or simply not-your-style countertop is among the most dramatic visible improvements you can make in your kitchen. What’s more, if you’ve previously had laminate, tile or other less durable, hard-to-clean countertops, replacing them can improve functionality too.
What Kitchen Countertop Colors Should You Choose?
Admittedly, countertops are a big financial investment, especially since changing them often impacts your backsplash too. If you have an island, consider having just the island top changed to a color and material that simultaneously complements and contrasts with the perimeter countertop.
4 Stylish New Kitchens With a Contrasting Island Color
4 Stylish New Kitchens With a Contrasting Island Color
4. Replace the Backsplash
Replacing or adding a backsplash is usually a relatively easy project for a skilled tradesperson, and it can reinvent a kitchen’s look and feel without necessarily requiring a change of cabinetry or countertops. It’s the perfect place to splash out (sorry again!) with a colorful tile, or an unexpected tile shape or pattern, to give a neutral or all-white kitchen some personality. Likewise, replacing a busy tile with one that’s more neutral can let other elements of your kitchen shine.
10 Ways to Put a Creative Twist on Tile
Replacing or adding a backsplash is usually a relatively easy project for a skilled tradesperson, and it can reinvent a kitchen’s look and feel without necessarily requiring a change of cabinetry or countertops. It’s the perfect place to splash out (sorry again!) with a colorful tile, or an unexpected tile shape or pattern, to give a neutral or all-white kitchen some personality. Likewise, replacing a busy tile with one that’s more neutral can let other elements of your kitchen shine.
10 Ways to Put a Creative Twist on Tile
If replacing the entire backsplash feels like too big a project, you can focus your budget on just one area, such as behind the range or in an alcove, to create a focal point.
10 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Kitchen
10 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Kitchen
Alternatively, if you’re also planning to change your countertop, you can consider using the same material for the backsplash to create a clean, modern, cohesive look.
Find out why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Find out why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
5. Make Over Existing Cabinetry
As long as you’re satisfied with your kitchen’s layout and your cabinets are sturdy and in good shape, having your cabinets professionally repainted or restained is a great way to update the look of the entire space. But if you’re not a fan of the cabinet style — for example, if you like Shaker but you currently have slab — paint can only go so far.
Having your cabinets refaced rather than replaced, as was the case in the kitchen pictured here, can help you achieve a new style for a fraction of the cost. Refacing experts remove doors and drawer fronts, add veneer to the boxes and sides of the cabinets and then replace the old doors and fronts with new ones. Hinges and hardware can be updated at the same time.
Refacing usually can’t change a partial-overlay cabinet door — in which the cabinet frame peeks out — into an inset cabinet or full-overlay style. But it might be able to create a more modern, upscale-looking partial overlay, with thinner reveals and sleeker doors.
As long as you’re satisfied with your kitchen’s layout and your cabinets are sturdy and in good shape, having your cabinets professionally repainted or restained is a great way to update the look of the entire space. But if you’re not a fan of the cabinet style — for example, if you like Shaker but you currently have slab — paint can only go so far.
Having your cabinets refaced rather than replaced, as was the case in the kitchen pictured here, can help you achieve a new style for a fraction of the cost. Refacing experts remove doors and drawer fronts, add veneer to the boxes and sides of the cabinets and then replace the old doors and fronts with new ones. Hinges and hardware can be updated at the same time.
Refacing usually can’t change a partial-overlay cabinet door — in which the cabinet frame peeks out — into an inset cabinet or full-overlay style. But it might be able to create a more modern, upscale-looking partial overlay, with thinner reveals and sleeker doors.
During a refinishing or refacing project is a perfect time to add additional cabinets to upgrade your kitchen’s storage and style, since you’ll be able to match finishes. For example, you could have a row of cabinets and trim added on top of your existing uppers to close the gap between the cabinets and ceiling.
It’s also an ideal time to change solid-panel doors to glass or metal-mesh-front doors, which lightens the look of upper cabinetry and creates display space. A few custom or semicustom glass-insert (or other decorative) cabinet doors can be ordered to match or complement your existing ones. Or if your existing doors have a center panel, a cabinetmaker can modify them to receive glass or metal mesh.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
It’s also an ideal time to change solid-panel doors to glass or metal-mesh-front doors, which lightens the look of upper cabinetry and creates display space. A few custom or semicustom glass-insert (or other decorative) cabinet doors can be ordered to match or complement your existing ones. Or if your existing doors have a center panel, a cabinetmaker can modify them to receive glass or metal mesh.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
6. Maximize Your Interior Storage
If your primary concern is storage, you may not need more cabinetry, you may just need better internal organization. Storage solutions like drawer dividers and cabinet pullouts can be purchased off the shelf, but if budget allows, hire a kitchen designer to customize your storage systems to your precise needs and space, down to the last serving platter. The right design can dramatically improve the functionality of deep drawers and lower cabinets — especially the dreaded black-hole-like corner cabinet.
8 Steps to Finding Your Design Style Using Ideabooks
If your primary concern is storage, you may not need more cabinetry, you may just need better internal organization. Storage solutions like drawer dividers and cabinet pullouts can be purchased off the shelf, but if budget allows, hire a kitchen designer to customize your storage systems to your precise needs and space, down to the last serving platter. The right design can dramatically improve the functionality of deep drawers and lower cabinets — especially the dreaded black-hole-like corner cabinet.
8 Steps to Finding Your Design Style Using Ideabooks
Custom storage designs can also accommodate your cooking habits, accessibility needs and special collections.
