Ways to save on kitchen remodel
Getting as much as possible for as little as possible is embedded in human nature, and that is, possibly, one of the most wonderful qualities of humans. It’s what drives the progress forward. So when you are planning to redo your kitchen, it is only natural to look for ways to save on a thing or two. At the end of the day, money don’t come easy and everybody wants to get as much as possible for their hard earn dollars. While some things are absolutely essential, others – not so much. Read on to find out ways to save on your kitchen remodel.
If you decided that you are ready for a full-blown remodel, first you need to re-assess the condition of your entire kitchen, not just the cabinets, but the floors, the walls, the backsplash, etc.
Changing floors is an ordeal of its own, especially if you have tile. The easiest and the cheapest way to change tiled floor is to lay vinyl on top of it. The material is cheap, waterproof, life proof and installs very quickly. Nowadays, selection of vinyl is very large and you can find almost any color and style.
Then, pick your appliances, if you are changing them. You don’t want to realize mid-project that you don’t have enough money for a fridge. If you are not planning to change appliances now, make sure to at least know which ones you want, to make sure that your new kitchen will have enough space should you choose to upgrade/replace in the future.
Next, opt out for stock cabinetry. Not only are those cheaper, they take less time to get delivered also. For semi-custom cabinets you are generally looking at 4-8 weeks lead time; for stock – 5-10 days. You will be saving on take-outs as well as cabinetry.
Then, look at the trim and decorative additions to your kitchen. Most of the the time you could save money by buying your crown molding separately (in one of the box stores) and painting it to match the cabinets. You get less choice that way and it would only work if your cabinets don’t have glaze on them. Same goes for corbels, as those can get incredibly expensive. Buying unfinished ones and painting or staining them to match can be a great money saver!
And finally, take your time and break the renovation into several stages. Do the essentials first: the floors and the cabinets, then you can change your appliances, then add decorative trims, etc. You don’t have to buy that marble countertop you wanted straight away, get a laminate one. It’s a snap to install and remove and you can always get the countertop of your dreams later on. Breaking it down into several stages also gives you an opportunity to change things that you otherwise would miss on.
As with everything, preparation is the key, even more so when the budget is rather tight. Talk to your designer, ask questions, see what needs to be done immediately and what can wait, and you are sure to update your kitchen without breaking the bank!
For your deep drawers, consider peg board storage. It is probably the most versatile system of drawer storage. The pegs hold whatever you store there in place and don’t let it slide. If you have a cooktop, putting dishes there makes serving very convenient! Just make sure that your drawer slides and bottom can take the weight of your dinnerware.