Imagine your dream kitchen. What color are the cabinets? Did you go for a charming farmhouse vibe with freestanding cabinetry? An apron-front kitchen sink? Butcher block countertops? Or maybe you pictured a more modern design. Were there sleek stainless steel appliances? What about a focus on industrial accents? How was the kitchen laid out? And how much did it cost?! Whether your style skews traditional, contemporary, or somewhere in between, kitchen remodel costs can get pricey?and fast, too. But with a little planning, some DIY action, and the right team of professionals on your side, you can have the budget kitchen renovation you’ve been dreaming about! Keep reading to see our favorite tips and tricks for creating a big impact in your home while keeping your renovation budget in check.
Budget Kitchen Renovation Remodel Costs vs. Home Resale Value
Depending on the scope of the project and the square-footage you’re working with, the average kitchen remodel can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $60,000?and even more if you choose to make layout changes in addition to the cosmetic adjustments. More significant updates (like fancy high-end kitchen appliances or all-new cabinetry) can set you back a pretty penny while making changes to the lighting, paint color, and hardware is a great way to freshen up the space while staying within budget.
No matter how much you choose to spend on your renovation budget, making kitchen updates is a smart move if you plan on selling your home anytime soon. The return on investment for a kitchen remodel when selling your home is almost 93% in some states! And that’s pretty good even if moving isn’t in your immediate plans because you’ll get to enjoy your new space and recoup a sizable portion of your initial investment.
9 Kitchen Renovation Ideas to Help You Save Money
1. Create Interest with an Accent Wall
Adding an accent wall is a surefire way to liven up your kitchen and create visual interest! Classic options include introducing a bold pop of color (Yellow and green hues are always great kitchen color options!) or adding a patterned wallpaper. Or if you want to take a more creative approach to the accent wall, consider adding a wall of built-in shelves or bringing in natural elements, like stone or wood, to warm up the space.
2. Preserve Original Design Details
Maintaining original details (so long as they don’t need extensive restoration) is a great way to honor the charm of an older home while keeping your budget in check.
Period details worth holding on to include:
- Dutch Doors
- Pocket Shutters
- Dumbwaiters
- Ceiling Medallions
- Glass Doorknobs
- Vintage Tiling
3. Update Existing Cabinets with New Hardware
Replacing cabinetry hardware throughout your kitchen is a great way to refresh the space in a single afternoon without breaking the bank. There are hundreds of varieties of draw handles, pulls, and knobs to choose from in metallic finishes, solid colors, and patterns, so spend some time deciding which vibe matches your new kitchen style and what’s the most practical for your space before making a final decision.
4. Stencil Outdated Tile Instead of Replacing It
Tearing up and replacing old tile is time-consuming and expensive. Instead of replacing tile that doesn’t match your design style, or if you’re just ready for something new, consider using stencils to paint bold designs on your used-to-be plain backsplash or floor! Tile stencils can be bought from various retailers online, and the prep work for tile painting is WAY less involved than regrouting an entire room.
5. Replace Uninspired Lighting with DIY Kits
Brightening up your space with new lighting is a great way to breathe life into a space that feels bland. To update your lighting on a budget, consider using a DIY lighting kit to install LED light strips beneath your upper cabinets to create custom mood lighting at the touch of a remote. Or for a more stylish look, consider upcycling household items into budget-friendly pendant lights.
6. Revive Kitchen Cabinets with Fresh Paint
Painting your kitchen cabinets is a much more affordable alternative if you?re looking to create a dramatic before and after in your kitchen remodel and replacing the cabinets entirely isn?t in your budget. Wood cabinetry is the easiest to repaint, but any surface that can be scuffed with sandpaper can be painted using the correct materials. For a durable and easy-to-clean option, consider choosing a high-quality, acrylic latex-based paint.
7. Open Up the Space by Removing Design Elements
Inviting light into a space is an easy way to create a big impact in your budget kitchen remodel. Simply remove the doors from your upper cabinets to create airy open shelves where you can showcase your gorgeous flatware collection. This design choice looks particularly beautiful with bright, white shelving, but it’s not the most practical option if you’re more lax when it comes to cabinet organization.
8. Refresh the Style with Affordable Flooring Options
Updating your floors is a fantastic way to really give your kitchen new life, but replacing tile flooring is expensive and time-consuming. To achieve the look of new floors without dropping your entire renovation budget, consider using a floor-painting kit to avoid the hassle of removal and replacement associated with a full re-tile.
9. Add Personal Touches to Create a Homey Feeling
Incorporating personal style into your new dream kitchen with the final decor details is the most fun part of any kitchen renovation?and a welcome sign that the bulk of the project is finally behind you! These design options will vary from person to person, but adding family photos, bright greenery, or a patterned runner are all easy and affordable ways to tie together the rest of your design choices.
5 Helpful Reminders for Your Next Home Improvement Project
1. Expect the Unexpected
Accept that living without a kitchen is going to be a frustrating experience, whether you’re making structural changes or not. Generally, home improvements take longer than expected, so be prepared for the possibility of extending your diet of takeout for an extra few days in the event that an unexpected delay occurs.
2. Less is More
Make one show-stopping design choice to create visual interest in the design plan, but only one, so you don’t overwhelm the space?especially in a small kitchen!
3. Better Safe Than Sorry
Set aside anywhere between 10-20% of your overall renovation budget as insurance for unexpected expenses along the way. That way, if you get hit with an unexpected cost halfway through the project, you?re not overextending yourself. Even if you don’t use the funds to cover additional expenses, you’re left with more money to put towards final design details or to save for a later remodel!
4. Bring the Whole Kit & Caboodle
Carry samples of design elements (tile, hardware, countertop & cabinetry materials, paint chips, etc.) with you while shopping to help you think like an interior designer and create a cohesive design.
5. Work Smarter, Not Harder
Split the workload with a contractor for specialty projects you’re not experienced enough to handle on your own to avoid the possibility of having to make costly repairs later on in the process.
Let the Pros Handle Your Kitchen Remodel
Now that you’ve got a kitchen design plan in mind, the next step is hiring a professional team to do the hard work while you wait for HGTV to call and offer you a hit new show. Pro Painters is a locally owned and operated business with more than two decades of experience under their tool belts.
To find out how our team can help you get the budget kitchen renovation of your dreams, reach out to the Pros and claim your free quote today!