12 Custom Storage Solutions for a Clutter-Free Kitchen
12 Custom Storage Solutions for a Clutter-Free Kitchen
7. Upgrade Your Appliances
Whether you opt for statement-making appliances or panel-front models that virtually disappear, replacing old, outdated-looking fridges, ranges, range hoods and dishwashers gives your kitchen an instant facelift. What’s more, new appliances are typically more energy-efficient and feature-equipped than old ones, which can save money and help the environment while making cooking more foolproof.
Whether you opt for statement-making appliances or panel-front models that virtually disappear, replacing old, outdated-looking fridges, ranges, range hoods and dishwashers gives your kitchen an instant facelift. What’s more, new appliances are typically more energy-efficient and feature-equipped than old ones, which can save money and help the environment while making cooking more foolproof.
Choosing designs with the same dimensions as your old appliances is usually the easiest and most cost-effective approach, but a skilled cabinetmaker can often retrofit surrounding cabinetry to accommodate minor variations in dimensions.
10 Kitchen Appliance Trends for 2025
10 Kitchen Appliance Trends for 2025
8. Replace Your Flooring
Over time, flooring in high-traffic areas like kitchens shows wear and tear, especially if it’s subjected to a leaky dishwasher or sink. The result can be slippery or uneven spots, which look tired and increase the risk of falls. Kitchen flooring styles have also evolved, so even in pristine shape, an older floor can date the room. Installing a fresh floor not only rejuvenates the space aesthetically, but can also tie it in with the cabinetry and rest of the house while making it safer to use.
Over time, flooring in high-traffic areas like kitchens shows wear and tear, especially if it’s subjected to a leaky dishwasher or sink. The result can be slippery or uneven spots, which look tired and increase the risk of falls. Kitchen flooring styles have also evolved, so even in pristine shape, an older floor can date the room. Installing a fresh floor not only rejuvenates the space aesthetically, but can also tie it in with the cabinetry and rest of the house while making it safer to use.
As long as your subfloor is level and in good condition, floating and click-lock floors, including some laminate and engineered-wood options, can usually be installed without removing existing cabinets or even the current flooring. Trim pieces can cover small gaps, making installation straightforward. Achieving a seamless look with tile or solid wood is trickier and typically requires removing the old floor, but doing so can be the best choice if you want consistent flooring across an open-plan space.
Designers Share Their Top Choices for Kitchen Floors
Designers Share Their Top Choices for Kitchen Floors
9. Find Prep and Dining Space
According to Houzz research, many renovating homeowners today prioritize adding an island, an eat-in area or both in their new kitchens. Given that the standard recommendation is to leave at least 3 feet of clearance between countertops — and ideally 4 feet, especially if you have back-to-back appliances — you may have ruled out having an island in your existing kitchen. But even in a small kitchen, with careful planning, a designer can often carve out space for a narrow prep island and even a stool or two without changing the room’s footprint or creating bottlenecks.
10 Kitchen Remodeling Trends to Know About in 2025
According to Houzz research, many renovating homeowners today prioritize adding an island, an eat-in area or both in their new kitchens. Given that the standard recommendation is to leave at least 3 feet of clearance between countertops — and ideally 4 feet, especially if you have back-to-back appliances — you may have ruled out having an island in your existing kitchen. But even in a small kitchen, with careful planning, a designer can often carve out space for a narrow prep island and even a stool or two without changing the room’s footprint or creating bottlenecks.
10 Kitchen Remodeling Trends to Know About in 2025
A designer can also come up with clever ideas to squeeze in work and dining surfaces, such as a slim peninsula, a drop leaf or pullout table or even a built-in banquette, at the end of cabinet runs or in awkward corners.
10 Clever Ways to Finish a Kitchen Cabinet Run
10 Clever Ways to Finish a Kitchen Cabinet Run
10. Don’t Forget Your Pet
In a Houzz survey of renovating pet owners, more than 1 in 5 reported incorporating a design or functionality specific to their pet, such as a designated feeding station, into their remodel. If you too have a fur baby, consider having a cabinetmaker build a feeding station at the end of an island or cabinet run, with or without plumbing for a bowl filler. A pullout or tilt-out bin added to an adjacent cabinet can store pet food and a scoop. It’s a midsize project that adds convenience for you and comfort for your pet.
5 Popular Home Design Ideas for Pet Owners
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In a Houzz survey of renovating pet owners, more than 1 in 5 reported incorporating a design or functionality specific to their pet, such as a designated feeding station, into their remodel. If you too have a fur baby, consider having a cabinetmaker build a feeding station at the end of an island or cabinet run, with or without plumbing for a bowl filler. A pullout or tilt-out bin added to an adjacent cabinet can store pet food and a scoop. It’s a midsize project that adds convenience for you and comfort for your pet.
5 Popular Home Design Ideas for Pet Owners
More on Houzz
Read more design and remodeling stories
Browse millions of photos for ideas
Find home design and building professionals
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Many newly designed kitchens have dedicated bars and coffee stations tricked out with plumbing, minifridges and specialized storage. Homeowners with older kitchens rarely enjoy the same perk (sorry!), but they can often carve one out of their existing space. Do you have a built-in kitchen desk that’s been a clutter magnet since the 1990s, or another awkward or underused area in the kitchen? A remodeling pro can help you transform it into the beverage station of your dreams.
Before you begin: Building codes and permit requirements vary by location. Always confirm local regulations and work with licensed professionals for design and construction.
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