Remodeling your kitchen can do a number on your finances, but you can to find ways to save money.
First, consider the big-ticket items, including cabinets, countertops, appliances and flooring. Each of these can be the showstopper that increases or decreases your home’s value. Real estate agents have revealed in numerous studies that remodeling a kitchen is the best thing you can do to up a home’s appraisal, so it’s no wonder that it’s often the most expensive.
How can you get a better kitchen on a budget?
Wooden cabinets are by far the most desirable, but also range widely in style and cost. Consider different types of wood and even bamboo to keep your budget in check.
Unpainted cabinets are also more budget friendly, and you can still customize the look with a staining and finish of your choice. Choosing a wood that’s local, abundant and easy to work with can drastically reduce your kitchen remodeling budget.
Go the Popular Route
Right now, Shaker style cabinets are both the most popular and the most budget-friendly for renovations. This classic style has a recessed middle panel and a classic look that will never be dated. It’s a safer choice than more lavish cabinet styles, some of which cost a pretty penny and will be out of style in just a few years.
If you want to shake things up with your shakers, you can stain the recessed panel and the remaining wood contrasting shades.
Another way to save money is by having your cabinet installer ditch doors altogether. Adopting a clean, glassless French country look or opting for open shelving instead of cabinets gives your home a quaint feel. In this case, go with a wood grain that stands out beyond the stain to embrace even more of that rustic vibe.
Coming Full Circle in the Kitchen
Countertops are the second place your eye goes in the kitchen, and the options are nearly limitless. Natural stone counters, especially granite and quartz, are in demand. It may be worth it to splurge on one of these natural stone options instead of tile or laminate, but you can still be financially savvy.
Choose a thinner slab in a pattern that’s more common, or score a remnant to really save big! As a bonus, more popular patterns are likelier to pair well with your cabinets, which is the most important aspect to consider.
Appliances can be found gently loved for a fraction of the cost. Shop clearance items, Habitat for Humanity Restores and discount shops selling last year’s models or those with minor cosmetic damage. Unless you’re going the vintage route, seek out appliances still under a manufacturer’s warranty. You might be able to save by picking up and delivering yourself, too.
For more tips on kitchen remodeling on a budget, call AWA Kitchen Cabinet.