Bobby Berk Style: 15 Budget DIY Kitchen and Bath Upgrades That Look Custom

Bobby Berk style is all about rooms that feel calm, warm and quietly custom, and the good news is that you do not need a TV budget to get the look. The Emmy winning designer is known for turning tired spaces into fresh ones, and many of his favorite tricks start with paint, hardware and a little planning. Kitchens and bathrooms are where small changes make the biggest difference, because you see them every single day. Below are 15 budget DIY upgrades inspired by his public design advice. Most take a weekend or less, and some take only an hour. Pick one room, choose two or three ideas and watch how quickly it starts to look like a designer stopped by..

Bobby Berk Style Starts With a Fresh Kitchen

Bobby Berk is an American interior designer, TV personality and writer. He won a Primetime Emmy and was the design expert on Netflix’s Queer Eye for its first eight seasons. In a recent Yahoo Creators interview, he shared which kitchen and bathroom upgrades pay off most. This list is inspired by that kind of advice, not endorsed by him. A soft green kitchen with brass details shows how far paint and hardware can go. Which room in your home needs a fresh start..

You will need: Cabinet paint, new pulls, a simple tile backsplash, open shelf boards, a few plants.

How to make it: 1. Choose one calm main color and one metal finish for the whole room. 2. Paint the cabinets and swap the hardware. 3. Add a light backsplash and style a shelf with a few simple pieces.

Bobby Berk Style Cabinet Hardware Swap

New hardware is the fastest way to make old cabinets look new. Matte black bar pulls look crisp on white or light wood, while brass feels warm on green or navy. Buy pulls that match the old hole spacing and the job takes an afternoon with only a screwdriver. If the spacing is different, a paper template makes drilling new holes easy. It feels like a whole new kitchen for the price of a nice dinner. Which finish would you pick?

You will need: New pulls or knobs, a screwdriver, a measuring tape, a drilling template, wood filler for old holes.

How to make it: 1. Measure the old hole spacing and buy pulls to match. 2. Unscrew the old hardware and fill any unused holes. 3. Screw on the new pulls, using a template so each one lines up.

Bobby Berk Style Painted Cabinets in Warm Greige

Painting cabinets is a big weekend project, but it changes the whole kitchen. Warm greige, a mix of gray and beige, feels soft and timeless and hides small smudges well. The secret is in the prep: clean, sand lightly and use a bonding primer. A small foam roller gives a smooth finish without brush marks. Take the doors off and label each one so they go back in the right spot. Would you paint all the cabinets or just the lowers?

You will need: Degreaser, fine sandpaper, bonding primer, cabinet paint, a small foam roller, an angled brush, painter’s tape.

How to make it: 1. Remove doors and hardware and label everything. 2. Clean, sand lightly and prime every surface. 3. Roll on two thin coats of paint, letting each dry fully before rehanging.

Peel and Stick Backsplash Tile

A tile backsplash makes a kitchen feel finished, and peel and stick sheets mean no grout, no mess and no special tools. They are renter friendly too, since many come off cleanly later. Start in the center of the wall so the pattern looks even on both sides. Smooth each sheet firmly to press out bubbles and trim around outlets with a sharp knife (with care, or adult help). It is a satisfying one day project with a big payoff. Which pattern would brighten your kitchen?

You will need: Peel and stick tile sheets, a level, a smoothing tool, a sharp utility knife, a cutting mat.

How to make it: 1. Clean the wall and mark a level starting line. 2. Peel the backing a little at a time and press each sheet in place. 3. Trim around outlets and edges, then smooth every sheet firmly.

Open Shelf From a Simple Board

Swapping one upper cabinet for an open shelf makes a kitchen feel lighter and more personal. A thick wood board on hidden brackets looks custom and shows off your nicest bowls and pots. Keep it simple with a few pieces in matching colors so it never looks cluttered. Reclaimed wood adds warmth and character for very little money. It is one of the easiest ways to get Bobby Berk style warmth in a kitchen. What would you put on display first?

You will need: A thick wood board, floating shelf brackets, a stud finder, a level, screws, wood finish.

How to make it: 1. Find the studs and mark a level line. 2. Screw the brackets into the studs. 3. Slide the finished board over the brackets and style it with a few pieces.

Under Cabinet Light Strips

In true Bobby Berk style, lighting under the upper cabinets makes a kitchen feel warm and high end in the evening. Plug in or battery LED strips stick right on, with no electrician needed. Choose a warm white light so food and wood tones look cozy rather than cold. It also helps when chopping vegetables at night. Hide the strip near the front edge of the cabinet so you see the glow, not the lights. Would you leave them on as a night light?

You will need: Warm white LED strip lights with adhesive backing, cable clips, rubbing alcohol, a cloth.

How to make it: 1. Clean the underside of the cabinets with rubbing alcohol. 2. Peel and stick the strips near the front edge. 3. Tidy the cord with clips and plug in or set the timer.

Bobby Berk Style Green Vanity

A builder grade vanity can look custom with one bold color. Deep green feels rich and calm and pairs beautifully with brass knobs and white towels. It is a small surface, so one quart of paint is usually enough. Use the same prep as kitchen cabinets: clean, sand and prime. In a single weekend the whole bathroom feels more grown up. If green feels too bold, try navy or charcoal. Which shade fits your bathroom?

You will need: Cabinet paint, bonding primer, fine sandpaper, a small roller and brush, new knobs.

