Two tips for remodelling your kitchen when you're on a tight budget
Remodelling your kitchen when you're on a tight budget can be challenging. However, there are ways to make this process more affordable and to ensure that you achieve a functional and aesthetically-pleasing end result. Read on to find out more.
Invest in high-quality items for heavy-traffic areas
If you only have a limited amount of funds available for your project, it's important to take a practical approach to the remodelling process and try to allocate most of your money to the features that are likely to receive the most usage (kitchen benchtops and flooring would be good examples of such features). This will ensure that these parts of the kitchen do not succumb to wear and tear (and thus require replacement or repair) too quickly.
For example, if you have a large family, all of whom will be using your new kitchen benchtop for the preparation and consumption of meals on a daily basis, it would be sensible to spend a bit more on this feature. A cheap laminate benchtop is likely to develop marks, stains and scratches after a few months' of use and may even need to be replaced after just a couple of years. In short, it is likely to be a false economy that will force you to spend more money in the long run.
In this scenario, it might be wiser to invest in one made from stainless steel or quartz. Whilst more expensive, these materials are extremely robust, stain resistant and hygienic, and they are likely to have a lifespan that is four or five times longer than that of laminate.
Update features instead of replacing them
In many cases, updating existing features of your kitchen can end up being far more economical than purchasing brand new replacement items.
For example, it may be worth asking your remodelling contractor if they would be able to refinish your cabinetry. This is a fairly simple process, which usually consists of sanding, priming and repainting the doors of the cabinets. This entire task, including labour and materials, is unlikely to cost much (and it will cost even less if you use inexpensive paint and are willing to do some of the work yourself).
In comparison to the cost of buying and installing new cabinetry (which can often cost thousands and thousands of dollars), this is a much more budget-friendly method of updating the appearance of your kitchen.