At first, I had zero plans to update our kitchen so instead we went for a no-demo kitchen reno. Honestly, I knew that one day it would be part of a much bigger remodel that we’d eventually hire out. But after we finished renovating our dining room, the kitchen suddenly felt… left out. It just wasn’t cozy, and it needed a little love.

Since a full renovation wasn’t in the cards (or the budget!), I decided to approach it as a no-demo, low lift, budget-friendly refresh—something to tide us over until that big remodel happens down the road. And let me just say: these little updates made a huge difference. Now the space feels warm, inviting, and so much cozier. Here’s exactly what I did:

In a hurry? Shop my kitchen here.

Tomato Garden Vase // Cafe Curtain Rod // Curtain Rings // Cafe Curtains // Ceramic Scallop Pendant Light // Gold Kitchen Faucet // Cabbage Taper Candle Holder // Flameless Taper Candles // Marble Salt Cellar // Scallop Spoon Rest // Scallop Washable Kitchen Runner Rug // GE Electric Stove // Cordless Roman Shade // Automatic Foaming Soap Dispenser // Stone Quick Drying Dish Mat // Scallop Wooden Serving Board // Blueland Plastic-Free Dishwasher Detergent Tablets // Cotton Dish Towel // Matte White Utensil Holder // Wooden Utensils Set // Oil and Vinegar Holder // Bosch Dishwasher // Glass Essential Oil Diffuser // Organic Essential Oils Set // Brass Knobs // Gold Pulls // Footed Marble Countertop Tray // Fall Fruit Harvest Wall Art // Lead-Free Ceramic Dinnerware Set // Wooden Corbels Bracket

1. Peel & Stick Tiles for an Easy Update

The very first thing I tackled? The tiles. We had these dull old red tiles that really needed to be updated. Instead of ripping them out, which would be way more work and expensive I covered them with these fun peel-and-stick tiles. I took risk and went for a bold, retro-inspired pattern, and I love how it turned out. They were super easy to apply and completely changed the vibe of the kitchen.

Before

After

2. Updated Cabinet Hardware

Next, I swapped out all the cabinet hardware. The old knobs felt dated, so I replaced them with a mix of brass knobs and gold pulls that I found at Lowe’s. Affordable, stylish, and such a quick way to refresh the cabinets—plus, Lowe’s had tons of options to choose from. I also switched out the faucet for a gorgeous gold one that somehow feels both traditional and modern—such a perfect balance. And to complete the look, I gave the cabinets a good scrub with Branch Basics (my go-to household cleaner). It’s amazing how much brighter and cleaner they look now!

3. A Fresh Coat of Paint

One of the easiest (and cheapest!) ways to make a space feel new is through paint. While many people go straight for the cabinets, I decided to leave ours as-is—they’re white, a bit dated (not soft close), but still in good shape. Instead, I painted the walls, which felt way more manageable than tackling cabinetry.

The walls were a light blue, which is a cool tone, so I switched it up for a gorgeous honey oatmeal shade that I’m now completely obsessed with. I also painted the outlet covers, the little details go along way! Now the kitchen feels warmer, and I love it so much that I’m already thinking about where else I can use this paint color in our home.

After spinning a few ideas in my head, I decided to paint over the vineyard villas tile mural backsplash. I know some people would’ve kept it, but covering it gave me a blank canvas for seasonal wall art above the stove—which feels much more “me.”

The vineyard villa tile mural that came with the house made the kitchen feel like it was boxed into a certain look no matter how I tried to refresh the space.

It wasn’t until I painted over the mural tiles that the kitchen finally felt like me. Now I can switch up the art whenever I want—keeping it colorful and fun or more simple and neutral. I love having that kind of flexibility in design.

4. New Light Fixture

Lighting can totally transform a space. Above the sink, we had a basic recessed light, so I swapped it for the sweetest danty scalloped pendant light. It instantly made the kitchen feel cozier.

We also removed this dated trim that was above the sink and replaced it with simple wooden corbels. That one small change really opened up the window view and made the space feel lighter.

5. Window Treatments

I’ve been loving the cafe curtain trend, so I added striped curtains above the sink. They bring so much charm to the kitchen. For the glass on the door, I went with a light-filtering bamboo Roman shade, which ties in perfectly with the warm, cozy vibe that I’m going for. 

6. Layered Decor Touches

This is the part where the kitchen really came to life. I added pretty, cozy decor and functional pieces that makes the space feel personal:

• A gorgeous scalloped washable runner rug added layered visual interest and functionality.
• A diffuser for a soft, non-toxic scent (fun fact: I’m a certified aromatherapist, so I love experimenting with essential oil blends). 
• My favorite serving boards hung on the wall as art.
• Affordable wall art sprinkled throughout.
• A few seasonal touches, like pumpkins on the open shelves and the countertop. 
• Flameless taper candles for warmth and cozy glow.
• A beautiful oil and vinegar holder on a wooden tray, on top of a footed marble countertop tray—functional and pretty layered together. 
• My absolute favorite tomato garden vase—bright, fun, and definitely a statement piece. 
• A wood and marble salt cellar to store finishing salt.
• A scallop spoon rest, wooden utensils in a matte white utensil holder round things out.

The kitchen will keep evolving and I’ll add in seasonal finds, but even these little touches make it feel so much more welcoming.

Is a no-demo kitchen reno right for you?

This no-demo kitchen refresh proved that you don’t need a massive budget or a full remodel to completely change the feel of a space. What once felt dated now feels warm, cozy, and inviting—and I couldn’t be happier with the result. If you’re in the same situation, start small! Choose just one update from my list and see how it transforms your kitchen. Even the simplest changes can make such a big impact.