Please review our list of cost-effective ways to achieve the kitchen you want while remaining within your budget before you begin your renovation.
Even cosmetic changes (painting the existing cabinets and walls, changing the sink, faucet, and hardware, installing pendant lighting, and updating the wiring) might cost $5,000 or more in a kitchen remodel. Removing walls, rearranging the layout, and purchasing new appliances, cabinets, and worktops cost a kitchen overhaul of $40,000 to $50,000 or more.
So, before you hire a contractor or start DIYing, go through these money-saving strategies, which vary from little tweaks to a major gut renovation, to guarantee you get the kitchen you want while staying within your budget.
Spend-Smart Strategies for Your Kitchen Makeover
Paint and Save on Cabinets
New cabinets account for 30% to 40% of your kitchen makeover expenditures. So, if you like their position and functioning but the finish is dark or dreary, consider painting them rather than replacing them. It’s a labor-intensive but manageable DIY project; your pocketbook will thank you. Hiring a professional painter will cost you a fraction of the price of new bespoke cabinets.
Style Tip: Remove the doors from many higher cabinets to create open shelves for a lighter, more relaxed appearance.
Splurge on a Quality Faucet
Because the faucet is the most heavily used kitchen component, go A high-grade brand with a single handle for ease and quality. If your sink is in front of a window, ensure the faucet and handles fit (and you don’t beat your knuckles on the sill). Keep it basic when choosing a sink: choose a single basin that is as big as you can tolerate and no deeper than 10 inches so you don’t have to kneel to wash the dishes.
Prep Before You Paint
These suggestions will help you get it done well, whether you’re doing it yourself or keeping a watch on your painter.
The finish’s sheen (or shininess) influences how easy it is to clean; choose semi-gloss. All trim should be eggshell, and painted cabinets should be glossy on the walls.
Preparation is essential before you begin painting; no amount of paint or primer will conceal damaged walls or nail holes in the trim. Sand any rough spots, repair nail holes, and caulk any seams. Furthermore, if you’ve hired a team, be sure your contractor defines who is in charge of what.
The best time to paint your kitchen is before you install the cabinets and backsplash on the walls to save money on labor (even if you have to redo it Later), avoid paint drips on cupboards and tiles, and maintain a clean line where they meet the wall.
When selecting a backsplash, keep both character and functionality in mind.
Consider the area between the countertop and the cabinets a blank canvas to create your masterpiece. Subway tiles have a classic appearance unless they are large, installed vertically, or arranged in a herringbone pattern. It isn’t easy to clean the grout lines in tiny mosaic designs.
In addition to glass, metal, stone, mosaic, embossed ceramic, and other tiles, alternative non-tile possibilities include beadboard paneling and metal ceiling tiles. Choose something that matches your tastes while being aesthetically attractive and simple to maintain so prospective buyers are not turned off when you place the property on the market.
Consider Quartz
Quartz, an artificial Stone-like countertop material, has eclipsed granite as the most preferred.
According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association. And for good reason: quartz is essentially stain-proof, scratch-proof, and chip-proof; it never has to be sealed.
Quartz is available in a range of colors and designs. Many of these closely replicate the natural variation of marble and limestone, the actual versions of which are exceedingly high-maintenance alternatives for kitchen counters.
Don’t Scrimp on Lighting
You may choose from three different designs of light fittings for your kitchen. (Hint: you want all of them.)
- Install recessed ceiling fixtures above all open floors to provide ambient lighting where people will stand and work.
- Under-Cabinet illumination: Use this to provide task illumination over the counters, as well as to highlight the countertop, backsplash, and cabinets if it is the only light turned on.
- Ceiling Fixtures/Pendants: Add ornate pendants to workspaces such as islands, peninsulas, and sinks to offer diffuse light without casting shadows.
Consider Wood-Look Flooring Options
Wood has a natural, timeless beauty, but it scratches, dents, and wears in the kitchen.
Porcelain tile is simple to clean and comes in several patterns, including authentic stone and wood looks, but most things that fall on it shatter.
Consequently, consider the following gentler options: Luxury vinyl and laminate flooring (seen above) is long-lasting, soft, and forgiving and comes in various wood looks that most people confuse for the real thing.
Budget Guidelines for a Major Kitchen Remodel
When deciding how much to spend on your kitchen redesign, three aspects should be considered:
- How much money do you have to spend on your perfect kitchen?
- Quality of kitchens in other homes in your area.
- How long do you intend to remain in your current place? Keep the following in mind while searching for resale payback: The worth of the space as a proportion of your home’s overall value determines how much you should be willing to spend on significant renovations.
Get Out Your Wallet for a Gut Job
By tearing everything down to the studs, you may change the location and size of doors and windows, add, move, or remove walls, run new electrical, plumbing, and heating/cooling systems, find and repair any rot or bug damage, and insulate.
Demolition, removal of existing materials, and replacement of wallboard and trim, on the other hand, will significantly raise the cost of your project. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of your particular project with your contractor.
Insulate Well Before Putting Up Walls
Although spray foam insulation offers the finest barrier against outside temperatures and drafts, fiberglass batt insulation or stone wool insulation may save you thousands of dollars if you’ve gutted the kitchen.
Before installing drywall, make sure your contractor furs out the ceiling to make it level (if the joists aren’t straight) and installs the wallboard using screws rather than nails to avoid nail pops.
Get the Look of High-End Cabinets at a Lower Price
Unless you’re looking for something unique, you may have the cabinet look you desire (door style, wood type, finish) without the high cost of custom cabinets (made to order to your exact design and size requirements).
Consider two low-cost alternatives: Stock cabinets are the least expensive and most readily available; each manufacturer provides a limited selection of designs and finishes in three-inch width increments. The Goldilocks option is semi-custom cabinets made to order using a company’s current plans and finishes in one-inch increments.
Invest in New Windows
You don’t have to demolish your kitchen to replace the windows and doors, but moving or expanding them may necessitate destruction in certain areas.
New windows will enhance energy efficiency, tilt in for simple cleaning, and remove the unattractive storm windows standard in older homes with single-pane windows. However, if the structure is historic, avoid replacing high-quality wood windows with low-cost plastic replicas.
You don’t have to destroy your kitchen to replace the windows and doors, but relocating or extending them might need complete demolition in certain sections.
New windows will improve your energy efficiency, tilt in for easy cleaning, and eliminate the unsightly storm windows seen in many houses with original single-pane windows. However, if the building is historic, avoid making the mistake of replacing high-quality wood windows with low-cost plastic copies.
Do you have any further questions about your kitchen remodel? Please contact JPS Cedar Park Remodeling Company; we are happy to help!
