I used a cheap hack to upgrade my old beige tiles – I think it looks fab, even if it decreases my house price

WANT to spruce up your kitchen on a budget but don’t know where to begin?

This homeowner decided to give her kitchen tiles a new lease of life with a simple lick of paint.

Riley, from Michigan, often posts DIY videos on social media as she renovates her first home with her husband.

In a recent video she showed off the task she confessed she was “the most afraid” to tackle – but it turned out better than she could’ve even expected.

Despite people telling her not to, Riley decided to paint her old, beige kitchen floor tiles black.

“We hated the brown of the tile, [it was] just not the direction we wanted to go with decor,” she explained in a viral TikTok.

But since the tiles had a heating element underneath she didn’t want to risk breaking it by ripping up the tiles and starting from scratch, at least not when she could try sprucing up the old tiles first.

So, she got to work with a layer of primer before painting the grout to ensure all the small nooks and crannies got a covering of the paint.

Two thin coats of paint later, Riley used a paint roller to add the polyurethane, leaving a classic black finish to the once brown kitchen floor.

People warned Riley not to go through with the floor renovation, but she decided since the area would be covered by a large rug anyway, and because she has no pets or kids, it was worth the risk.

“Yeah don’t do it, it’s gonna look nice and fresh for about a week before it starts to scratch, scuff and bubble the paint from the foot traffic,” one commented on the clip.

“House value just went down £50k,” another mocked.

And a third wrote: “Sorry, you just ruined you kitchen. There was nothing wrong with the tiles before.”

Even though the black tiles might not have been to everyone’s taste, others defended Riley’s decision.

One said: “Personally I don’t really like it, but it’s her house and she has to live in it. Why is everyone so mad at what people do with a house they pay for?”

And someone else agreed: “Why are you guys so mad it’s her house, how does this have anything to do with you?”

Luckily, others loved the idea and praised the risk Riley took by going for such a bold flooring.

“It looks great, very chic,” one said.

And another wrote: “I did this and don’t regret it at all, looks great still.”

Other people were concerned that the new black flooring didn’t match the walls, but Riley assured them the room would match once she finished decorating.

Eventually, the walls were painted a bright white, and the kitchen cabinets were also replaced with a more modern white style, matching the black floor perfectly.

And as for those who were concerned that the DIY project would deplete the home’s value, they might’ve been on to something.

Nick Woodward, Lettings Director at Essential Living previously shared a few of the common home improvements people do, that actually don’t necessarily add value.

“For many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home, but fitting a brand spanking new kitchen isn’t necessarily a sensible financial decision,” he explained.

“First, know that the next tenant or homeowner may not actually like the new design you choose – especially if it involves bold colours or a trending style.

“Otherwise, they may have plans to redo it all over again once they move in. Instead, have a bit of a refresh with a lick of paint.

“Also, when it comes to fitting high-end appliances in the kitchen, they can cost double the amount of average appliances with a similar purpose.”