A kitchen remodelling can be a very expensive investment, and certainly not something to be approached in a hurry. So, before you visit a professional to redo your kitchen, you might want to check these kitchen remodelling tips and tricks to create the perfect cooking space for your home, without breaking the bank.
1. Planning a budget based on your needs
Planning a budget for home remodeling can be difficult. It’s always tempting to pick up all the best, most luxurious items available, but yet we don’t want to put too much toll on our finances.
We can always look at the beautiful kitchen photos on Pinterest and compare our kitchen with our friends’. However, the best possible approach is to plan a budget based on your needs. Do you actually need high-end appliances for your cooking purposes? Do you need an oven? Do you prefer electric or gas stoves? Do you need a ventilation or hood, or your house already has a proper airflow?
Of course, you can also base these needs on future plans. You probably always wanted to grill but didn’t have an oven, so purchasing one will be a good idea. Aesthetic needs are also valid, provided you do have the budget.
Think hard about your needs, and your goal is to purchase the most affordable items according to these needs.
2. Unless it’s necessary, avoid a complete overhaul
The most significant portion of kitchen remodelling usually happens when you move the plumbing or major appliances. In general, it can cost you at least an additional $5,000 for moving just one section of plumbing.
Your house, however, humble, already have an existing architectural style in place, with an existing plumbing layout. Changing too much of this can cost you a lot of money, so unless it’s absolutely necessary, avoid it.
It’s far more cost-efficient to work with the current layout and so you can have better appliances and equipment. With enough creativity, any layout can look good.
Meet with multiple designers and get quotes without changing any layout. If changing layout is absolutely necessary, consult a plumber for the most affordable way to move the plumbing.
3. Reuse old cabinets
If you are lucky, you can reuse existing cabinets that are still in good condition, even more if it’s originally made of good-quality wood. More often than not, you will only need to refinish and re-polish the cabinet to match your new kitchen designs.
Cabinet frames are often very expensive, and so when you can salvage them, you can save a lot of money.
There are several approaches you can do here: clean and lightly sand your cabinets, and spray paint it. You might want to hire a professional painter to do the job, and if you do it right, it can look even better than a brand new cabinet.
You might also need to re-laminate the sides (and front), which is fairly affordable. Adding new doors and drawers can also be an affordable approach to reuse the cabinet.
4. Prioritize between functions and aesthetics
Kitchen remodelling can often clash between functionality and aesthetic purposes, and unless you have an unlimited budget, chasing both is generally not a good idea.
So, back to the first tip above:
Figure out your needs clearly and specifically. If you need function more than aesthetics, then you’ll probably need to change the layout, and you’ll need to invest on the necessary appliances.
However, if aesthetic is you main goal, changing the color of the room, updating your lighting, and simply swapping just a few elements with trendier picks can do the job.
Most of us, however, will want to find the middle ground, the balance between both worlds. In this case, prioritize on key appliances you absolutely need—function-wise—, that also can contribute aesthetically.
Consider this carefully, figure out your priority, and stick to the plan. More often than not, changing your plan midway is the one causing (significantly) more expenses.
Remember, sometimes less is more, and small changes can matter the most in kitchen remodelling.
5. Take advantage of free consultation
There are various home improvement centers and kitchen designers that offer free consultation and even will provide free design and layout. Take advantage of these, so you can get several design samples without spending any money.
Some of these are high-end professionals that will offer very useful advice, and who knows, one of them might stick to execute your remodelling project.
6. Invest on small but significant hardware
Small items like door knobs, pulls, and hinges can bring significant upgrade—aesthetic wise— to your kitchen. These items are usually very affordable, but can make a huge difference.
However, removing and replacing old knobs, hinges with shiny new ones can be time consuming. Yet, if aesthetic is your priority, this can be worth it.
7. Don’t forget water appliances
Faucet, sinks, and water fixtures are fairly inexpensive, but are very significant both in aesthetic and functional senses. You can get the trendiest items with relatively little investments.
Generally, you would want those with similar finishes to other items on your kitchen. For example, if your knobs are painted gold, you would also want a gold faucet. Consistency is the better choice in most cases.
8. Wide walkways are the way
Having proper paths around the kitchen can be a fairly affordable way to enhance your kitchen, both in aesthetic and functionality. In general, the walkways throughout the kitchen should be at least 36 inches in width, slightly more for paths within the cooking zone (42-50 inches wide). Remember if you have a two-stoves configuration, you will need a wider path.
Adjust kitchen isles according to your needs. Remember that this approach can also lead to fewer unnecessary appliances in the kitchen, which can reduce your costs.
Mandy Wilkens
Jimmy Cheng
Corey Doane
