12 Ways to Save Money on Your Kitchen Remodel
The average kitchen renovation runs between about $20K and $50K, depending on how serious an overhaul it is. But you really can get more bang for less buck if you follow a few tips from the experts on ways to save money during a kitchen remodel.
By Alyson McNutt English, HGTV.com
Have a Grand Plan
Photo ©iStockphoto.com/Pali Rao
If you’re doing more than just painting the cabinets or replacing the countertops during your kitchen remodel, don’t try to save money out of the gate by not hiring a professional to create a design plan.
“Hiring a designer saves you time and money in the long run, so you don’t make expensive errors,” says south Florida-based designer Meredith Marlow.
Be Prepared Before You Start
Photo ©iStockphoto.com/BartCo
After choosing a professional to work with and coming up with a plan for your kitchen remodel, decide on absolutely everything you want in the kitchen, and have it on-site before a single inch of space sees the sledgehammer, says Robin Siegerman, Chief Design and Renovation Officer at Sieguzi Kitchen & Home Inc. in Toronto, Canada.
“One of the factors that sends a budget spiraling out of control is a homeowner picking products during the renovation,” she says.
If a product is back ordered, the homeowner is often faced with a choice: pick a different item that is often pricier, or wait for their original choice, when their tradespeople may have other jobs scheduled and the homeowner may be charged extra for the work.
Bright White Can Hide Outdated Cabinet Design
Design by Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri
One of the biggest expenses in any kitchen renovation is new cabinets. If yours are in good shape, though, consider keeping them and just giving them a new look.
Designer Justin Riordan recommends going bright white when painting cabinets in a kitchen remodel.
“White paint does wonders for outdated cabinets and can save you money,” he says.
He recommends washing, then priming and painting cabinets with high-quality white semi-gloss. Adding new hardware will enhance the bright white effect.
Doors Conceal Outdated Cabinets
Design by Nicole Curtis; photo by Andrew D Myers
If your cabinets are too outdated to be salvaged even by the snazziest coat of paint, consider if they could be spruced up with some new doors. If the structure is sound, you don’t have to toss out the whole cabinet: just get good measurements and find a style of door you like, and order it online, says John Gerard, author of Renovate Your Kitchen the Smart Way: How to Plan, Execute and Save Money During Your Kitchen Remodel. It’s a whole new look for a fraction of the price.
Cut Corners, Literally
Photo ©iStockphoto.com/TimAbramowitz
Your backsplash may technically be functional and keep food and oils off the walls behind the stove, but let’s be honest: in a kitchen renovation, the backsplash is a style leader. It can be a cost driver, as well.
But Mary Elizabeth Hulsey, founder of Mission Stone & Tile in Nashville, Tenn., says it doesn’t have to be. She says rather than turning the corners with your backsplash and carrying it all along the kitchen wall, just finish the tile where the walls meet.
“That ensures you have the tile where it’s most visually and functionally important,” she says. Then you can budget for some really mind-blowing tile in the area behind the sink or stove, and go budget in the other areas around it.
Light It Up
Photo by Jupiterimages
Bringing in more and better lighting is a smart move in any renovation, but that’s especially true in the kitchen. Hang well-designed pendants for style and light, and make sure overhead lighting is bright and concentrated in areas where the cook will be working.
Don’t forget the details: adding under-cabinet lighting won’t bust your budget but will make a big impact, says interior designer Robin Wilson.
Visit HGTV.com to find 6 more ways to save money on your kitchen remodel >>
