I have a theory that the room in the house which you love most is a
reflection of you in some way. If you love the living room, you love
relaxing and spending time with the family. If you love the bedroom, you
love sleeping in on your day off. If you love the bathroom, you love…
well…
Me? I love cooking and, even more than that, I love eating. So
naturally, my favorite room is the kitchen. Since I spend so much time
there, I need it to be comfortable. I need it to be functional. I need
it to be convenient. And, of course, I need it to make all my friends
jealous.
Like most people, though, I used to think remodeling the
kitchen had to be expensive. However, after helping a friend with some
home improvement projects on a piece of real estate in Vancouver, I
learned just how wrong I was. Today I’m going to share some of the tips I
picked up, so you too can make your kitchen as comfortable, functional,
convenient, and jealousy-inducing as you’ve always dreamed.
Build on what’s already there
One of the easiest ways to save money
when remodeling your kitchen is to look at what’s there not as junk to
be torn out and replaced, but as a foundation to build upon. If you’re
looking at making more room or if there are certain elements that just
can’t be salvaged, by all means rip them out and start anew. But taking
what you have and making it better is always cheaper. Sometimes all it
takes is a little imagination.
Are your cabinets beat up or too
small? Instead of replacing them completely, consider repainting them,
installing different doors, taking out shelves or dividers to make extra
space, or adding crown molding for a touch of elegance. Putting in some
new light fixtures can brighten up the room and completely alter the
atmosphere. There are plenty of small changes and stylish accents that
can transform what you have in ways you’d never believe.
Comparison shop appliances
Another great way of cutting costs on a remodeling job is to do it
yourself instead of hiring a contractor. Obviously that’s not an option
for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have more of a say in the
process. Often, clients will let the contractor choose the models of
appliances as well as where those appliances come from. Well, to heck
with that!
Whether you’re working alone or with a contractor, this
kitchen still belongs to you and you’re the one footing the bill. Don’t
be afraid to comparison shop. Research the exact oven, refrigerator, and
dishwasher you want, then research who has it for the lowest price. You
can save even more money by buying “nick and dent” or “open box”
appliances. They work just as well as pristine new ones, and often the
cosmetic damage is so minor that it’s unnoticeable.
Don’t do everything at once
The biggest mistake homeowners make when
remodeling any room in their house is assuming they have to do the
whole thing all at once. Newsflash: you don’t. In truth, making
individual changes only when you need or can afford them doesn’t just
lessen the overall impact of your expenses, it can actually make those
individual alterations cheaper as well.
The important thing is
knowing what to prioritize. Go into your remodeling project with a game plan and a rough timetable. Start with things that are in disrepair or
which run throughout the entire kitchen, like plumbing, wiring, or
flooring. If you make smaller changes first, then when you go back and
to do more fundamental ones you could end up ruining and having to redo
all the work you previously did. Once those bedrock renovations are
locked down, you can begin taking the rest one by one, as your budget
allows.
