How to Remodel a Kitchen on a Budget - 8 Expert Tips

Posted by KraftMaid on 2nd Dec 2020

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Setting a remodeling budget that lets you design your dream kitchen is no easy task. With careful planning and smart strategies, creating a personalized design that you’ll love for years to come is possible.

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At KraftMaid®, we’re experts at helping customers like you make great, informed choices about where to save and where to splurge to get the kitchen you really want and the features you need. Here are a few of our tried and true expert tips for stretching your remodeling budget.

1: PLAN WITH PURPOSE

Your kitchen design should seamlessly align with your lifestyle. If you’re a dedicated entertainer, you’ll want to prioritize features that accommodate a crowd comfortably, like a generous kitchen island with lots of seating. Culinary enthusiasts will benefit from savvy storage solutions and pro-style appliances that elevate the cooking experience. Think about how you truly want your kitchen to function and what you’ll need to bring it to life with our free digital planning resources. The KraftMaid Kitchen Visualizer and Storage Solution Quiz can help put your ideas into perspective and create a personalized design blueprint that balances your design vision and your budget.

2: PUT IN SOME SWEAT EQUITY

Roll up your sleeves to save a little – or a lot – of money on your kitchen remodel. There are plenty of parts of your project that you can take on, and the hard, hands-on work you put in can enhance your satisfaction with the completed space. Consider tackling these tasks: 

• Demo existing cabinets, countertops, flooring.
• Installing accent tile elements such as backsplashes. 
• Pitch in with painting and prepping.
• Ask your contractor what else you can do.

Of course, there are some areas – plumbing, electric, and cabinet installation – that demand professional expertise to ensure safety and functionality, while avoiding costly mistakes or bigger expenses down the road.

3: INVEST IN QUALITY CABINETRY

Cabinets serve as both the structural and style foundation of your kitchen, typically outlasting any appliance or countertop you pair them with. That’s why scrimping in this area just isn’t advantageous, and thoughtful cabinetry selection is essential to any smart kitchen remodeling plan. Allocating approximately 40% of your total budget toward quality, high-performance cabinetry is a good rule of thumb. Insist on sturdy, well-crafted materials, and consider these strategic approaches to maximize overall value:  

• Explore cabinet door styles with a veneer center panel instead of solid wood. This option is available for some of the most popular cabinetry looks. 
• Consider open shelving instead of wall cabinets in a portion of your layout. It’s an elegant design element that reduces material expenses.
• Move toward minimalist styles. Slab and flat panels, like Shaker-style cabinet doors, are timeless looks that are usually more affordable than raised panel cabinets.

Unsure of costs? Get a real sense of what the cabinet configuration you envision will cost with our Project Cost Calculator.

4: STALL ON STORAGE – JUST FOR A BIT 

Smart storage can dramatically enhance the enjoyment and functionality of your kitchen, but you don’t need to go all in during the initial stages of your renovation. When working within budget constraints, rest assured that many organizational elements can be added later. Essential space savers and innovations, like cutlery dividers, door storage, and wire tray dividers, are easy DIY retrofits that you can buy online at kraftmaid.com when the time is right. Delaying these purchases is also a great strategy as it allows you to better understand your true needs after gaining lived experience in your kitchen.

5: CUT BACK ON COUNTERTOP COSTS

It’s no secret that countertops can blow up your budget, but there are some ways to play it smart. The cheapest ways to remodel kitchen counters includes:

• Consider a laminate, then upgrade later – installing a granite overlay or swapping out your entire countertop is a relatively simple job that can be done in as little as one day. 
• Splurge on a focal point. Go ahead and get that waterfall quartz on your center island right away, but balance your total expenses by coordinating it with a less expensive option for the rest of your counters.
• Infuse butcher block countertops into your style vision. Wood brings natural warmth and character into your kitchen while transcending design trends, and it can be a budget-friendly option depending on species and thickness. Other plusses of butcher block: it’s a sustainable, durable, and customizable material that ages beautifully. 
• Look into countertop remnants. Explore local stoneyards and fabricators for discounted leftover pieces, a cost-effective solution for smaller kitchen and centerpiece islands. 
• Make older countertops new again. If your current laminate countertops are structurally sound, refinishing them can create a fresh look at a fraction of the cost replacement.

6: CHOOSE APPLIANCES WISELY

Designing a new kitchen around old appliances isn’t always ideal. You risk building cabinetry to fit a refrigerator or dishwasher that could soon fail, making replacement difficult. However, there are ways to save on new appliances:

• Consider whether you really need top-of-the-line, professional-grade appliances. Most homeowners are perfectly happy with more affordable, mid-range options.
• Look for closeouts and floor models to get the high-end features you want for less. 
• Opt for energy-smart appliances that will save you money throughout the life of your kitchen. 
• If your appliances are fairly new and unlikely to need replacement in the near future, but you’d like another look, consider refacing instead of replacing. KraftMaid offers decorative appliance panels for refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers that provide an integrated furniture look with the rest of your kitchen. 

7: SPEND A LITTLE AND GET A LOT WITH FINISHING TOUCHES

Smaller decorative elements, like light fixtures, kitchen faucets, and cabinet hardware, are fairly inexpensive items that can deliver a striking visual impact. Something as simple as a set of special pendant lights over a peninsula can make a space look extraordinary. Don’t underestimate the effect that thoughtful details can have on the overall aesthetic of your kitchen.

8: LEVERAGE FREE EXPERT ADVICE

Not sure where to start with a kitchen remodel? Throughout your renovation journey, be sure to take advantage of free resources and advice. Here at KraftMaid, we offer tools backed by experts and other ways to leverage the knowledge of kitchen design professionals:

• Our Ballpark Budget Calculator can give you a better sense of what your kitchen budget might be and how you can expect to divvy it up across eight remodeling expense categories.
• If you already have design ideas in mind, our Project Cost Calculator can show you how specific spending decisions will affect your totals.
• Wondering how to get a look that’s just right, improve functionality, and flex your budget? Use our Ask a Designer feature to get advice from an experienced kitchen designer.

BONUS TIP: WORK WITH A PRO

It may seem counterintuitive, but hiring a kitchen designer can potentially save you money. Experienced professionals who have a deep understanding of the renovation process can not only provide innovative ideas to optimize your spacev, but also help you avoid costly mistakes and attain better deals through established industry connections.