If you’re considering revamping your kitchen, it’s a smart money investment that will increase your enjoyment of your home as well as the resale value. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind when it comes to keeping the kitchen remodel cost reasonable. The first is to not jump in without a firm plan that lays out the expenses for materials, appliances and labor. The second is to do your homework before you start choosing your supplies so you know where your money is best spent.
Some aspects of your remodel can be done on the cheap while others will give better results if you splurge a little. By preparing for your kitchen project with this in mind, you can balance out a reasonable budget that delivers the results you want. Here are five examples of save versus splurge choices to consider for your project to cut back on your remodel costs without sacrificing functionality, looks or resale value.
Splurge on Counters, Scrimp on Flooring
Your countertops are one of the most noticeable areas of your kitchen and can even be a focal point. Opting for cheaper laminate detracts from the look. Invest in a good quality stone, marble or granite surface for long-wearing good looks. If you have a ton of counter space and can’t afford to do all of the surfaces in a high quality stone, consider doing your island in granite and then go for more affordable wood that complements the stone for outlying counters.
You want a nice looking floor, but don’t have to spend a fortune to get it. Opt for an eco-friendly engineered cork or high quality linoleum instead of tile. It will look great, be low maintenance and a lot easier on your back. Have you ever stood for hours on a stone floor cooking? (Ouch) You’re also less likely to break things you drop and your kids are less likely to end up teary after a spill on a cork floor than a rock-hard tile one.
Splurge on Hardware, Scrimp on Cabinets
Good quality hardware for your drawers and cabinets doesn’t come cheap, but can completely change the look of your kitchen. For a huge splurge, Restoration Hardware has some amazing vintage looks but you can also pick up nice looking brushed nickel, burnished copper or crystal pulls and handles at big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes. You’ll be surprised at how many you need once you start counting, but these are worth the money.
In contrast, you can make do with the cabinets you have and simply refinish them. Check out our YouTube channel for in-depth DIY videos on redoing cabinets yourself. If you need more cabinets or must reconfigure them, this is more costly, but Ikea and big box stores have affordable basic cabinets that can be made lovely with a nice coat of high quality paint rather than opting for custom cabinetry which can cost $20,000-$40,000 depending on the size of your kitchen.
Splurge on Your Sink, Scrimp on Your Faucet
This is another case of investing in a permanent aspect of your new kitchen and saving money now with an option to upgrade later. Because your new counters will be cut around your sink, you should choose a sink that you really want and can live with for years to come. A nice deep farmhouse sink looks great and can save you on counters because there’s no counter to surround it. Definitely splurge on something that will look good and will last for years to come.
In contrast, a lower cost faucet and sprayer is a good place to save money for a couple of reasons. First is there are a number of attractive looking cheaper brands that will look good even if they’re not top of the line. Second is that it’s a simple matter to upgrade your faucet at a later date. A tip is to keep an eye on the big box clearance aisle and look for a high quality faucet that’s open box or discontinued that’s at least 50% off of retail. In the meantime, your lower cost faucet will do just fine.
The Bottom Line on What Items to Splurge versus Save On…
It all comes down to your personal preference and habits. If your appliances are still in good shape, there’s no need to replace them as long as they will fit your new décor. And if you do choose to upgrade them, think about how you use them. How often do you use your oven? If it’s something you use only on holidays versus the workout you give your stove top range, consider splurging on one and saving on the other.
There are many upgrades you can continually add on to your kitchen after your initial remodel project so that you don’t have to sink a big investment into your kitchen all at once. Wall tile, backsplashes and accents can be added later. For instance, you can upgrade lighting fixtures in time if you opt for cheaper ones now (Ikea has a nice selection).
When you choose Corvus Construction for your project, we will work with you to keep your kitchen remodel cost within your budget. We’ll show how to save money and even give you options where you can do some DIY to cut your costs without trying to tackle the whole project on your own. Call us now for a free in-home consultation on getting you the dream kitchen you deserve!