6 Kitchen Projects You Can Do Yourself (And 6 You Can't)
Are you getting ready to renovate your kitchen? You might be curious about which kitchen projects you can do yourself and which are best left to the pros.
While everyone’s experience DIYing is different, we’re going to focus on average homeowners who have little to no DIY experience. With so many great online resources out there, there are many different projects you can do yourself with some good research.
Even with research, though, you shouldn’t tackle some projects yourself. This could be for a number of reasons, mainly your safety and the complexity of the installation.
We’ll go over six kitchen projects you can do yourself and six you can’t.
Before we get started, keep in mind that the projects you can’t do yourself are not impossible. But most homeowners should avoid them. Often they involve electrical work, getting up high on a ladder, or taking accurate measurements with little margin for error. For beginners, it’s easy to make mistakes on these projects and they can be costly.
Some of the kitchen projects you can do yourself are easier than others, but they are all perfectly doable with a little research.
6 Kitchen Projects You Can Do Yourself
Painting kitchen cabinets
With a little prep and research, you’ll have no problem painting your kitchen cabinets yourself. Here are a few tips as you navigate the process.
Invest in a sprayer to be most efficient. Use the sprayer on your cabinet doors and brush or spray your cabinet base. If you brush the cabinet base, keep in mind that you’ll have to do quite a bit of taping and masking so you don’t paint your walls accidentally.
But where you can save time, do it. Brushing your cabinet doors will take a lot longer than spraying them. Not to mention it will be difficult to maintain an even coat.
Clean the surface before painting. Just wipe your cabinets with a damp cloth and dry them before you begin painting. That’ll keep any dirt and dust from sticking to your cabinets as you paint them.
Choose the paint style you like best: satin, semi-gloss, or gloss. Satin is not reflective, semi-gloss is partially reflective, and glossy cabinets are fully reflective. Satin is the more popular choice in today’s homes because it hides small imperfections well.
Detach the cabinet doors and paint them in your garage or shed. Set your cabinets on a table. Then, lay some paper down so you don’t paint the floor or table
Check out our post on how to paint kitchen cabinets for a closer look at this process.
Installing open shelving
Compared to installing cabinets, open shelving is more straightforward. The main thing to consider throughout the installation process is to secure the shelving to studs. A great way to do that is by using wall anchors. Here are some from Amazon that are perfect for the job.
Take a look at the video below to see how this process is done.
Install a DIY pan rack
Installing a DIY pan or pot rack is about as involved as open shelving. Again, you want to make sure you drill into studs when installing the pan rack. Use the wall anchors I linked above to secure the pan rack in place. Check out the video below to see how it’s done.
Install a tile backsplash
Installing a backsplash is more involved than open shelving or a pan rack. But most homeowners can get it done. You just need to make sure you have all the right tools and watch a few videos online to familiarize yourself with the process.
We wrote a comprehensive post on how to install a kitchen backsplash that you can check out here. It includes helpful videos that hold your hand along the way. So even beginners can tackle this project.
If you checked out our guide and that’s more work than you want to do, don’t worry. You could try installing a peel and stick backsplash. As the name suggests, you peel the backsplash off its adhesive and stick it firmly to the wall. That’s it!
Wall-mounted spice rack
This is yet another project you can complete successfully with a stud and some wall anchors. It can be incredibly practical too. Just install the spice rack in your cooking area and load it up with your most popular spices.
Range hood
Installing a range hood is a doable weekend project with the right guidance and tools. Depending on the hood’s weight you might need a hand lifting it to the proper height. Like all of these projects, make sure you mount the hood to a stud using wall anchors.
The installation process varies slightly depending on the type of hood you’re installing, but we have some helpful videos on our YouTube channel to walk you through it.
Exception: if you need to install ductwork
Installing ductwork for your range hood can be complex. You’ll have to get behind your interior walls and run the duct from an exterior wall to your hood. Also, you’ll want to make sure that the duct isn’t more than 30’ long. It should also have as few elbows as possible. There’s a lot to consider when installing ductwork so you’re better off hiring a professional.
6 Kitchen Projects You Can’t Do Yourself
Kitchen island
Building a kitchen island from scratch is a huge job. It requires a lot of materials, accurate measurements, many different tools, and much more. The project is possible but it could take months – unless you have a lot of time on your hands.
Exception: pre-assembled kitchen island
One type of island that you could install yourself is a pre-assembled kitchen island. Some home improvement stores sell pre-assembled islands that you can move around on wheels. Not all have wheels but it’s an option if you’re looking for something a little more mobile.
If you want to install a range on your kitchen island, you should hire a professional. It could be a big hassle if you’re not too experienced at DIYing.
Kitchen cabinets
Installing kitchen cabinets from scratch takes a lot of steps. Between building the base, securing the base to the wall, cutting the doors, and installing the hardware, you’ll have your hands full. Not to mention you may want to add some decorative elements to each door to make it look finished. So, this project is not for the faint of heart. Luckily, there’s a cool alternative you can try.
Exception: RTA cabinets
RTA or “ready-to-assemble” cabinets are pre-built cabinets. They come ready to assemble, as the name suggests. They require a little work but no actual building of the cabinets themselves. Most people can install these no problem. RTA cabinets often come with all the tools you need to install them, too.
Kitchen floors
Some floors are easier than others. But for most kitchens, it’s not as simple as laying down tile after tile. You might have extra cuts to do and it takes practice to make them accurately.
Depending on the size of your floor, it can take weeks or even months for the beginner DIYer.
Also, the kitchen is one of the highest traffic areas in the home. In fact, for most people, it’s the most visited room by far. So hiring a professional is highly recommended. You want a kitchen floor that looks great and will last for years.
Installing light fixtures, light switches, and other electrical components
Replacing light fixtures is no trouble for most homeowners – unless you have to get up on a high ladder to reach the ceiling. But installing new lights can be dangerous. This requires the expertise of an electrician to ensure the lighting is properly wired.
If you try this by yourself, you risk injury or putting your family in danger. Always hire an electrician to install new light fixtures, light switches, or other electrical features in your home.
Installing a gas stove
When working with gas appliances, you have to be incredibly careful. It’s best practice to hire a licensed gas fitter to inspect your gas stove. A small leak or faulty part could prove catastrophic in the long run. It’s important to keep your family safe, so consider hiring a qualified professional.
If you’re installing a new gas line, that process is pretty involved too. It’s possible, but you should at minimum consult a professional first. Learn more about connecting a natural gas line to your grill in this complete guide.
Installing new windows
Installing new windows is a heavy lift, literally. If the windows are on the ground floor, that simplifies things. But it’s still a complicated process where you don’t have much margin for error. The biggest pain points are that your measurements need to be virtually exact and you need to set and secure the window in place without breaking it.
If you haven’t installed windows before, this process is best left to professionals.
That wraps up our post on six projects you can do and six projects you can’t. Keep in mind that the projects you can’t do are possible. But most homeowners will want to hire a pro to complete the job safely and efficiently.
Good luck with your DIY projects! For more kitchen DIY guides and tips, check out the articles below.