Renovating your home’s kitchen is a great way to improve the property and increase its value. These 10 tips will help you plan an affordable kitchen remodel.
Are you thinking about remodeling your kitchen?
If so, you’re not alone. Kitchens are one of the most popular areas of the home to remodel, and they can add a lot of value to your home.
Unfortunately, a kitchen remodel is often extremely expensive. Keep reading to find out how you can pull off an affordable kitchen remodel.
Tips For an Affordable Kitchen Remodel
The average kitchen costs about $10,000 to $30,000 to remodel. But don’t worry if this number is outside of your budget, because there are a lot of ways that you can cut corners and save on unnecessary costs.
Here are ten tips for an affordable kitchen remodel to help you get started:
1. DIY Whenever Possible
If you’re comfortable around the house, take on smaller projects yourself. Labor is a huge cost in remodeling, so you’ll save yourself some cash if you do projects on your own.
But those who are inexperienced should proceed with caution. Hiring a contractor or designer for bigger projects can actually save you from making expensive mistakes.
2. Choose Thinner Countertops
Are your countertops 2cm or 3cm? Choosing slightly thinner countertops will save you money on materials, and you likely won’t notice the difference. Make sure you do your research before you decide on this.
If you expect to put your countertops through a lot of wear and tear, going with the thicker option is best for you. If you want to see the difference between 2cm and 3cm countertops, check it out here.
3. Check Out Imperfect Appliances
Are your current appliances on their way out? If so, buying new appliances all at once can be a major cost. One way to save money on this is to look for appliances that are slightly damaged.
Many brands, warehouses, and home improvement stores take in appliances that are slightly scratched or dented.
This means they can’t sell them for full price and the demand for them goes down. Sometimes the damage is barely noticeable, which means you can get an oven that typically costs thousands of dollars for only hundreds of dollars.
If you’re taking this route, however, try to make sure that your appliances match as much as possible. At the very least, make sure they all have the same finish (stainless steel, white, black etc.). Mix-matched appliances like pioneer woman cookware will make a kitchen look dated.
4. Don’t Move Plumbing
Moving plumbing is a huge expense that will add thousands of dollars, more labor and more time to your project. Keep your project and budget in check by keeping your appliances and sinks where they are currently located.
5. Save Your Cabinets
Cabinets can really make your kitchen look dated, but the good news is that they’re easy to update on a budget. You certainly don’t have to put in all new cabinets in order to achieve a clean, modern-looking kitchen.
Before you spend thousands on new cabinets, give your old ones a little facelift. For example, a fresh coat of white paint can make outdated, wooden cabinets look brand new. New hardware will also help update cabinets with minimal cost.
6. Keep it Classic
A lot of trends come and go in the interior design world. While it’s fun to play around with trends, keeping your design classic and timeless is best. You could get tired of a trendy backsplash design or funky floors.
If you’re spending a lot of money on something, you want to make sure it will stand the test of time. You don’t want to get sick of your design and then have the urge to remodel again in a couple years.
7. Budget Wisely
Spend your money smarter, don’t spend more of it. Before you get started on the remodeling project, sit down and decide where you want your money to go. Pick your projects wisely so you get the most out of your money.
For example, if you’re a remodeling pro, don’t hire a contractor to do your work for it. Do everything yourself, and spend the money you save on labor elsewhere. Or if you really love the look of granite, invest in beautiful countertops and save money by just repainting your cabinets.
Everyone has unique priorities for their kitchen remodel. Establish your priorities before you start and invest in what’s most important to you and save on the other details.
8. Visit a Stockyard
Home improvement stores and design studios often increase the price of kitchen materials such as flooring, granite, and tile. To save money, avoid the middleman and go straight to the source by visiting a stockyard.
A stockyard will have raw materials that you can then cut on your own and save a lot of money. You might even be able to purchase scraps from previous projects for an even bigger discount.
9. Add Light
Darkness can make a kitchen feel more outdated than it actually is, so you’d be surprised how much adding in light can help give it new life. Add lights underneath your cabinets to shine down onto the countertops. Adding in some sconces or recess lighting will also brighten up the room and help the kitchen look more modern.
If you have a little more money to spare, try adding in a window. Avoid knocking down walls, however, because that will make your cost skyrocket and might mean that you need to move plumbing.
10. Use Free Tools
Don’t fret if you don’t have the money for an interior designer. Technology is making designers unnecessary, and there are a lot of free tools at home improvement stores.
These tools do the creative work for you and can help you choose your materials and better visualize your new kitchen. Even an online tool like Pinterest can help you gather inspiration, and you’ll save tons of money.
Learn More Interior Design Tips
Planning an affordable kitchen remodel is possible, you just need to plan ahead and be smart with where your money is going. If you’re looking to remodel other areas of your home as well, check out the rest of our blog.
We have design tips for every part of your home from the bathroom to the backyard.
