Think you can't afford a new kitchen? Think again! These five budget renovations prove that you don't need a ton of cash to get a new look in your kitchen — just some hard work (and a little bit of creativity).

1. Raising and painting cabinets

Pictured above is the kitchen of Mandi Johnson, spotted on A Beautiful Mess. Mandi painted her cabinets instead of replacing them, and opted for a budget-friendly butcher block countertop and plank backsplash.

The smartest thing about this reno, though, is the ingenious solution to the problem of that awkward space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling. Mandi removed her cabinets from the wall, re-hung them so that the tops were flush with the ceiling, and added an open shelf below. The open shelving and light upper cabinets give this kitchen a bright, modern feel.

2. Lots of painting

When you look at these two pictures of this kitchen from One Kings Lane, it's hard to believe that they're photographs of the same space — but this budget-friendly transformation didn't even involve new countertops. Inexpensive solutions included painting the entire kitchen in a dreamy pale blue, removing the doors from the upper cabinets, and adding some seriously sexy brushed brass hardware. A framed mirror on the backsplash makes this small kitchen appear much more spacious.

3. A DIY-heavy makeover

Taryn of Design, Dining and Diapers transformed her kitchen without spending a ton of dough. She painted the cabinets and added faux wood tile flooring, new light fixtures, and new appliances. The shelves which replaced the cabinet on the left, the subway tile backsplash, and the concrete countertops are all DIYs.

4. A small-but-dramatic makeover

This kitchen — also from One Kings Lane — got a totally new look on a totally serious budget. Just paint, a DIY tile backsplash, and new lamps took this space from blah and brown to bright and modern. The shelf above the cabinets is made from a piece of lumber that rests on three small wine racks.

5. Pretty and pastel

And finally, Lesli from My Old Country House gave her dated kitchen a serious update over the course of a couple of years. Updates include new appliances, new light fixtures, and a new sink. She kept the old cabinets, but replaced the doors and drawer fronts, and gave everything a fresh coat of paint for a much lighter look. The crowning glory of this kitchen, though, is the countertops — they look like marble, but are actually a laminate that cost a fraction as much.