Kitchen renovations can be pretty pricey, but they do add a bit of value to your house. That can be super helpful for you if you’re looking to sell your house in the near future. But if you’re not trying to put your house on the market any time soon, and you do want to spruce up one of the most-seen rooms in your household, you’re probably looking to renovate on a budget.
We’re here to help you with that.
Money is valuable, and you don’t want to spend unnecessary amounts of it if you don’t have to. Time goes hand in hand with hard-earned cash; you don’t want to waste a huge chunk of time on a remodeling project if it’s not going to look good (and cost a lot).
So, let’s save money and let’s conserve time. Check out our kitchen renovation tips below.
Cabinets cost a lot – install ready-to-assemble cabinetry or keep the ones you already have.
Cabinets are, without a doubt, the most expensive area in the kitchen to remodel – especially if you’re going custom.Switch it up. Purchase some RTA cabinets instead, they’re half the cost! You can choose from different materials and styles; that will change the price of installation, though.
If you’re do-it-yourself savvy, then DIY. If not, look into hiring a contractor to get the job done.
You can choose one of two cabinet styles:
- Semicustom cabinets: This option will give you the opportunity to select from an existing design platform. They’re prefabricated offsite, but only created in standard sizes.
- In-stock cabinets: This option will give you the opportunity to go directly to the local Home Depot, Lowe’s, or equivalent to pick out cabinets on site. They do not have much variation, though.
If these options don’t sound particularly flattering for your kitchen remodel, keep the ones you have and rejuvenate them. You can resurface your current cabinets with new veneer, or you can repaint (or hire someone to repaint) them.
Open shelving is currently trendy – and it showcases a different design approach.
You don’t need to hire a contractor to install high quality shelves to complete this remodel project. Instead, grab some salvaged wood from the local hardware store and paint them whatever color you see fitting for your kitchen.
Dust the shelves regularly and store whatever you want on them – nicely patterned dishes will do the trick.
Countertops are the second most expensive thing to replace in your kitchen – consider alternatives materials to use.
Granite is super popular; everyone knows this. It’s the #1 countertop material used worldwide – mainly because it’s a solid surface that proves its worth. But there are other options.
Yes, we’ll admit, granite is perfect for people who use their counters all the time. However, they are sensitive to acidic substances and does need frequent sealing. On the other hand, you could go with marble countertops; they’re exquisite veining brings an element of beauty to the kitchen that not many other materials can. However, these surfaces, too, are sensitive to acidic substances and cleaning solutions.
To save money and purchase something that doesn’t require frequent sealing, Marble.com recommends going with quartz over granite. This surface does look just like natural stone, however, it is an engineered stone that can take a lot of wear and tear. You can also choose more affordable countertops for the exterior of your kitchen and splurge a little on your inner countertops – like those sitting on top of your island.
Don’t move your appliances – it’ll be messy, time-consuming, and expensive!
Mechanical and electrical appliance outlets are put in place for a reason – don’t move them unless you absolutely have to, unless you’re willing to give up access to your kitchen for a few months.
Revolve your cabinets and countertops around these areas – that means keep your dishwasher, sink, and stove exactly where they are – and improvise with the rest of the room. Trust us, it’ll save you thousands of dollars to keep this stuff exactly where it is.
Switch up the hardware – faucets, knobs, pulls, etc.
If you’re installing new and affordable cabinets and drawers, or if you’re refacing what you already have, it doesn’t matter – refresh and update the hardware on all of your surfaces. You can mix and match silvers and golds depending on your theme – it’s not frowned upon anymore!
Just make sure you don’t go drastic. It’s okay to have fun, though. That’s as simple as you can get, ladies and gentlemen. Focus on the cabinets, shelves, countertops, appliances, and hardware, and you’ll be good.
Affordable and time-efficient is what you’re looking for (we hope) and if you follow our guide, that’s exactly what you’ll get. It doesn’t take much to beautify your kitchen after all, does it?
Thank you for pointing out what to focus on during a kitchen renovation, like countertops and cabinets. Often times when cooking I end up feeling that my current countertops and cabinets have been lacking in terms of durability, as they scar or chip easily. With my renovation project as a chance to make my kitchen more durable, I’ll definitely take your advice into account and talk to a kitchen remodeling contractor about the upgrades you mentioned.