We all love to sit and daydream about renovating the kitchen. A new double-door fridge, practical storage, a vibrant splashback; they’re all things on wishlists. But they also cost money.
If you are taking the plunge into kitchen renovation then money will be at the forefront of your mind. Every decision involves pricing. That means you want to save everywhere you can without losing quality or cutting corners.
These 6 tips will help you save money on your kitchen renovation without sacrificing those big dreams.
1. Plan Ahead (and Be Practical)
As the old saying goes, measure twice, cut once. You can transfer that same sense of practicality into planning your kitchen renovation. Plan out your style inspiration, must-have inclusions, dream additions, etc. If you lay it all out you can easily piece together a complex puzzle.
It’s best to be clear about what you can and cannot afford early on. This means you can address how much money you have now, what you may need loaned out, and what you can expect to have in your future arsenal. Some tasks, such as a splashback or additional shelving, could be saved for later.
A well thought out planning process gives you plenty of time to research kitchen renovation prices. You can source quotes, collate estimates, and work out where you should spend – and where you should not. Understanding prices early on is going to help you make practical and informed decisions.
2. Don’t Change the Plumbing Layout
Changing the layout of your kitchen could be a costly endeavour if you also have to move plumbing (and electrical wiring) around.
Moving things like cabinets are easy. They’re not fixed and can adapt to your static features like the sink and oven. And that’s where the money comes in. If you want to move the sink or the dishwasher, then overall kitchen renovation costs will quickly jump.
Flipping a kitchen and relocating the sink means you will have to break some walls and tear up the flooring. Pipes will need to be relocated and/or extended. Old pipes may even need to be replaced entirely. Invasive kitchen renovations in this vein will be a challenge.
It is possible to create a welcoming kitchen space by maintaining the existing plumbing layout. Useful virtual kitchen design tools will assist in planning how everything fits together. If you can get away with not changing your plumbing layout, then you could slash hundreds, or even thousands, off the total price.
3. Avoid Paying Full Retail Price
Quotes and expenses can quickly add up when you’re looking at replacing cupboards, new appliances and a plethora of trimmings and fittings. The decorative elements can easily fall to the wayside at the expense of… well, other kitchen renovation expenses.
So, how do you avoid it? By shopping around. Instead of buying everything from the first large kitchen retailer you walk into, check out the small warehouse outlets and manufacturers. You might be able to buy direct, or on special. There are always floor discounts and bargains on material offcuts and leftovers.
4. Consider some DIY Kitchen Renovations
While you should utilise the services of a qualified plumber or electrician for licensed jobs, there are DIY kitchen renovation tasks you can tackle yourself.
The removal/demolition process is often a great start for any homeowner. Instead of paying someone by the hour to come and take everything apart, you can work through removing cupboards and fittings yourself.
Yes, it will be some hard work, but it’s a solid way to save money in the kitchen. If you’re experienced, also look into installing new cabinets or floating floorboards. Painting is another great DIY job. All it requires is a touch of patience.
Meanwhile, if you are looking at some labor-intensive plumbing or electrical work, check out your local listings to Book a Plumber Online.
5. Reuse and Recycle When Possible
A renovation does not necessarily mean a completely fresh start. If you can reuse and recycle any materials, do it. You can save money on new purchases while reducing waste.
For example, old cabinets can be repainted, while your fridge could still have several good years of performance. There’s no need to throw away old appliances before their time. Upcycling old cabinetry will breathe new life into what you already have, and there are plenty of creative recycling projects to invest your time in.
Alternatively, look into selling any of your old appliances or furnishings. Complete cabinetry sets, old sinks and old appliances still attract a healthy amount of interest online. This would be a great way to give fittings a new lease of life while keeping them out of landfill.
6. Avoid Trendy Materials and Quick Fads
Forget about the short term gains from impressing friends with a trendy copper sink and a lush pink backsplash. Are they colours you’ll enjoy in two years’ time?
Small appliances such as toasters, pots, pans and utensils can be swapped over easily enough as your tastes change. Inbuilt features like a sink, oven or tiling is a lot harder to alter.
You want to stay away from trends and fads when designing your kitchen. Always look for something that truly appeals to you, rather than what’s just on the cover of a design magazine. A spur of the moment decision to purchase something that you will fall out of love with quickly is not good.
It also might not be practical. Function and practicality is far more important than a pretty, shallow granite basin that costs several thousand dollars. Your kitchen has to be user-friendly and ready to last.