Okay, you've moved into an older home and are just dying for a kitchen makeover. That whole moving thing, however, has left a giant void in your bank account. If you can't afford a full kitchen remodel, then the following list of affordable kitchen makeover ideas should help you stretch your budget.

A Shoestring Budget Kitchen Makeover
 

Facelift

If those dated kitchen cabinets are still structurally sound, consider removing and replacing the cabinet doors. Replacing cabinet doors, while leaving the cabinet boxes in place, can update your kitchen for a fraction of the cost of full cabinet replacement. For an even cheaper alternative, think about painting the cabinet doors to upgrade their look.

Keep It Simple

Even if your kitchen remodel is slightly more ambitious, try to work within the standards of cabinet and appliance manufacturers. Avoiding custom sizes and shapes will help you stay within budget.

Backsplash on the Cheap

If the plain, painted walls under your cabinets keep you up at night, consider covering that barren waste with wallpaper for an affordable kitchen makeover. Available in a wide variety of styles, colors and textures, wallpaper is an inexpensive way to get your backsplash areas to pop.

Don't Throw Out the Bones

As you plan your kitchen makeover, keep major appliance where they are—moving gas, electric or plumbing lines is expensive.

Say It with Paint

One of the simplest and most effective kitchen makeover ideas is to change the look of your kitchen with a coat of paint. A strong accent color can really update a tired looking room. Using the same color for accessories and trim will help tie the look together.

Get Organized

Removing clutter from your kitchen is the ultimate cheap makeover. Clear your counters by moving unused appliances into the pantry or a side closet. Make room by storing your china in the dining room or an empty sideboard.

A Hardware Upgrade

For the cost of a dinner out, you can replace those plain cabinet knobs and pulls with updated hardware. Search home centers and the Internet for great deals on stylish replacement cabinet hardware.

Special Treatment

Look to your windows for another inexpensive kitchen makeover idea. Replace plain or worn curtains with snazzy wooden blinds. With a little imagination, an attractive valence can be economical and stylish at the same time.

Waterworks

If your kitchen faucet hardware looks like something from a high school cafeteria, a new faucet could be a key element in your kitchen makeover. The options are endless—dozens of manufacturers have created thousands of kitchen faucet models.

Let There Be Light

Adding extra light can improve the look of your kitchen while making tasks easier and safer. You can install under cabinet lighting from a kit, typically for less than $100 dollars. Replacing simple overhead fixtures with modern pendant lighting can create a dramatic upgrade.