A tile backsplash transforms a kitchen and protects the wall from grease and water. Most backsplashes are small enough to finish over a weekend.

A new kitchen faucet refreshes the whole sink, and it's one of the few plumbing jobs you can knock out in an hour. The hardest part is working under the sink.

Painting cabinets is the cheapest way to make a tired kitchen look new — but rushed cabinet paint chips off in months. Real prep is what makes it stick.