Ways to Save Money on Your Kitchen Remodel
Kitchens are one of the most common rooms in the home to undergo remodeling, especially in older homes. Remodeling can be expensive, however, so check out these ways to save money on your kitchen remodel and get the kitchen of your dreams.
Come Up With a Plan
Before you begin to work on your kitchen remodel, come up with a detailed plan for your budget, your color palette, your materials and your overall style. Once you have that figured out, you can start to shop for your kitchen elements and ensure you stay within your budget.
Do the Gutting Yourself
Surprisingly, gutting your kitchen is one of the pricier aspects of a remodel. You can do it yourself for almost nothing, though it is a time-consuming and messy process. Just be sure you take the proper precautions, such as wearing protective eyewear, covering the other areas of your home and ensuring you’re not knocking down load-bearing walls.
Build It Yourself
Even if you leave the heavy lifting to a professional, there are tons of DIY projects you can do to save on the remodel and show off your creativity in the process. You can repurpose old furniture and fixtures, build your own furniture or even handle the painting and staining yourself. Fortunately, there’s a wealth of DIY projects online that you can peruse for inspiration on smaller details in your kitchen.
Reface Instead of Replacing Your Cabinets
Cabinets are one of the most expensive aspects of a kitchen remodel. If your cabinets are in good condition but simply outdated, you can reface them to give them a fresh look for a fraction of the cost. You can even splurge on some nice hardware to update their look.
Use Laminate Countertops
Though granite and quartz are coveted countertop materials, they are quite expensive. With laminate countertops, you can get similar colors, patterns and textures as granite or quartz, and they come in high-quality options that are significantly cheaper.
Update the Lighting
Lighting is often overlooked in a kitchen remodel because of the cost, but it’s one of the most important rooms in your home to have adequate lighting. You can save on replacing the lighting and give your kitchen an updated look with a well-placed pendant light and under-cabinet lights.
Choose Remnants
Depending on how much counter space you have, you may be able to get high-quality granite or marble countertop remnants in a beautiful design for a fraction of the cost. It never hurts to look. If you have an island and not enough remnant, you can put in a contrasting countertop for more visual interest.
Leave the Plumbing Alone
If you’re planning to rearrange your kitchen’s layout, you’re looking at significant expense. It can cost thousands to move you sink or major appliances like your stove or refrigerator to another spot in the kitchen, so work with the existing plumbing layout when you plan your remodel.
Use the Excess
No matter how much you plan, you’ll likely have some excess materials at the end of your remodel. Instead of tossing it out, use the remnants to create kitchen pieces like rollout inserts from excess wood or a cutting board from a countertop piece.
Save on New Flooring
Flooring is another major cost of a remodel. If you have wood floors, you can refinish them to give them a fresh look without the money and hassle of replacing them. If you have tile or vinyl flooring, choose an inexpensive replacement like sealed cork.
Choose Open Shelving
Open shelving gives your kitchen an attractive look and plenty of space, but it costs far less than buying top cabinets. You can use salvaged wood from the hardware store to put the cabinets in yourself, or buy pre-made shelving and just install it. You’ll have the space to store your dishes and glasses, which are used so often that they won’t gather dust, while still having the floor cabinet storage space.
Get Creative
Giving your kitchen a high-end look doesn’t have to be expensive. If you get creative, you can add details like stacked stone or beadboard paneling and feet to free-standing cabinetry to give your kitchen an upscale look in focal areas.
Shop Thrift or Overstock Stores
If you have thrift or overstock stores in your area, you may catch a great deal on overstock materials from contractors. It takes some timing, but you may get lucky and score a high-end appliance or cabinets for an extremely low price. You could also shop floor-model sales at your local stores or look for appliances with dings or dents that aren’t obvious, as they tend to come at a discount.
Hire a Kitchen Designer
If you’re planning a full kitchen remodel as opposed to just painting or replacing cabinets and flooring, it’s smart to hire a professional. Though it may seem counterintuitive to hire a remodeling company or designer to help with your budget kitchen remodel, you have the opportunity to save more money in the long run from fewer errors. A professional can help you plan out every detail of your remodel to ensure you’re working within your budget and getting the results you’re hoping for.
Keep in mind, however, that not all professionals are equal. It’s important to find the right company or contractor with the right credentials and experience, rather than choosing the lowest bidder. You’ll not only be risking more costs in correcting mistakes in the future, but you’ll also risk potential hazards from shoddy work if you simply choose the cheapest company.
Plan Your Kitchen Remodel
A kitchen remodel can sometimes be a big and expensive undertaking, but not with the proper planning. If you want help with your kitchen remodel, Kitchen Solvers is the place for you. We have a talented and experienced team to help with every aspect of your remodel, so contact us today for a kitchen consultation! Also be sure to check out our articles, Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations – Budget Guidelines and Prep Work and Kitchen Styles – Which is Right for You When Remodeling for more information on planning your kitchen remodel.
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