HOW TO REMODEL YOUR KITCHEN ON A TIGHT BUDGET
How to Remodel Your Kitchen on a Tight Budget
If you’re tired of your old kitchen, but your budget doesn’t allow you to invest a lot of money in new cabinets, tiles and shiny appliances, don’t worry. Today, you can make a total kitchen remodel for only a fraction of the cost if you employ these easy and smart interior design tricks. This guide will definitely help you remodel your kitchen and you’ll still have enough money left for a nice vacation during the holidays.
Skip the custom-made furniture
Yes, custom furniture always looks better, but is the sky-high cost really worth it? All cabinet manufacturers offer a variety of different styles, colors and finishes nowadays. You might not be able to find cabinets that fit your kitchen perfectly, but you’ll save up enough money to get matching filler pieces to hide all gaps and make everything fit like a glove.
Give your old cabinets a fresh look
New kitchen cabinets are probably the biggest renovation expense, so if your existing cabinets are in decent shape, keep them instead of going shopping. You can easily give them a fresh look with a splash of bright white paint. White will do wonders for outdated cabinets and make them look more contemporary. For a finishing touch, get new hardware for your cabinets and drawers. These are super cheap but make a world of difference.
Let there be light
You can’t even imagine what kind of difference something as small as lighting can make in your kitchen. Lighting is an important part of every room, but kitchens seem to benefit the most from a little lighting upgrade. You can invest in some stylish hanging pendants over your food prep areas that will provide you with ample general and task lighting. They come in many different and interesting styles, and they can cost as little as $50. You can also add under-cabinet lighting that will not break your bank but will make a big difference. Also, pay attention to your kitchen window treatment. Replace your outdated curtains with something light and airy that will let in as much natural light as possible. An interesting window treatment is also a good and cheap way to add some color to your kitchen.
Keep the current sink location
If you can, try to keep your sinks and appliances at their existing locations. If you can use the same piping, electrical wiring, gas lines and hood-vent lines, you’ll be able to save a lot of money for other kitchen renovations. Experts say that every time you move your sink or dishwasher it costs you about $5,000, so keeping your existing layout is a smart idea. If you don’t want to move your sink to a different location, but still want to give it a little update, you can consider replacing your faucet. There are amazing options you can choose from for just a little over $100. It will instantly give your whole sink a new look.
Be smart with floors
If your old floors have seen better days, it’s time to give them a makeover or retire them completely. If you currently have wooden floors in your kitchen, you can simply refinish them for a new and fresh look. Even if you’re knocking down walls, you can still keep your existing floors by adding boards where the wall was and re-sanding the whole surface. However, if you’re aiming to replace your old vinyl or tile floors, you can take cost-effective flooring options into consideration. For instance, sealed cork is quite inexpensive and very easy on the eyes and feet. If you’re not planning to refinish or replace your floors, you can simply give them a new life with rugs. Interesting round rugs placed before your workstation will add both charm and comfort to your kitchen.
Go for simplicity
When it comes to cabinets, it’s always wiser to opt for classic shaker doors that are elegant and timeless, and much cheaper than the ones with intricate molding. This look will never go out of style and will spare you many future investments.
These inexpensive changes will give your kitchen a whole new feel while also being very budget-friendly. If you get really smart, you’ll save enough money to remodel your bedroom too!