11 DIY Kitchen Projects That Will Elevate the Heart of Your Home in 10 Minutes or Less

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Photo: Courtney Batten

My dad recently renovated his Manhattan apartment, including a massive kitchen overhaul. The final outcome? Bellissimo. But after seeing all the paperwork, delays, and cold meals he had to endure during the monthslong project, I wasn’t prepared to take that on as a DIY kitchen project for the new home I moved into this past November. Amanda Wyatt, founder and CEO of Design Insider, in Cashiers, North Carolina, concurs with this sentiment. “The kitchen is arguably the most challenging space to remodel while living in your home—dust, disruption, and the constant reminder of what’s unfinished,” she says. (Never mind the fact that you can’t, you know, cook or access hot water for days or weeks on end!)

Still, my husband and I knew our kitchen needed some work—we’re mostly talking minor things, from hardware updates on the cabinets to a cozy breakfast nook—and thus my hunt for easy, breezy DIY kitchen projects began. As Wyatt explains, smaller strategic upgrades can offer a surprising amount of impact without the chaos of a full renovation. “Thoughtfully placed hooks can free up drawer space while adding charm, a well-chosen piece of art can bring personality to an overlooked wall, and stylish countertop storage can transform clutter into an intentional design feature,” she says. “These tweaks aren’t just for staging your home; they’re for you—to enhance functionality, create beauty, and make the space feel more yours every day.”

Take note: If you’re embarking on making some of these kitchen updates on your own, being extra careful with work involving adherence of or installation of components to surfaces is key. Precise measurement (get that level!) and placement of parts are crucial to a well-designed and well-executed project. As always with any home-improvement projects, it’s better not to rush to avoid mistakes than require costly corrections.

Ahead, here are 11 budget-friendly DIY kitchen projects you can do on your own that will give the culinary epicenter of your home the exact splash of pizzazz you seek.

Add a well-placed hook

Or a few of them. “A well-placed hook is the epitome of form meeting function, transforming an overlooked surface—like a wall or the end of an island—into a moment of both beauty and utility,” Wyatt explains. “Perfect for holding towels, aprons, dried herbs, pot holders, or even small pans and utensils, hooks seamlessly blend practicality with design. They create opportunities for subtle texture and layers, turning everyday essentials into curated details.” For timeless options, Wyatt often turns to deVOL in the UK, whose handcrafted hooks elevate even the simplest spaces with understated elegance and craftsmanship.

deVOL Aged Brass Hanging Rails

$158.00, deVOL

deVOL Iron Hook Racks

$153.00, deVOL

Change your cabinet hardware

Sure, you could spend thousands of dollars and spend days installing new cabinetry. Or you could just swap out the hardware. Donna Mancini of Donna Mancini Interiors and Flooring in Ponte Vedra, Florida, is a big fan of this approach.

“Changing your hardware can modernize your space instantly. Start by removing the old hardware using a screwdriver, saving the screws if needed, and clean the surface to remove any residue. If the new hardware matches the existing hole spacing, simply align it with the holes, insert the screws, and tighten them,” she explains. “For hardware with different dimensions, measure and mark the new positions using a tape measure or template, ensuring proper alignment. Drill new holes carefully, if necessary, and attach the new hardware, being cautious not to overtighten.”

Once installed, Mancini recommends testing the fit by opening and closing the cabinets or drawers to ensure everything functions properly. In this project, Mancini and her team used the Atlas Homewares Oskar Collection pull in a Slate finish.

Atlas Homewares Round Knob

$10.00, Atlas Homewares

West Elm Modernist Wood & Antique Brass Hardware

$8.00, West Elm

Asidrama Kitchen Cabinet Handles (Set of 10)

$57.00, Amazon

Ditto for drawer pulls

For another simple kitchen upgrade, you can replace drawer pulls too. The 10-minute project in this kitchen refresh included swapping out the boring nickel cabinet hardware to fun midcentury-inspired pulls, says Courtney Batten, principal interior designer of Paige Studio in Dallas. (Along with Anthropologie’s Arthur Knob for drawers, the client also updated their knobs in the same style.) “While this project is easy to do with the help of a screwdriver, it's important to measure the center-to-center dimension of your drawer pulls so you can make sure to order the correct size for your drawers,” Batten adds, noting that one of the first updates she recommends to clients looking to refresh their existing kitchen because it “brings in so much personality and character.”

