Updated October 2026. A planning sheet for a kitchen makeover: what people spent in 2025, how to split a budget, a realistic order of work and the small buys that make a kitchen work. Figures read October 29, 2026.
Plan a kitchen makeover around a written budget with a 10% to 20% cushion, a fixed scope and an order of work. As of October 2026, the latest Houzz & Home Study puts the 2025 median kitchen renovation at $24,000, with minor projects at $20,000 and major remodels at $55,000. And 37% of renovating homeowners went over budget.
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Key takeaways
- 2025 medians: $24,000 for a kitchen renovation, $20,000 for a minor project, $55,000 for a major remodel (2026 Houzz & Home Study, as reported September 30, 2026).
- 37% of homeowners exceeded their budget; 35% blamed pricier materials and 31% a bigger scope.
- Hold back 10% to 20% of the budget as a contingency before you pick a single finish.
- Freeze the scope before demolition. Most overruns start with a “while we’re at it” add-on.
A makeover feels like a design project. It’s really a money and calendar project with some design on top. The people who end up happy usually decided three things early: how much they’ll spend, what’s in and out, and what happens in which week. This page gives you that sheet. If you want layout rules instead, read our piece on kitchen layout and workflow rules.
How much does a kitchen makeover cost in 2026?
The best broad yardstick is the Houzz & Home Study, a large yearly survey of homeowners. Its 2026 edition covers money spent in 2025. Here’s what it found for kitchens, as reported by GCN on September 30, 2026:
| Kitchen project (2025 spending) | Median spend |
|---|---|
| Any kitchen renovation | $24,000 (up 9.1% from 2024) |
| Minor kitchen project | $20,000 |
| Major remodel, all kitchens | $55,000 |
| Major remodel, smaller kitchen | $46,000 |
| Major remodel, larger kitchen | $75,000 |
A median is the middle of the pack, so half of people spent less. A paint, hardware and lighting refresh can come in far below $20,000. Replacing every cabinet and appliance puts you in the major column fast.
The warning sign is in the same study. 37% of homeowners went over their starting budget in 2025. The top reasons were choosing higher-end materials than planned (35%) and the project growing midway (31%). Both are planning problems, not bad luck. A sheet fixes most of it.
What goes on a kitchen makeover planning sheet?
Use one page. A spreadsheet works, so does a notebook. Fill in these lines before you call anyone:
- Goal in one sentence. “More counter space and a quieter dishwasher” beats “a new kitchen” every time.
- Total budget, cash in hand or approved. Write the number you can pay without stress.
- Contingency. Take 10% to 20% off the top and pretend it doesn’t exist. Old houses lean toward 20%.
- Must-haves. Three items, no more.
- Nice-to-haves. Ranked, so you know what to drop first.
- Keep list. What stays: cabinet boxes, flooring, the range, the window.
- Who does what. You, a handyperson, a licensed trade, or a general contractor.
- Permits. Moving plumbing, gas or wiring usually needs one. Ask your city or county building office.
- Dates. Order deadlines, start date and the latest finish you’ll accept.
Now split the money. There’s no official formula, so build it from quotes. A simple way: list each category, put a real quote next to it, then add up. Typical lines are cabinets or refacing, counters, appliances, sink and faucet, lighting, flooring, paint, labor and permits. If the total beats your budget minus the cushion, cut from the bottom of the nice-to-have list, not from the cushion.
Built-ins are where scope creeps in. In the same Houzz study, 76% of renovating homeowners added built-in features. Pantry cabinets led at 47%, then beverage stations at 24%. They’re great. Price them on day one, not in week three.
What order should kitchen makeover work happen in?
Every kitchen differs, but the order rarely does. Lead times change by supplier and season, so ask each one for a date in writing.
| Phase | What happens | What to lock in |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Plan | Measure, set the goal, fill the sheet | Budget and contingency |
| 2. Quote | Two or three written bids per trade | Scope, payment schedule |
| 3. Order | Cabinets, counters, appliances, fixtures | Delivery dates |
| 4. Prep | Set up a temporary kitchen, pull permits | Inspection dates |
| 5. Rough work | Demolition, plumbing, electrical | Inspection sign-off |
| 6. Install | Cabinets, then counters, then backsplash | Template date for counters |
| 7. Finish | Appliances, lighting, paint, punch list | Final payment only after the list is done |
Two tips that save weeks. First, don’t start demolition until the long-lead items are on site or have firm dates. A gutted kitchen waiting on a fridge is miserable. Second, counters are usually templated after the cabinets are in, so they can’t be rushed.
Plan your temporary kitchen too. A folding table, the microwave, a kettle and a plastic tub for dishes in the laundry room will get you through. For the wider project, our home renovation checklist covers safety and budget steps, and our kitchen remodeling steps and costs guide goes deeper on full remodels.
How do you make a small kitchen look new without a remodel?
Paint does more per dollar than anything else. A bold wall color works in a white or beige kitchen. Try a soft green with one warm accent, or a patterned wallpaper on a single wall. Keep cabinets light if the room is small.
Window treatments are next. Curtains with horizontal stripes make a narrow kitchen look wider. A bright pattern adds life without a contractor. Then swap the hardware and add under-cabinet lights. Four small jobs, one weekend each.
Skip pure decoration on counters. In a small kitchen, anything that doesn’t earn its spot gets in the way. Multi-use furniture, like a cart with a butcher-block top, helps more than a new pendant you can’t afford.
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Buy a home →Which storage and gear should be part of the plan?
A makeover isn’t only walls and cabinets. The tools you use daily decide whether the new kitchen works. Put them on the sheet with a price, like any other line.
Knives and boards. A sharp chef’s knife, a wooden spoon and a hardwood cutting board cover most cooking. If you’re replacing worn-out pieces anyway, look at brands that sell kitchenware for foodies, such as knife sets with a block that has a place on the counter.
Dead space. The gap between upper cabinets and the ceiling holds rarely used items. The back of cabinet doors takes hooks, rods and slim baskets. Under the sink, a pull-out tray keeps the cleaning goods for shiny cookware, like baking soda, vinegar, brushes and cloths, out of sight but close.
Small appliances. Give the ones you use every day a home with an outlet. Store the rest. Our guide to useful kitchen items and cabinet organizers lists the ones worth buying. For tiny apartments, see maximizing small spaces.
Should you plan a kitchen makeover differently if you’ll sell soon?
Yes. If you’ll list within a year or two, plan for buyers, not for yourself. Keep finishes neutral, fix what’s broken and skip moving walls or plumbing. NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Staging found the kitchen was staged in 68% of the homes sellers’ agents staged, and 23% of agents named it the most important room to stage for buyers. Clean and simple wins.
Our guide is a kitchen renovation worth it before selling? compares minor and major jobs on resale value. Before you spend, check what nearby homes sold for with our home value calculator.
When you’re ready, Beycome lists your home on the major home search sites and the MLS from $99, with $0 due to Beycome at closing. Prefer an expert to work with you on pricing and offers whenever you need it? Concierge is $999 until November 2, 2026 (list price $1,399), and every decision stays yours. See Beycome listing packages. More than 22,000 homeowners have sold with Beycome, saving over $225 million (Beycome internal data, October 2026).
Just bought a home with a tired kitchen? Our list of things to do after moving into an old house helps you decide what comes first, and tips to redo your home from the inside covers the other rooms.
Kitchen makeover planning questions
How much should I budget for a kitchen makeover?
In 2025, the median kitchen renovation was $24,000: $20,000 for minor projects and $55,000 for major remodels (2026 Houzz & Home Study). Add a 10% to 20% contingency on top of your quotes.
What is the difference between a minor and a major kitchen remodel?
A minor project refreshes what’s there: paint, fronts, hardware, lighting, maybe counters. A major remodel replaces cabinets and appliances and often moves plumbing or walls.
Why do kitchen projects go over budget?
Mostly by choice. In 2025, 35% of homeowners who went over chose pricier materials and 31% expanded the scope midway. Fix both on your planning sheet before work starts.
In what order should a kitchen makeover be done?
Plan, get quotes, order long-lead items, pull permits, do rough plumbing and electrical, install cabinets, then counters, then backsplash, and finish with appliances, lighting and paint.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen makeover?
Paint, hardware and new fronts usually don’t. Moving plumbing, gas lines or wiring usually does. Rules vary, so ask your city or county building department.
What are cheap ways to update a small kitchen?
Paint the walls, change the curtains, swap the hardware, add under-cabinet lights and clear the counters. Use the space above cabinets and behind doors for storage.
Spending figures are 2025 medians from the 2026 US Houzz & Home Study as reported by GCN on September 30, 2026; your costs depend on your kitchen, region and finishes. Staging figures from NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Staging (press release, May 6, 2025). Beycome prices as of October 2026; Concierge is $999 until November 2, 2026 (list price $1,399); from November 2, 2026, Concierge is $1,399 and Basic is $129 in California and Illinois. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; other closing costs, taxes and title fees still apply. General information, not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- GCN, “Median kitchen renovation spend hit $24,000 in 2025” (2026 US Houzz & Home Study), September 30, 2026, read October 29, 2026.
- NAR, 2025 Profile of Home Staging press release, May 6, 2025, read October 29, 2026.
- WebstaurantStore, How to Clean Stainless Steel Pans, read October 29, 2026.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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