When you learn that the national average price to remodel a kitchen is around $21,500 it’s not surprising that people won’t even attempt it. Even if your price fell below the average, you would still be spending anywhere from $6,000 to $13,000 for what is considered a small-scale renovation. But the price doesn’t even have to be that high! It all depends on what you choose to get done.
Although a tight budget may not allow you to create the kitchen of your dreams, you can still have the next best thing. All it takes is a little patience, smart thinking, and elbow grease. But most of all, planning is important. You never should jump right into a kitchen renovation without first considering every aspect of it.
It’s also not a bad idea to get inspiration from design gurus, such as the Cape Cod kitchen renovation experts. If you allow them to assist you in the planning phase, you can judge the best ways to save money on your home kitchen renovation. You can identify what you will take on as a DIY project and which areas you will need professional help with.
You will also have a ballpark estimate of how much materials and labor will cost you. After you’ve finished this planning phase, you can start working out ways to save money. One of the best ways to do that is to first identify where the bulk of your money will be spent.
Identify Big Expenses
Take some time to contemplate what changes you will make, how long it will be, and how much it will cost you. According to HomeAdvisor professional labor takes about 30% to 35% of the costs. Meanwhile, the products such as cabinets, countertops, and appliances will account for 65% to 70% of the overall price of your remodel. So, it’s important to try and find a balance. In this way, you can identify the big expenses that you consider mandatory.
Next, discard or rethink ideas that may eat up too much of your budget. It’s better to make compromises during this phase before any real work has begun. For example, you may decide that knocking down a wall or installing a skylight is smarter financially. If you had already spent a ton of cash on new appliances, custom cabinets, and quartz countertops you may regret not making the cheaper adjustments first.
Cut Kitchen Cabinet Costs
Cabinets are the most expensive components of your home kitchen remodel project. On average, homeowners spend almost $5,000 on their cabinets, but they could be spending $450 or even less. This happens because most people plan to have their cabinets completely replaced without first considering what they can do. For example, ripping down and assembling new cabinets yourself can save money on labor costs.
You can also try a DIY kitchen cabinet remodel. Create more efficient storage by installing shelves or organizing mechanisms like pockets inside them. You can also try refacing or refinishing them. When refacing them, you are simply replacing the doors to give the cabinet a new surface look. When refinishing them, you must give a bit of elbow grease. Wash, sand and seal the cabinets then add a coat of paint.
Cheap Kitchen Countertop Ideas
People spend around $4,500 for natural stone countertops but could be paying way less. One idea is to ditch the natural stone in lieu of a cheaper material like recycled glass or laminate. Although less lavish, these other countertop materials are a few thousand dollars cheaper.
However, if you don’t want to compromise on the natural stone countertops, you can try finding the slab yourself from stone manufacturers. It will be much cheaper in the unfinished form. Another option is to get a material that closely mimics the natural stone such as solid surface countertops. However, you need to be careful with those options, as they can run up quite a tab too.
Look into Lighting
If your kitchen is in dire need of better lighting, you may want to consider making windows a priority in terms of your renovation costs. After all, nothing looks better than natural lighting. However, if you would prefer to add a few more lighting fixtures instead, then go for the cheaper ones. For example, pendants and ceiling mounted fixtures are much cheaper than inset lighting or chandeliers.
There are also some cheaper options or DIY tricks you can try. For example, you can include a light dimmer to have better control over the lighting in the area. You can buy touch sensor lights to stick underneath or inside your cabinets. You might want to try some of the higher tech gadgets such as lights that clap on and off. There are even lights that can be controlled from your smartphone. If you do your research, you can see what cool options are available to you.
Save on Appliances
Of course, everyone would like to have some shiny new appliances. However, when you are already putting so much money into renovating your kitchen, it may not always be a logical move financially. You may need to decide which to replace immediately and which ones to replace later down the road.
If your appliances need to be replaced or upgraded as soon as possible, perhaps try getting used appliances. Refurbished appliances are almost like new but come at a substantially cheaper price. However, if it’s the new look that you are after, then try refinishing your appliances to make them gleam once again.
Not to mention, it won’t kill your budget to upgrade smaller appliances like a toaster, coffee maker or microwave. These small changes can make a big difference. And instead of replacing the sink, you can simply replace the faucet.
Emphasize Aesthetic
One of the best ways to make the most out of your renovation is to embrace what you already have. For example, if your kitchen is outdated, try fully embracing the era and style that it was meant for. You may end up saving a ton of money this way, as you already have all the bare bones to make a charming new kitchen.
If you are unsure of how to do this, then consider contacting a professional kitchen remodeling company. A few benefits you can gain from them is that they will tell you the best ways to work your aesthetic and save money. So, if you are sick and tired of your current kitchen, then get in touch with local designers today to find out what the best option is for you.
