Have you been dreaming of taking your kitchen from old and worn to refreshed and innovative? Remodeling the kitchen is a to-do task on most homeowners’ lists – but it isn’t cheap. Kitchen models cost $25,384 on average, or $150 per square foot. However, many homeowners can see their costs rise as high as $37,758. Even smaller remodeling projects can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Search online to find ways to remodel your kitchen for less.
From replacing your kitchen floors and countertops to swapping out old cabinets and appliances for new upgrades, there’s a lot involved in a kitchen remodel. And there are ways to cut your costs and lower the total price of your renovation. You can easily search online to find affordable kitchen remodeling ideas.
Here are just a few ways you can prepare for your kitchen remodel without overspending.
Make Cost-Conscious Material Choices
It’s tempting to strip your current kitchen down to the studs and start from scratch. But remodeling your kitchen doesn’t mean you have to redo absolutely everything. And even if you do decide to remodel from the walls out, you can choose more affordable options and materials.
Countertops are a great example. While stone countertops are attractive and highly durable, they’re also incredibly expensive. Instead of choosing costly marble or granite, you can opt for a lower-grade granite stone countertop – like a grade 2 instead of a grade 5. You can also consider laminate countertops instead, which cost much less.
Cabinets are another place you can make a cost-conscious decision. Choosing the fanciest cabinets with special features like drawers, roll-out trays, and Lazy Susans can add as much as $1,500 per cabinet to your budget. And high-quality woods like cherry can run incredibly expensive. Instead, consider cabinets made out of veneer or plywood. Even pressed wood cabinets can last as long as 20 years, giving you a lot of life at a far lower cost.
Focus on the Necessities
Another way to stick within your budget during a kitchen remodel is to focus on your priorities. It’s easy to wind up adding thousands of dollars to the overall cost of the project as construction happens. But it’s critical to keep your focus on the necessities and your bottom line.
Before your remodel even begins, make a list of your priorities. Which items are you most focused on fixing, updating, or replacing? What are your biggest areas of concern? Which aspects of your project are going to cost the most?
It’s a good idea to focus on these priorities above all else. The National Kitchen and Bath Association also suggests keeping these tips in mind:
- Avoid structural work that requires new plumbing, mechanical systems, and walls.
- Don’t change your mind. Once items have been ordered, that’s your final decision.
- Stop shopping once you have done your research and comparison shopping.
If you keep your focus on the big-ticket items, like flooring, cabinets, and appliances, you can keep your cost savings and budgetary cuts on smaller, less important items.
Enlist a Contractor’s Help to Save Money
Lastly, it’s a good idea to hire a professional contractor to organize, guide, and take charge of your kitchen remodel. With years of experience and expertise plus connections for people in the construction industry, a contractor can help ensure everything runs smoothly.