7 Tips for Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget

This post was originally written by Emily Huddleston on Redfin. See the full article here.

The kitchen is one of the most important areas of the home – and that’s why it’s usually the first room homeowners choose to remodel. Whether it’s redoing the cabinetry, adding a new backsplash, or upgrading the lighting, remodeling a kitchen will not only make the space more pleasant to be in, but it can also increase the value of your home.

But what if you don’t have a large budget for a remodel? Don’t worry yet! There are plenty of ways to stretch your kitchen-remodeling budget and avoid a steep price tag. With some patience and creativity, you can make a big impact in your kitchen while also keeping costs down.

To help you get started, we’ve reached out to kitchen remodeling experts from across the country, from those living in San Antonio, TX to those in Raleigh, NC, for their best advice. Check out their best tips and tricks for a successful kitchen remodel on a budget.

1. Keep your existing cabinetry boxes.

When remodeling a kitchen, the highest dollar item is the cabinetry. If your cabinets are in good shape but just outdated, keep your existing cabinet boxes. Then just replace the cabinet door and drawer fronts. This is also a great time to go with concealed soft-close door hinges and drawer guides. After new paint, it will look like you have brand new cabinetry at a fraction of the cost. – Revent Remodeling & Construction

2. Make a “wants” list and a “needs” list.

This way you can prioritize how you want to spend your investment. It helps remodel specialists to identify your expectations and have a better plan on design layout, material selections, and project management in the budget you can afford.  This will save you tons of time and money, plus less panic and headache. – New Generation Kitchen & Bath

3. Hire a seasoned and experienced kitchen designer.

A good designer can make sure you get the most for your money without missing important items easily overlooked by an average contractor. A great design pays off in a better workflow, lifestyle, and resale value for your home.- Luxury Kitchen Bath Express

4. Know your budget and stick to it.

There may be an additional cost or unforeseen work that will be needed to get the job done right. Make sure to include an additional cost in your budget to compensate for the unknown. If you know your budget then you can do your best to stay within it by not blowing the bank on one particular item. If your budget does not allow you to get the products you desire, save up and wait for what you want, especially if this is a house you are making into a home.- Cabinet Factories Outlet Redlands

5. Try to keep the current footprint of your kitchen.

You will burn up your budget quickly on infrastructure changes such as wall removals, sinks moved to islands, appliances, and electrical upgrades. If, for instance, you have to remove a wall to provide an open concept, that’s fine, but try not to combine that upgrade while also moving all of your appliances and your sink as well. – C&S Remodeling

6. Offset costs with cabinet assembly kits.

When renovating a kitchen, cabinets are often a significant portion of someone’s budget. So some of our customers purchase online “assembly kits” (from IKEA, etc.) to help offset some of that cost. This approach does require time to assemble, but they are well built and can help you save a ton of money when compared to traditional pre-assembled cabinets.  You can also reface the cabinets with upgraded doors for a higher-end look, add new hardware, and paint the cabinets for a perfect new look. – Home One Services

7. Focus on the details.

Every client has a budget, and no matter how big or small it is, we must find creative ways to stay within it. So how do we complete a kitchen remodel on a budget, while still giving our clients a custom and unique look? We like to mix prefab and custom together, so start with the details. Items like hood vents, cabinets and panels, and island legs give a custom look for less. We also like to use standard materials that are paint grade or apply beams to the ceiling and creative trim on the walls to also give a custom look for half the cost. – Clearcut Construction & Co.