Arthur Knob

$14.00, Anthropologie

Knurled Drawer Hardware

$8.00, Anthropologie

Menotti Porcelain Cabinet Knob

$17.00, Signature Hardware

Try DIY border tiles

Who knew you don’t need a contractor to add some gorgeous tiles to your kitchen? If you buy tiles with a mesh backing, this budget kitchen update is easier than you think: “Once stuck to the edge of your backsplash, you just need to finish with a little grout—drying times means this will take longer than 10 minutes, but the job itself is really simple and quick and relatively mess-free,” says Camilla Masi, an interior designer at Otto Tiles & Design in Miami, whose company retails such tiles on mesh backing to make them quick to clad to your wall and easy to trim and cut to size.

What’s more, says Masi, the tiles on a kitchen backsplash, especially on an open wall, often stop abruptly. “Most people [who] don’t have wall cabinetry don’t want to tile to the ceiling,” she continues. “This can make a kitchen space feel unfinished and a little less luxe.” Masi emphasizes that a great way to avoid this and enhance a backsplash is to incorporate a border tile, as the different size of tile and pattern of border tiles help to define the natural end of backsplash by creating a visual separation and contrast.

Pure White and White Border Zellige Tiles

$168.00, Otto Tiles & Design

Black and White Border Zellige Tiles

$168.00, Otto Tiles & Design

Or use peel-and-stick “tile” wallpaper

You could also opt for a peel-and-stick “tile” backsplash wallpaper. “Peel-and-stick tile decals are a quick and easy way to transform your kitchen,” says Elizabeth Rees, cofounder of Chasing Paper, a wall coverings brand based in Milwaukee. Rees breaks down exactly what to do for this low time commitment but high-impact kitchen DIY project.

To start, wipe down the wall they will be applied to with a damp washcloth to remove any dirt or dust (don’t forget to check if the wall texture plays well with the decals too!). Use a dry cloth to dry, and once completely dry, use your level to create a plumb line in the center of the surface to which you will be applying. This is essential to ensure the print or pattern of the decal will be straight, as the counter/cabinet edge is likely not a completely straight line. Once you have created your plumb line, peel your tile decals a few inches away from their backing and adhere to the wall, aligning along the edge of the plumb line. Smooth the decal from the center outward with your hand or a smoothing tool. As you get to the edge of where you peeled the backing, repeat this process until the full decal is installed. Continue installing from the edge of the first decals until you’ve completed, and use a utility knife to trim any excess.

Craftsman Torpedo Level

$14.00, Amazon

Smart Tiles Peel and Stick Backsplash

$38.00, Amazon

Terrazzo Tile Decals

$10.00, Chasing Paper

Peel and Stick Install Kit

$30.00, Chasing Paper

Put up a hanging rail

A hanging rail can be added easily to your kitchen kitchen with tools found in most households, comments Lauren Stern, interior designer of Lauren Stern Design in Larchmont, New York. “We used a rail for a hand towels, which often lack placement in many kitchens, but rails can also be installed above a backsplash to hang mugs, pots, cooking utensils, or even artwork,” she says, adding that in this kitchen the unlacquered brass finish adds a layer of patina and warmth to a room that is often filled with cold, hard finishes and appliances.

deVOL Aged Brass Hanging Rails

$158.00, deVOL

Add leaning art to a shelf

No hammer and nails required! In my new kitchen, a wood shelf by the window became a perch for a vase of faux flowers and for the placement of a framed poster from the first concert my husband and I went to together (Dave Matthews Band on Randall’s Island in New York on September 18, 2011, and yes, it was worth the $300 we spent hunting it down on eBay since they sold out at the show.)

