Whether you order in, dine out, or stick to the snacks, the kitchen is an important, functional spot in our homes. The meal-prep space holds valuable tools and appliances that don't exist in any other room, and most importantly, it's where the food is stored. But if your kitchen is — for a lack of a better term — a total dump, then time spent cooking, meal prepping, and eating can (literally) leave you with a bad taste.
If you have been craving a remodel, want to make some small upgrades, or simply enjoy a good before and after, then our friends at Sweeten (a free service that connects renovators and contractors) have hooked us up with some sweet kitchen rebuild photos to inspire you. Fair warning: if you're not planning to redesign your kitchen, then turn away now — these before and afters might change your mind.
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The outdated appliances, poor lighting, and tile flooring make this kitchen feel enclosed and tight.
The opening of the wall made this kitchen go from small and outdated to bright, contemporary, and open.
With all of the clutter and dark wood tones, it's hard to tell that this is even a kitchen at first glance.
The white cabinets and bright tones bring this kitchen to life.
Aside from the poor lighting, the outdated wood grains, appliances, and tiling are in major need of an upgrade.
The difference in colors alone shows how much a color palette matters when designing a space.
A small and confined area, this kitchen needs a few simple upgrades to make it more welcoming.
The fun tiling, white cabinets, and additional shelf space make this room an inviting place to cook or entertain.
Sometimes pocket kitchens make sense, but in this case, it is small, confined, and can easily be expanded.
Before, the kitchen was closed off and could only fit one or two people at a time. Now, by abandoning the pocket kitchen concept and adding an island, the space is much brighter and more open.
Although this kitchen may look small, with an efficient use of colors, it can appear more open!
Taking advantage of all the walls adds more cabinet space, while the contrasting black and white colors help to make the modern design stand out.
The open design looks cluttered with no clear intention.
The upgraded wood tones and sleek appliances bring this kitchen from dull to modern.
The dark colors and low lighting makes this meal-prepping space feel enclosed and confined.
The bright, contrasting colors give this updated kitchen a sophisticated appeal.
Although a kitchen does not exist here, it's an area that can easily be transformed with some finishing touches and added appliances.
The bright colors help to open up the space, making it feel less cramped.
Sometimes it just takes a few pieces you already own to inspire a remodel.
The colorful seating in the old design fits in fantastically with the new bright and bold remodel.
The dark tones and poor lighting give this space an unwelcoming feel.
By opening up the wall, the kitchen already feels more inviting. In addition, the contrasting colors and fun tile make the room pop.
This small, enclosed kitchen feels cramped and dark.
With just a few simple fixes — backsplash, lighting, and new flooring — this eatery has gone from drab to fab!
The inefficient use of lighting and storage makes this kitchen feel cramped and distasteful.
The new colors and recessed lighting give this kitchen an upgrade from cramped to airy.
This small, enclosed kitchen is out of date and tightly cramped.
By abandoning the closet design, this room now has a lifted, modern twist.
To liven up the space, this dull kitchen just needs a few cosmetic changes to make it pop.
The addition of white cabinets and marble backsplash reinvents this bland area to a more vibrant atmosphere.
This small cookery barely feels walkable due to its dark color choices.
The tasteful colors and added light make a huge difference in opening up the room.
This galley kitchen is not only inefficient, but it's also bland and ill-lit.
With the focus on the fun tile, it's easy to forget how small the space truly is.
This cramped kitchen has no sign of life with its muted tones.
With new cabinetry and simple coloring, this eatery goes from confined to feeling much more open.
Although this kitchen is open and bright, it's not making a statement of any sort.
With the contrasting gold and black centerpiece, as well as the additional seating, this kitchen has become a perfect place to entertain.
The design of this dark kitchen has no clear intention with its bright accents.
Brightening up the space with whites and light grays helps to make it more inviting.
The poor lighting and color choices make this eatery feel tight and uncomfortable.
With the addition of bright whites and grays, this space now feels bright and airy.
With just one light source, this cooking space looks cramped and outdated.
Reconfiguring the kitchen by adding more light and decluttering the window makes a huge difference.
Although on the right track, this kitchen feels a bit cluttered.
The sleek, modern design makes this kitchen's intention more straight-forward.
This '70s-style eatery is ready for a major upgrade.
Without the modern touches, this upgrade feels traditional and organic.
The brown cabinets and large furnishings don't complement the size of the room.
By redesigning and simplifying the space, the kitchen feels much brighter and less cramped.
This dimly lit and stuffed kitchen has mixed designs.
Brightening up the space by adding bold pops of color helps to make a statement.
This bland kitchen has no design element that makes it unique or original.
The bright colors and gold accent pieces make this redesign unique and different.
The mixed colors give this space a busy and confusing feel.
Simplifying the color scheme and adding eye-catching fixtures makes all the difference in this redesign.
This galley kitchen looks busy with all of the cabinets.
Rearranging the cabinetry and appliances to make the stove the focus gives this galley kitchen a less busy feel.
The mixed patterns, outdated appliances, and poor lighting make this kitchen dull looking.
The upgraded design showcases a modern kitchen with bright lights.
With the wood cabinets and black appliances, this kitchen feels cramped and dark.
The upgraded appliances, white cabinets, and bright countertops give this kitchen an airy and light feel.
Darker tones can work in large spaces, but in this small space, it looks cramped and busy.
Without all of the patterns and wood tones, the kitchen design appears more open.
This pocket kitchen is walled up with its dim lighting and a poor color scheme.
Knocking down the wall gives this now-open kitchen a brighter feel while showcasing the upgraded appliances and colors.
