When you remodel a house, the kitchen and the bathroom are the most important rooms to pay attention to. A kitchen can be given new life for under $1000. However, you will need to be careful to choose the right items that make a difference and not to be wasteful on unneeded items. Additionally, your money will go a lot farther if you do the work yourself. Labor is often the most expensive component in a rehab.

The kitchen is often the room that will make or break a sale. There are several areas that you should consider when you are rehabbing the house and the kitchen will always be the number one area to focus on. You have several areas where a little work and money can make a large difference.

The number one item that will be noticed in the kitchen will be the cabinets. You won't be able to replace the cabinets for under $1000, but you can make some improvements. If the cabinets are worn and used, you should consider cleaning and painting them. Use quality paint and a neutral color than goes with the floor and the counter tops. Also, you should consider changing the cabinet hardware, handles. These items are like jewelry and they can go out of style. A new coat of paint with new handles will really make a difference.

The next area to look at is the counter top. Like the cabinets, this can be very expensive to replace. However, it is also the second most important item in the kitchen. You may want to consider placing tile or something similar. The will probably be your largest cost, but it will also make a huge difference.

If you decide to update the counter tops, don't forget to work on the backsplash. You can add tiles here and make a huge difference in the whole counter top. Even if you don't update the counter top, you may want to add a tile strip above the existing backsplash to give it a classier look.

Lighting is also an inexpensive way to make the kitchen look updated and roomier. Taking out the old florescent lights and adding a nice light fixture will make a huge difference. You can also add can lights in areas above the sink to make an inexpensive improvement. Additionally, you may consider placing running lights along the top and back of the cabinets. This is very cheap and can really add to the mood in the kitchen.

You will want to avoid replacing large appliances, but you may have to. If you have to put in a new fridge or stove, you will want to match the existing appliances, but you don't have to pay retail. Often you can find an outlet that sells the scratch and dent appliances that were damaged in shipping or on display. You can pick them up cheaper there and you can often install them where the damage won't be seen and it doesn't affect the usefulness of the appliance.

If you are updating the appliances, stick with black or stainless steel. These appear more modern and you can mix and match them on your lower end homes. If you are updating a kitchen for under $1000 then you are working on a lower end home.

You may also want to look at the floor. If it is old vinyl, it may need to be replaced. You can find several inexpensive options to work with in this area. Go to a flooring outlet store and look at their options. Remember to match the floor to the cabinets and countertop.

In summary, you can often make a big difference in the kitchen without making a big difference in the pocketbook. Remember that cabinets and counter tops will be the first areas looked at. Lastly, the kitchen must be spotlessly clean. If it is dirty, then you are wasting your time making upgrades.