“Leaning art against the wall behind an open shelf creates a layered, collected look, but the hardest part is often selecting the right piece,” says Wyatt. “Keep the depth of your shelf in mind—not just for the art itself, but for any objects you may want to layer in front for storage or styling. Shelves typically don’t accommodate tall artwork, so careful measurements are essential before you buy.”

Wyatt also notes that smaller landscapes or vintage sketches tend to work beautifully, adding character without overwhelming the space. “Look for pieces that complement the colors and textures of the items on your shelf for a cohesive, curated feel,” she adds.

Sunset Over The Mountains by Sabrin Deirani Fine Art Print

$111.00, Minted

Jacob Semiatin Pink Abstract

$1525.00, Lostine

Riverbend Landscape

$320.00, The Vintage Rug Shop

Invest in a handsome cutting board

Another suggestion of Wyatt’s? Splurge on a beautiful wooden cutting board, which is “as versatile as it is timeless.” Plus, per Wyatt, it can cover up a countertop you’re not in love with, creating a warm, natural focal point in your kitchen. “Use it as a stylish backdrop for fresh fruits, vegetables, or bread, while still having a functional, durable surface for chopping and prep work,” she says.

Williams Sonoma End-Grain Cutting Board

$130.00, Williams Sonoma

JK Adams Walnut Engraved Carving Board

$152.00, Food52

Antique Turkish Wooden Cutting Boards

$165.00, South Loop Loft

Paint an open shelf in a fun color

Repainting the whole kitchen is a capital-P Project. Painting a shelf or two? You can knock that off quite swiftly. Doing a fun glossy paint color on the open shelf instead of a basic color like white really made this kitchen look better, says Kim Lapin, principal designer and CEO of Kim Lapin Interiors in Redondo Beach, California. In this kitchen, the designers decided on the paint refresh since they didn’t have the budget for a marble shelf and personally wound up liking it even better than the pricier counterpart.

Install wall sconces

Alexey Beliy, owner of Hex General Contractors in Sacramento, California, is a big fan of installing wall sconces by the kitchen sink using rechargeable light bulbs. “It’s a quick, affordable way to elevate your kitchen’s ambiance and functionality without needing to pay for an electrician or tearing apart your walls, which can quickly get expensive and invasive,” says Beliy. “It adds a touch of elegance and provides better task lighting, providing all the light you’ll need.”

To install the sconce onto your wall, Beliy says you’ll need a drill (for drywall) or heavy-duty double-sided tape (for kitchen backsplash), along with a measuring tape and a level. “Measure the wall height on each side of the sink so the sconces are both at the same level and mark that space. If you have a level that’s long enough, you can use that instead of the measuring tape,” says Beliy. “If you’re attaching it to drywall, follow your sconce’s installation instructions and use the included materials to attach it correctly. If attaching to your kitchen backsplash, clean and dry the area thoroughly and apply the tape to the backsplash. Then press the sconce firmly onto it for at least 30 seconds. Once the sconces are mounted, screw in the rechargeable light bulbs and that’s it—you’re good to go!”

Brightown E26 Rechargeable Light Bulb

$30.00, Amazon

KUAUGST Wall Sconces (Set of 2)

$39.00, Amazon

FEMILA Bathroom Light Fixtures (Set of 2)

$71.00, Amazon

Use pretty containers for your dry goods

Let this be the kitchen in which you finally wrangle up all your dried goods and display them in an organized way that’s appealing to the eye. “Well-designed functional containers are an effortless way to replace bags, boxes, and other distracting packaging,” says Wyatt, noting that clear containers are perfect for keeping essentials visible and organized, while opaque options create a polished, minimalist look that hides the clutter entirely. “This simple swap keeps your home looking clean and intentional without sacrificing practicality,” she says.

Zara Home Kitchen Jars

$23.00, Zara Home

Williams Sonoma Marble Canisters (Set of 3)

$210.00, Williams Sonoma

Bernal Canisters (Set of 3)

$269.00, Pottery Barn

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest