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 wasnt 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 homedust, disruption, and the constant reminder of whats unfinished, she says. (Never mind the fact that you cant, you know, cook or access hot water for days or weeks on end!)Still, my husband and I knew our kitchen needed some workwere mostly talking minor things, from hardware updates on the cabinets to a cozy breakfast nookand 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 arent just for staging your home; theyre for youto enhance functionality, create beauty, and make the space feel more yours every day.Take note: If youre 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, its 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 hookPhoto: Lisa RomereinOr a few of them. A well-placed hook is the epitome of form meeting function, transforming an overlooked surfacelike a wall or the end of an islandinto 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 RailsdeVOL Iron Hook RacksChange your cabinet hardwarePhoto: Al Tomassetti, Blue Cat Digital Media IncSure, 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.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + Design9 Fascinating Buildings Carved Out of Mountains, Stones, and HillsBy Maya Chawla MagazineTour Kelly Ripa and Mark Consueloss Art Deco Home in New YorkBy Catherine HongOnce 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 KnobWest Elm Modernist Wood & Antique Brass HardwareAsidrama Kitchen Cabinet Handles (Set of 10)Ditto for drawer pullsPhoto: Courtney BattenFor 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 Anthropologies 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 KnobKnurled Drawer HardwareMenotti Porcelain Cabinet KnobTry DIY border tilesPhoto: Chris SnookMost PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + Design9 Fascinating Buildings Carved Out of Mountains, Stones, and HillsBy Maya Chawla MagazineTour Kelly Ripa and Mark Consueloss Art Deco Home in New YorkBy Catherine HongWho knew you dont 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 groutdrying 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.Whats more, says Masi, the tiles on a kitchen backsplash, especially on an open wall, often stop abruptly. Most people [who] dont have wall cabinetry dont 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 TilesBlack and White Border Zellige TilesOr use peel-and-stick tile wallpaperPhoto: David SzymanskiMost PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + Design9 Fascinating Buildings Carved Out of Mountains, Stones, and HillsBy Maya Chawla MagazineTour Kelly Ripa and Mark Consueloss Art Deco Home in New YorkBy Catherine HongYou 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 (dont 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 youve completed, and use a utility knife to trim any excess.Craftsman Torpedo LevelSmart Tiles Peel and Stick BacksplashTerrazzo Tile DecalsPeel and Stick Install KitPut up a hanging railPhoto: Aimee MazzengaMost PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + Design9 Fascinating Buildings Carved Out of Mountains, Stones, and HillsBy Maya Chawla MagazineTour Kelly Ripa and Mark Consueloss Art Deco Home in New YorkBy Catherine HongA 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 RailsAdd leaning art to a shelfPhoto: Lisa RomereinNo 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 Randalls 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.)Most PopularArchitecture + DesignAn Interior Designer Transforms Her Familys 19th-Century Vienna ApartmentBy Linne HalpernArchitecture + Design9 Fascinating Buildings Carved Out of Mountains, Stones, and HillsBy Maya Chawla MagazineTour Kelly Ripa and Mark Consueloss