If you are a real estate and home design buff like me, then you are well aware of how much value an on-trend kitchen adds to your home. It is one of the top rooms experts encourage home owners to sink their money and effort into (next to bathroom upgrades). Whether you are willing to do an entire room overhaul or want to focus on more do-it-yourself-friendly projects, keeping your kitchen trendy and in-vogue is an extremely valuable activity to keep up with every few years.

With the new year here and the motivation for to-list busting fresh in our minds, maybe now is the perfect time to tackle your kitchen projects. In fact that’s exactly what my fiance, John, and I have planned for our kitchen this very first month of 2012. Up until now, perhaps like yourself, we were merely in the planning phase amping each other up for the big several-weekends-long redo, but we are excited to transform our space by month’s end. (Keep updated on our kitchen redo here on our blog!)

Since becoming self-proclaimed “pros” at the talking phase of this kitchen overhaul, it seems only fitting to pass on the pep talk and think out loud on a DIY-ers tricks and trends for transforming a kitchen on a budget.

Cabinets: When I say that John and I have a big project on our hands, this is what I am referring to. We have beautiful hard wood cabinets that are in great shape, but I can’t begin to describe their dastly shade of peach. We have dreams of dark brown cabinets in a satin finish, but instead of shelling out the money for brand new custom storage, we plan on painting them ourselves. Yes, this involves sanding, de-greasing and several layers of primer and paint, but the savings will be almost incalculable (although I know it’s at least four digits) and the impact will be immeasurable. If you don’t mind the lines and shape of your cabinets and they are not falling apart, then this could be the best solution for you.

For a full-disclosure tutorial on painting cabinets, click here for a real-life (read “non-professional”) success story.

Backsplash: The jury is still out on our plan of attack for this aspect of the overhaul, but we hope to spend less then $100. How on earth do we plan on doing that? Well of course we are going to do the work ourselves, and we are also going to experiment with some non-traditional materials. The easiest solution is to simply paint. Putting a thin line of decorative trim at the edges of where your backsplash begins and ends and then filling inbetween with your favorite shade of mint green or sunshine yellow is by far the easiest route. It delineates the backsplash as special, but takes only a couple of hours to complete with no grouting or tile cutting to speak of. If you wanted the illusion of grout lines, put a grid of good-quality, super thin painters tape on the wall before painting. Peel away after you put down your paint brush and you’ve got what looks like a professionally laid backsplash tile for a fraction of the cost and effort.

For a quirky look, I’ve even seen people start to use chalkboard paint as a backsplash – Keep a glass of chalk on the counter and it’s the perfect place to leave your family members words of encouragement, jot down a recipe or write up your week’s grocery list.

If you like your tile but aren’t a fan of the color/pattern, try painting over it. There are special versions of paint made for tile you can use that eliminates the labor of replacing it entirely. Finally, if you really want tile but still hate the idea of grouting and cutting, search for a peel-and-stick backsplash. This option takes a bit more out of your pocket and budget, but is the closest thing to real tile you can get minus the big labor.

Appliances: This is the tricky one. It’s the one part of a kitchen overhaul that can add up in terms of budget, and add up fast. If there is no way to get around replacing your current fridge, microwave, dishwasher and oven, then having a savings plan in place well in advance will be your best bet for reducing the pain from the purchase.

If you were ever thinking about applying for a credit card to your local Lowe’s, Home Depot or other appliance store, now might be the time to do it. We have a Lowe’s credit card that has already saved us hundreds because of the 5% off everyday purchases, but the same card also provides holders with special financing on purchases of $299 or more. When shopping for new appliances, also be sure to ask if there are any specials going on or if there are any returned, open-box items (sometimes people will return a piece because of a small, hardly noticeable scratch). It never hurts to ask, and you could get lucky and save yourself a hundred bucks. For more savings tips, check out this handy blog post disclosing a personal experience.

But before committing to new appliances from the big box stores, be sure to check Craig’s List as there are often new or like-new appliances available every day.

The little things: Things like curtain, decorative rugs and art are the finishing touch to make any room feel homey and inviting – Adding them to your kitchen is no exception, especially when there are so many hard lines (i.e. metal appliances, wooden cabinets, etc.) to compete with. Something as simple as clipping store-bought curtain rings to a hemmed floral twin bed sheet and threading onto a tension rod in your kitchen window could breathe much-needed softness to the space. A few coordinating rugs under the sink and oven will also liven up the room and give your bare feet something nice to nestle into while washing dishes or stirring sauce.

If your kitchen has a dining space within it like ours does, putting a large rug under the kitchen table also does wonders. Afraid of spills? Try getting a durable outdoor rug. If you can only picture plastic, green astroturf when you hear “outdoor rug,” think again – Suppliers (like o.co) are now coming out with beautiful designs and patterns that are safe for both indoor and outdoor living. The extra durable material is perfect for a high traffic area like your dining room table.

Another on-trend kitchen upgrade is open shelving. But if you don’t want to mess with removing cabinets and patching walls, try simply removing one cabinet door. Paint the inside with a pop of color or hang decorative wallpaper to make the open cabinet look intentional. Then fill with your favorite dishes and cookbooks to achieve an airy, open feel for a lot less work and money.

In terms of art, focus on pieces that serve a purpose such as a frame with chicken wire attached to the back where you can hang notes and recipes, or an interactive wall calender made from chalkboard (pick up the latest issue of Breathe magazine for a full disclosure and how-to on these DIY projects).

When you break things down and get creative, a full kitchen overhaul really isn’t as devastating to your bank account as you might think. There might be a little more leg work involved as you take on projects yourself, but the payoff will be that much more rewarding in the end. Spread things out by setting aside a couple particular weekends a month to get things done and it won’t be nearly as daunting. Trust in yourself and your thriftiness – In no time you will have an updated kitchen just begging to be shown off.

(Photo credits for all images can be linked to by clicking on the photo)

Carrie Williams is a freelancer, copy editor and page designer in Lynchburg, VA. She is also a contributing writer and blogger for  Breathe magazine. Her “Tricks and Trends” feature is available the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. For a real-time rehash of her and her fiance’s home renovation project and other DIY how-to’s, visit her blog at DreamGreenDIY.com.