Designing Economically
At LJ’s kitchens, our designers can approach kitchens remodeling with limited funds and provide expert advice for remodeling on a budget. Our staff enjoys the creative challenge of remodeling your kitchens to your satisfaction and without going over budget. Dreaming of renovating your kitchens but don’t have an extra $20-$50K lying around? While this is the average range for kitchens remodeling, there are ways to update under $2,000 or even $500. Remodeling your kitchens – or any room– can be pricy. However, with creative problem solving and careful planning, it is possible to keep costs down.
Where to Focus Your Money
It’s important to update your kitchens about every 20 years. But when you’re remodeling on a budget, it’s important to know where to focus your money. What is non-negotiable and what can you do without? Just like you would if you had all the money in the world, ask yourself what you’re trying to accomplish by remodeling your kitchens. Are you trying to make your kitchens more conducive to cooking? Did you buy your house, despite the kitchens, knowing it was something you would later change to suit your style? What is most important to you?
Ready. Set.
Choose all of your materials before you start the execution of the remodel. If items have to be backordered in the middle of construction, you may have to choose pricier items to replace your original selections – or halt construction mid-job and have a headache to deal with. Don’t Move Fixtures Try to keep the plumbing where it is. It can cost $5,000 every time you rearrange a major appliance. $5,000 will pay for a lot of renovation somewhere else!
18 kitchens Remodeling Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank
- Painting
- Cabinet doors
- Swing-out cabinets
- Cabinet hardware
- Backsplashes
- Open shelving
- Lighting
- Window treatments
- Add an island
- Flooring
- Butcher block
- Re-use
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore
- Remnant stone
- Salvage shops
- Add detail
- Accessorize
- Go timeless
1. Painting
Painting your walls or kitchens cabinets can transform the room for relatively little money. If you painted your kitchens in the hot colors of the season and are ready for a change, repainting the room can make it seem like a new room! While ultimately it is up to you, consider choosing light colors. A light inexpensive kitchens looks more elegant than its dark counterpart. Light paint hides dents and scratches too. Painting outdated cabinets bright white can obscure their age. Adding modern hardware is another quick fix that can make cabinets look current. Aesthetics aside, walls become dirty from cooking. kitchens islands often have scuffs from shoes, detracting from an otherwise attractive feature. Nothing lasts forever and paint chips. A fresh coat of paint is an easy way to freshen up the room aesthetically and practically.
2. Cabinet doors
New doors can almost completely obscure anything out of date. If they’re glass cabinets, go even farther and replace the glass with textured or stained glass. That said, stained glass can be pricy, but if you’re focused in your remodel you can splurge on changes that have high impact.
3. Swing-out cabinets
Need more storage? Don’t we all. Swing-out cabinets accomplish this by making items easier to access. After all, what good is storage if you forget what’s in the back because you don’t see it and subsequently don’t use it? Swing-out cabinets make all of your kitchens hardware easily accessible.
4. Cabinet hardware
Replacing the hardware on cabinetry can change its whole look, whether it’s a different time period or style that you seek. This is an easy DIY project, but if you want to be sure that you are choosing hardware that can stand the test of time and not date your kitchens within a few years. LJ’s design professionals will gladly help you choose the perfect new hardware for your kitchens.
5. Backsplashes
Backsplashes take up a small piece of real estate, but they become a focal point that ties the entire kitchens aesthetic together. A little area goes a long way! Protecting your wall from splashes, it will also save you from having to repaint – or, at least repaint that part of the wall. There are myriad options for backsplashes, but the go-to that is cheapest and never goes out of style is white subway tile. If you have your heart set on expensive materials, another way to save is to only put a backsplash behind your stove and sink to cut down on materials. This is where you are most apt to splash and the backsplash still creates visual impact.
6. Open shelving
Open shelving makes smaller kitchens feel bigger. Remove doors, sand, and paint and you have a dramatically different look. Consider buying vibrant-colored dishes to liven up the room. Note: While open shelving is a great look and a wonderful way to put your favorite dishes on display, if you are messy that will also be on display. On the other hand, it could be a good incentive to keep things in order!
7. Lighting
Whether your current kitchens has poor lighting or you want to give yourself more options, under-cabinet lights will give your kitchens a new look. Overhead lighting, such as pendants, will make cooking easier on the chef’s eyes.
8. Window treatments
Change out the curtains or switch out the blinds to give your kitchens an over-all different feel.
9. Add an island
While islands can be expensive, they don’t have to be. Take an old table or dresser and reinvent it as an island with some paint and hardware.
10. Flooring
Consider laminate flooring. It’s inexpensive and comes in a lot of varieties.
11. Butcher block
If your counters are in disrepair, consider replacing them with butcher block. It comes in handy and it happens to be economical.
12. Re-use
Approximately 5-15% of the material from your kitchens that could be re-purposed in the renovation gets wasted. This is unfortunate for the environment and your wallet. Re-appropriating is a win-win.
13. Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Check out a Habitat for Humanity ReStore for good deals. It can be hit or miss, but they carry new appliances that were donated because of minor dents or scratches. Save money and support a good cause!
14. Remnant stone
If you go to a granite supply yard, you might find yourself a deal.
15. Salvage stores
Again, save the environment and your wallet!
16. Add detail
Install beadboard paneling or another small improvement to spruce up your space.
17. Accessorize
Add fun soaps, window dressings, pillows! Add anything that expresses your personality and makes it your own.
18. Go timeless
Choose wisely and you won’t have to choose again except for things that wear out.
DIY or LJ’s?
When kitchens remodeling, some projects can go either way. You can save a lot of money kitchens remodeling with DIY projects. We can order the materials for you and answer any questions you might have. YouTube is another great resource. Contact us and we can talk about the complexity of the job, your prior DIY home project experience, and what is right for you. Another option is to hire us to design your renovation and then execute it yourself. A good plan can end up saving you money. It’s best to call the professionals for certain kitchens remodeling projects, especially moving walls or re-locating the plumbing or electrical outlets. Give us a call and we can perform certain aspects of your kitchens remodeling project to get it done correctly so you’ll be happy with it for years to come.
LJ’s Can Help You With Any Sized Budget
LJ’s has design and installation expertise in kitchens remodeling for any budget size. Contact us today for all of your kitchens remodeling needs! Links: http://www.hgtv.com/remodel/kitchens-remodel/12-ways-to-save-money-on-your-kitchens-remodel-pictures http://www.bhg.com/kitchens/remodeling/budget/budget-friendly-kitchens-ideas/ https://www.pinterest.com/explore/budget-kitchens-remodel/?lp=true http://www.improvenet.com/a/5-cheap-ways-to-remodel-your-kitchens http://www.thepinningmama.com/kitchens-remodel-small-budget/ http://www.mydomaine.com/expert-tips-for-renovating-kitchens-on-a-budget https://www.forbes.com/sites/trulia/2016/05/05/cant-afford-to-renovate-18-room-makeovers-under-500/#6ee49ebe3fe2 http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/money-saving-lessons-ive-learned-from-renovating-homes-236707
