Ways To Save Money On Your Kitchen Remodel

Updating your home, especially the kitchen, can help you to save money over time. Unfortunately, not everyone has tens of thousands of dollars or more to make the necessary changes. The good news is that you can remodel your kitchen, even on a tight budget.

Salvage and Reuse

Remodeling your kitchen doesn’t mean that you have to call in a contractor to gut it and start from scratch. There are many things that you can salvage and restore. For example, your kitchen cabinets, even if they look worn and outdated can become beautiful with a few simple steps. Start by removing the doors and then sanding the layers of paint and finish off. This will give you a clean surface to work from. Then all you need to do is buy the paint, finish and new hardware. When you reattach them, they will look brand new. Do the same with your hardwood floor. Sand it down and apply a stain if you want to change the floor color. If not, apply a coat of polyurethane to seal the floor.

Appliances

Older appliances consume a lot of energy and are responsible for high electric bills. Replacing an older stove, refrigerator and dishwasher with energy-efficient models will not only look fantastic, but they will cut down on your use of energy. Additionally, newer appliances have more custom features to make your life easier. And, since you will use your appliance quite often, make sure that you check the reviews of a variety of brands prior to your purchase.

The ones that cost the most aren’t always the best ones on the market. Also, replacing all of your appliances can cost a lot of money. You can replace one or two now and another one later on or, you can find retailers or loan companies that have kitchen appliances you can buy now and pay later, over time.

Countertops

Unless your countertops are newer, you probably will need to replace them. On the plus side, while they may consume a good portion of your budget, adding high-quality countertops, like those made with stone or granite, will drastically enhance the look of your kitchen. They are also scratch and stain-resistant and improve the resale value of your home. So, in the end, replacing them will pay dividends.

Lighting

If you have an older home, you may only have one hanging light in the kitchen. If you’re willing to do some of the work yourself and know an electrician, you can change up the lighting to recess to create even lighting, which is ideal for cooking. If you don’t know anyone in the business, you’ll need to find one. Check with family, friends and co-workers to see who they use.

Finishing Touches

To complete your remodel, consider adding a stylish backsplash along the inside wall of the cabinets or behind the stove. This is a DIY project that you can complete for a fraction of the cost of hiring a contractor. Along with the backsplash, replacing things such as the light socket covers, adding a small area rug for comfort and aesthetics, a large stainless steel sink and faucet, and a fresh coat of paint in a complementary color.

Have a Budget in Place

Kitchen remodels can be expensive and going over your budget is easy. In order to stay on track and not spend more than what you’re able to invest, it’s important to shop around first to get an idea of the costs and then create a budget and stick to it.

A kitchen remodel can run into $30,000 or even more to complete. The good news is that if you are willing to do some of the work yourself and salvage what you can, you can do it for a fraction of the cost.