Wednesday, June 17, 2020

How To Remodel Your Kitchen On A Budget


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.
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