10 Cheap Ways to Update an Ugly Kitchen

Peiduo Small LED Light Birch Trees

These tiny trees lit by twinkly LED lights are perfect for topping your mantle or dinner table. I think they add just the right amount of whimsy to your space, no matter how you decorate with them! They're not necessarily Christmas-specific, either. Their simple design allows you to spruce 'em up in all kinds of ways year-round. Similar pieces at Target and Anthropologie range from $21 $68 for one tree, but you can get two trees for just $25 on Amazon right now.

Plaid Throw Pillow Covers

Plaid – specifically red plaid – is timeless when it comes to Christmas decor. It never fails to make a space extra cozy! These 18x18-inch covers are perfect for throw pillows on your bed and couch alike. You can snag this set of 2 in a few other holiday-ready colorways for just $10, and they'll likely last you a while with the right care.

Artgar Real Touch Pine Garland

If you have a mantle, use it! A mantle is prime real estate for Christmas decorations like stockings, candles, and cards – but none of that is truly complete without a good garland! This 6-foot faux pine garland can easily span your mantle to fill in any negative space and simply make things cozier. It comes with attached LED lights (no wall plug necessary, just a few batteries) as well as pinecone accents to make the garland itself feel fuller. Plus, $30 isn't so bad for a statement piece like this!

Vintage Bow Decorative Tray

This piece reminds me of a tray Pottery Barn Teen and LoveShackFancy sells in their collaborative collection, except it literally costs $60 less. It's not a total dupe, but the one thing it does have in common is bows: the most adorable reference to gifting season! I think this $9 pick could be so cute as a serving platter for Christmas desserts or even as a festive catchall you keep on your coffee table throughout the holidays.

Kate Aspen Retro Floral Drinking Glasses

The intricate design on these green-tinted glasses really has me hooked. They'd look so good with any sort of Christmas party tablescape – as long as you're sipping Christmas cocktails out of them! A similar set of 6 is currently being sold on Quince for $48. This one's only $26.

Fried Rice

Leftover rice is the key to making some bomb fried rice. For the veggies, you can use frozen carrots, peas, and bell peppers, which is way more cost-effective than buying them fresh. (via Brit + Co)

Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

These sheet pan fajitas only require a few ingredients, plus plenty of spices that you likely already have sitting in your kitchen. The one-pan aspect of this recipe also makes it super easy and quick, an ideal meal for busy weeknights. (via Brit + Co)

Citrusy Shakshuka

This savory, citrusy shaksuka only costs around $2 per serving. Using canned goods saves you heaps of money! (via Brit + Co)

Easy Dan Dan Noodles

The limited ingredient list for this noodle recipe means spending less at the store. But just because you're spending less, doesn't mean that this dish isn't full of flavor! Plus, these noodles are totally on the same level as any costly takeout option. (via Vikalinka)

Easy 10-Minute Shrimp Scampi

This shirmp scampi is so worth it, but it doesn't break the bank at all. What's better is that it's packed with protein! (via Averie Cooks)

Vegan Veggie Soup

This vegan soup is the tastiest excuse to clean out your fridge and freezer. You can easily use canned or frozen veggies in favor of fresh ones to save some coins. (via A Virtual Vegan)

Oven-Roasted Cabbage Wedges with Caper Raisin Relish

Any veggie-based dish is going to be a bit more budget-friendly, since you're not necessarily splurging on meaty proteins. These elevated roasted cabbage wedges hit all the flavor marks, and are ready in just 30 minutes. (via The First Mess)

Browned Butter Lemon Dill Pasta

Brown butter is a quick and easy way to elevate any sort of recipe from savory to sweet, but it really shines in this simple lemon-dill pasta dish, making the flavors more complex and well-rounded. This cheap dinner idea only requires 5 easy-to-find ingredients! (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Easy Spam Eggs and Rice

Spam, eggs, and rice are all some of the cheapest items you can snag at the store. Combine all three for a deliciously easy meal to indulge in after a long day! (via The Fast Recipe)

Crispy Sweet Potato Chicken Taquitos

All you need is 6 simple ingredients to craft these extra-crunchy on the outside, soft and cheesy on the inside taquitos. You can even freeze the leftovers once they're done to make your cooking efforts stretch and save you money in the future. (via Rachel Mansfield)

