Healthy Home Kitchen on a Budget

Greenery is Good

Potted herbs are a great way to bring life into your kitchen. Not only are they an inexpensive means of bringing color into a space, fresh herbs make any dish instantly tastier.

Bring in Mother Nature

To warm up a streamlined workspace, incorporate textiles made from sustainable, natural fibers, such as an eco-friendly jute rug.

The Flat-Braided Jute Rug from Pottery Barn is made from hand-woven jute and completely reversible to double the wear.

Surprising Storage

A thin, wall-mounted metal bar above the kitchen sink holds cooking, cleaning, and decorative elements and keeps them off the countertop for easy cleaning.

Rethink Window Treatments

Use curtain rods to hang pots and pans rather than conventional window treatments. Cookware becomes easy to find and gives the room a quirky sense of character.

Rolling Workspace

To give your kitchen a little extra storage and counter space, bring a moving kitchen island into the mix. With an easy-on-the-earth wooden chopping surface, handy drawers, and wheels, this versatile kitchen island does the trick.

The FÖRHÖJA kitchen cart from Ikea is the perfect budget-friendly option.

Reduce Waste

Decrease your environmental footprint by giving your dishwasher a rest. By simply hand-washing a few larger pots and pans and setting them to dry on a wooden drying rack, you can save gallons of water (and dollars on your water bill) every month.

The Folding Bamboo Dish Rack from The Container Store is both eco- and budget friendly.

Inspirational Display

Rather than tucking your cookbooks away behind kitchen cabinets, display them prominently -- they may even inspire you to tackle that difficult recipe!

Light the Way

Simple and stylish task lighting perks up any workspace and gives your eyes a needed break. Either have pendant lights installed over your kitchen island or try an easy plug-in version (no installation necessary).

Don't forget to use long-lasting, eco-friendly bulbs.

Edible Art

A collection of prints can easily bring character into a kitchen -- pick a culinary theme, like this set of vegetable plates mounted in a chic arrangement.

Product Placement

This handy wall-mounted wine rack turns small, unused wall space into hardworking storage.

The Wine Tube (shown here) comes from Canoe and stores up to 12 bottles.

Color Burst

Consider using budget-friendly, curtain-style treatments rather than cabinet doors. Bright colors and patterns can infuse your kitchen with personality better than solid doors.

Label Maker

Make finding cooking supplies and putting away dishes easier with a labeling system. This clever kitchen organizes everything alphabetically with frosted glass kitchen cabinets, but you can also try a numerical system or categorize items using painted-on illustrations.

Filtered Faucet

Instead of buying bottled water, use a filtered water faucet. This kitchen sink had a filtered faucet installed conveniently next to its gooseneck variety.

Not remodeling anytime soon? Try an attachable faucet filter from PUR or Brita.

Eco-friendly Organization

Make recycling easier by separating plastics, glass, and paper before it piles up. A trash cabinet with spaces for multiple cans makes dividing effortless.

The 2-Bin Pull-out Recycler from The Container Store fits most lower kitchen cabinets and outfits two trash cans for recyclable and non-reyclable garbage.

Extra Light

For a poorly lit kitchen, try adding a mirror as a chic and inexpensive way to double the room's natural light.

Let the Sun Shine

Open windows and draw back the curtains to let in fresh air and sunlight. It both brightens your interiors and boosts morale.

Vintage Finds

Clear glass canisters are common staples in the kitchen, but consider filling yours with vintage finds, such as old silverware or bath sponges, rather than the usual flour, sugar, and coffee.

Fresh Paint Job

Give your kitchen that much-needed style update by painting kitchen cabinets. You can tackle this budget-friendly project on your own, but don't forget to take the environmentally conscious route and use either low-VOC or no-VOC paint.

Not ready to tackle the whole kitchen? Try only painting drawers for a quick change.

Cleaner Alternative

Experts suggest you deep clean your sink twice a week with a bleach mixture, but cleaning the grooves where the sink and tile meet can be a tricky, time-consuming job. Undermount sinks make cleanup easier, as sponges can wipe straight into the sink and germs don’t collect where drop-in sinks meet the countertop.

Healthy Habits

Encourage good eating habits in your household by keeping fruits and veggies displayed prominently in the kitchen.