+ Enlarge Photo

– Shrink Photo

$15K or Under: Appliances

If your existing appliances work well, forgo new, costly replacements. "Consider putting a new panel over your current refrigerator door," Costa suggests. But don't squander the potential to increase the kitchen's functionality for the sake of cost, she adds. If a new dishwasher or a convection oven will make life easier, take the plunge and invest in that new appliance.

$15K TIP: Creating a focal point in the kitchen goes a long way. Renew your kitchen sink by replacing your chrome-finish faucet with an antique bronze farmhouse style, for example, or personalize that shelf over the window by adding a collection of Depression-era glass vases.