The kitchen is the heart of the home and the main selling feature for many prospective homebuyers. This is the place where families and friends gather to share food and camaraderie— a place where memories are made.
Unfortunately, the kitchen is the most expensive room to renovate. Fortunately, there are several ways around this barrier. Here are five ideas for creating your dream kitchen on a budget.
Use Price Tracking
To create your dream kitchen on a budget, you need to become an excellent price tracker. Put together a vision board of what you hope to accomplish in your space. Then, subscribe to local hardware store flyers to watch for deals. Taking the time once per week to scour flyers can help you get the hardware, fixtures, flooring, and paint you want without breaking the bank.
You can also use an app like Honey to inform you of price drops on your watched items. Use a cashback app or rewards program to increase your money’s value and extend your budget further.
Use Ready-to-Assemble Cabinets
Cabinets and appliances are often the two biggest offenders in a kitchen remodel budget. Fortunately, ready-to-assemble cabinets, which you can find at Best Online Cabinets, can save you thousands of dollars without sacrificing quality.
Ready-to-assemble cabinets come in flat packs, which means cost savings for the company in assembly and shipping. The downside is that you’ll have to assemble the cabinets, but they come with instructions and often have an excellent customer support option. Besides, getting your dream kitchen is well worth the elbow grease.
Apply a Coat of Paint
Never underestimate the power of a coat of paint. Adding a fresh coat of paint to your cabinets and walls can revitalize your tired kitchen. You can even get specialty paint for flooring and fixtures.
You can upgrade your old backsplash with some nice paint and a stencil to something new and eye-catching. An oversized painting can add a designer feel to your kitchen as well. When renovating on a budget, paint is a powerful weapon.
Create More Space
Many people who despise their kitchens feel so damaging because of the size. If you have a small kitchen, it’s difficult to entertain and keep clean. Rather than buying a new house or doing a complete kitchen renovation, consider how you can add more space.
Start by rethinking the flow of your kitchen, keeping the triangle theory in mind. Ideally, your sink, fridge, and stove will form a triangle, creating a streamlined workflow as you cook. Reorganizing the triangle is a smart starting point if this isn’t the case.
Then, consider how you can incorporate functional storage. Think beyond your utensils and pantry items, considering your small appliances.
The area above your kitchen cabinets can be put to good use, especially if you lack storage space. Consider putting baskets to keep small items and extra kitchen supplies out of sight while adding a decorative touch to the room. This will give you extra space to store items such as artful vases and elegant tea sets, which can be bulky and take up a lot of space if stored in a cabinet. Using the space above your cabinets wisely can make your kitchen more organized and functional.
Upcycle and Bargain Shop
Finally, get thrifty and learn how to upcycle and bargain shop for building supplies. Shop outlets and overstock centers or look for donated items you can refurbish. This strategy is a great way to get range hoods, countertops, and even flooring.
Creating your dream kitchen on a budget is entirely possible— it just takes time, planning, and creativity. Start by putting together a vision board, then turn it into a plan using the above tools and strategies.