Instant Pot Chana Masala

If you're willing to do a bit of prep work, this chana masala gets done in about 20 minutes. The most expensive components are likely the chickpeas, onion, and canned tomatoes – but they're not going to set you back too much, plus this recipe yields lots of servings to supply you with ample leftovers. (via The Girl on Bloor)

Vegan Chickpea Broccoli Stir Fry

Toss some chickpeas and broccoli in a pan with this recipe's delicious stir fry sauce for a little bit, then serve over some freshly-made rice for a healthy, cost-effective dinner. (via Earthly Provisions)

Salmon Patties

This simple salmon patty dinner idea is easy to whip up and even easier to devour. Each one is seasoned to perfection with the help of lemon and herbs. The best part is you can use canned salmon or even leftover cooked salmon (way cheaper than fresh) to form each bite! (via Completely Delicious)

Y2K — In Theaters December 6, 2024

Remember that Y2K crisis at the turn of the millennium? This December movie, which follows two high school juniors who crash a New Year's Eve party, reimagines it as a full-blown disaster — blood, guts, and all.

Y2K stars Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison, The Kid Laroi, and Fred Durst.

Mary — On Netflix December 6, 2024

Get a new look at one of the most famous women in the world when Mary drops on Netflix next month. This movie will give you a whole new look at the titular heroine's life — from being forced into hiding to running for her life, all to protect her baby son from a murderous king.

Mary stars Noa Cohen, Ido Tako, Stephanie Nur, Susan Brown, Ori Pfeffer, Eamon Farren, Hilla Vidor, Mili Avital, Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, Dudley O’Shaughnessy, Keren Tzur, Mehmet Kurtulus, Mila Harris, and Anthony Hopkins.

Another December movie that will have you looking at motherhood differently is Nightb—ch, which follows Amy Adams character's life as she becomes a mother...and becomes convinced she's also turning into a dog.

Nightb—ch stars Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Patrick Snowden, Emmett James Snowden, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Archana Rajan, Jessica Harper.

F Marry Kill — On Digital December 6, 2024

We all know dating apps can be a really horrifying experience, but when true-crime lover Eva starts to believe one of her three dates could be the “Swipe Right Killer," she finds herself in a life-or-death situation.

F Marry Kill stars Lucy Hale, Samer Salem, Virginia Gardner, Jedidiah Goodacre, Brendan Morgan, Brooke Nevin, and Bethany Brown.

A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter — On Netflix December 6

If you're still singing "Nonsense" by Sabrina Carpenter, then this December movie (er, holiday special) is for you. Not only will the popstar perform tunes from her fruitcake EP, but she'll be joined by special guests as well!

A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter stars, you guessed it, Sabrina Carpenter.

Maria — On Netflix December 11, 2024

Angelina Jolie's newest film follows iconic performer Maria Callas. After a glamorous, albeit difficult, public life, Maria moves to Paris for some quiet — and must confront her identity, her past, and her future in the process.

Maria stars Angelina Jolie, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Valeria Golino, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Haluk Bilginer.

Kraven The Hunter — In Theaters December 13

Despite the fact it's coming out around the holidays, Aaron Taylor Johnson's new December movie is not for kids. The flick follows the titular Kraven as he morphs from the son of a gangster to the brutal and fearsome villain comic fans know so well.

Kraven the Hunter stars Aaron Taylor Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, and Russell Crowe.

Carry On — On Netflix December 13

One TSA agent is in for a less-than-jolly holiday when he's blackmailed by a traveler hoping to bring a very dangerous package into the airport on Christmas Eve.

Carry On stars Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, and Sofia Carson.

Not only is this Lion King sequel giving us a brand new look at a classic story, but it also marks Blue Ivy Carter's acting debut! The movie tells the story of how Mufasa began his journey as an orphaned cub and how a run-in with royal heir Taka changed everything.

Mufasa: The Lion King stars Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Aaron Pierre, John Kani, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, and Blue Ivy Carter.

Nicole Kidman's new December movie will add some spice to your holiday, thanks to an affair with her character's much-younger employee. Is it getting hot in here?

Babygirl stars Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, and Antonio Banderas.

If you're still laughing about the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest, then you'll definitely want to show up to see this flick, which stars our favorite Timmy as Bob Dylan during his historical move from folk to rock'n'roll.

A Complete Unknown stars Timothée Chalamet Monica Barbaro, Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, Boyd Holbrook, and Nick Offerman.