A lot of action happens in the kitchen. A lot of goodness comes out of the kitchen in the form us delicious treats and nutritious meals. A lot of work goes into making those treats and meals. It’s no wonder the kitchen is the number one room in the house to be thought of when it comes to home improvement. Jumping into a kitchen fix-up project adds a lot of value to your overall home, not just in real estate terms, but also in how you function inside it. The return rate on a minor kitchen remodel is in the high 80s. Plus, if you enjoy being in the kitchen then it doesn’t matter how banal and boring the job is, you’ll be able to do it with a positive outlook.

When it comes to choosing what to do in a minor kitchen remodel, the choices are many but the choosing is not easy. Follow along for our list of the absolute essentials and what’s really up to budget and feasibility.

Appliances
This can shoot your overall budget up into the stratosphere in the blink of an eye. That’s just the nature of this beast. But if you want to get the most out of your kitchen, making your money work for you is essential. With upgraded energy efficient appliances in your kitchen you won’t only be saving resources like water and electricity, you’ll be saving money. Granted, when these things break they need to be replaced, but while you’re working on everything else, at least take stock of what you have and put your money where you need it.

Storage
When you start ripping out your cabinets and looking at custom built beauties, you’re no longer in the remodel process, you’re not renovating. Not a bad thing, but the goal is to stick with just a remodel. Your current cabinets can be modified to work better for you. Whether it’s adding a pull-out shelf, a Lazy Suzan in the corner, or getting creative with hooks and freestanding shelves to make the existing space more efficient there are tricks you can use that won’t eat up all your funds.

The second option to this problem is sitting down for a nice binge session of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Maybe it isn’t an issue of not having enough space, but having too much stuff. No only does this method save you money, it also saves you mental energy with a little less clutter lurking around your home.

Counters
A larger purchase, but one that will change the entire look of your kitchen and possibly beef up the sturdiness of your kitchen. Quartz countertops are definitely on the higher end of counter materials, but they’re also the most durable and stylish. Sleek and classy they come in an array of colors and won’t stain, scratch, or crack from extreme temperature changes. Quartz isn’t the only way to go, but new countertops in general are a great way to go.

Floors
Another bigger change, but one that is equally deserving of an upgrade like counters. So much work happens on the counters, but the floors get all the traffic that comes through, even if it’s just sipping milk from the carton. When the tiles are cracked or chipped, or your linoleum is starting to tear, then it’s time to give these floors a makeover. Bamboo click-lock flooring is an easy to care for, sustainable product that’s durable with a sophisticated look. You could even go a super simple and rustic route and pour smooth concrete; stain it or leave it natural, but always seal properly.

Details
As for the rest of it, you can do a lot on the smaller scale. Changing your color scheme, adding a backsplash, and changing up your artwork are simple ways to update the feel of your kitchen. New lighting or water fixtures will also add that last bit of detail that ties it all together. When it comes to cabinets, you can opt to reface them or only paint them a new color and change the handles/knobs for a fresh new look.