10 ways to update your home on a budget

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2. MODERNIZE YOUR KITCHEN
Cost: $1,000 for DIY to $50,000 or more for contractor intervention
Cost: $1,000 for DIY to $50,000 or more for contractor intervention
Even if your kitchens layout works well, if its decor hasnt been changed in a decade or two, you may want to freshen things up. Replacing the knobs on your cabinets and installing a new faucet can give your kitchen a surprising face lift, as can upgrading to stainless-steel appliances, but it can be a slippery slope. I just replaced a cooktop and one thing led to another, says Carol Krieger of Carol S. Krieger Interior Design in Cambridge. I ended up doing the countertops, which led to the backsplash, then, well, how about the flooring?