How to make it: 1. Remove doors and hardware, then clean and sand lightly. 2. Prime and paint two thin coats. 3. Add new brass knobs and rehang the doors.

Framed Bathroom Mirror

A plain glued on mirror looks basic, but add a frame and it suddenly looks built in. Simple wood trim cut to size and stuck around the edge does the trick. Stain it to match a wood vanity or paint it to contrast. Many kits are sold for this, though plain trim from the hardware store works just as well. It is a one afternoon job that changes the whole look of the room. Does your bathroom mirror need a frame?

You will need: Wood trim, a miter box and saw (adult), mirror safe adhesive, paint or stain, painter’s tape.

How to make it: 1. Measure each side of the mirror and cut the trim with mitered corners. 2. Paint or stain the pieces and let them dry. 3. Stick them to the mirror edge with mirror safe adhesive and tape them while they set.

Hang the Shower Curtain Near the Ceiling

This is one of the easiest Bobby Berk style tricks there is. Hang the shower curtain rod a few inches below the ceiling and use an extra long curtain. The room instantly looks taller and more polished. Linen or waffle weave fabric in white feels like a hotel. Pair it with a plain liner inside so the pretty curtain stays dry. It costs very little and takes ten minutes. Have you tried this trick yet?

You will need: An extra long shower curtain, a tension or mounted rod, curtain rings, a plain liner.

How to make it: 1. Measure from just below the ceiling to an inch above the floor. 2. Mount the rod at that height. 3. Hang the long curtain and a plain liner on the same rings.

Matching Jars for Counter Storage

Mismatched bags and boxes make a counter look busy. Pour pantry basics into matching jars and the whole kitchen feels calmer. Clear glass lets you see what is running low, and ceramic jars look extra polished. Keep only the things you use every day on the counter and hide the rest. Add a small plant beside them for life. It is a simple Bobby Berk style change that feels like a reset. What would go in your first jar?

You will need: Matching glass or ceramic jars, a funnel, simple labels (optional).

How to make it: 1. Choose four to six things you use daily. 2. Pour them into matching jars with a funnel. 3. Group the jars in one spot with a small plant.

Swap the Builder Faucet

Builder grade faucets are often the first thing designers replace when chasing Bobby Berk style. A tall gooseneck style or a warm brass finish makes a sink look like part of a custom remodel. Many faucets are made for easy DIY installation with simple instructions. Turn off the water first and keep a bucket and towel nearby. If plumbing makes you nervous, this is a quick job for a handy friend or a pro. Which finish would you choose for your sink?

You will need: A new faucet, an adjustable wrench, a bucket, towels, plumber’s tape.

How to make it: 1. Turn off the water valves under the sink and open the tap to drain. 2. Disconnect and remove the old faucet. 3. Install the new one following its guide and check for leaks.

Plants in a Bright Kitchen Window

Nothing makes a kitchen feel alive like a few healthy plants. Herbs on the windowsill are useful and pretty, and a trailing pothos on a shelf softens hard lines. Use matching pots so the plants look like part of the design. Designers often say a room is not finished until something living is in it. For more cheap ways to get a high end kitchen, see our designer kitchen looks. Which plant would you start with?

You will need: Two or three easy plants, matching pots with saucers, potting soil.

How to make it: 1. Pick plants that suit your light, like herbs for sun or pothos for shade. 2. Repot them into matching containers. 3. Group them on a sill or shelf and water weekly.

Fresh Grout With a Grout Pen

Dingy grout makes even clean tile look old, and no Bobby Berk style bathroom has dingy grout. A grout pen paints fresh color right onto the lines, and the difference is shocking. It is cheap, quiet and easy, perfect for an evening with a podcast. Clean the grout well first and let it dry so the color sticks. Work in small sections and wipe any mistakes off the tile right away. Fresh caulk around the tub finishes the job. Which floor in your home needs this most?

You will need: A grout pen in white or gray, a stiff brush, mild cleaner, a damp cloth.

How to make it: 1. Scrub the grout with mild cleaner and let it dry fully. 2. Run the grout pen along each line. 3. Wipe extra off the tiles with a damp cloth before it dries.

Bobby Berk Style Wainscoting in the Powder Room

Board and batten wainscoting adds instant character to a small powder room. Thin boards in a simple grid on the lower wall, painted white, make the space look custom built. Soft blue or green paint above keeps it fresh. Peel and stick versions exist too, but simple MDF strips and wood glue are cheap and sturdy. A small room means a small job, often one weekend. Would you try it in a bathroom or a hallway?

You will need: MDF strips, construction adhesive, a level, a miter saw (adult), caulk, paint.

How to make it: 1. Mark a level line at about 40 inches high. 2. Glue and nail a top rail, then vertical strips evenly spaced. 3. Caulk the seams and paint everything one color.

Bobby Berk Style Spa Baskets

Open shelves under a sink can look messy fast. Matching woven baskets fix that and add a warm spa feeling. Roll white towels and tuck daily items inside so everything looks tidy. Natural textures like seagrass and rattan soften all the hard surfaces in a bathroom. It is the final touch that makes the room feel calm and finished. Grab baskets in the same size and color for the best look. Which shelf will you tidy first?

You will need: Matching woven baskets, white towels, small jars for cotton balls.

How to make it: 1. Measure your shelves and buy baskets that fit with a little room to spare. 2. Roll towels and sort toiletries into the baskets. 3. Keep only one or two items on top of the vanity.