No matter who you ask, everyone has a dream kitchen that they would eventually want to see come to fruition. It could be a state of the art modern kitchen or a country-home style one.
However, the reality is that everyone also has a budget that they need to stick to. Kitchen renovations aren’t cheap, and so you, like many, may have come to the conclusion that your dream kitchen will remain just a dream.
However, this does not need to be the case. With smart planning, some craftiness, and a little bit of work, your ideal kitchen could be closer than you realize. All it takes is for you to start thinking creatively and to make some essential decisions, which are listed below.
When to Buy
There are some things that just cannot be salvaged, and those are the points that you should probably account for first when it comes to planning a reno budget. This is because purchases will likely make up the majority of your budget, as buying new is more expensive than the alternative.
Here’s a quick list of the items that you will really need to buy new: paint, new lighting fixtures, new shelving (roll-out or otherwise), crown molding, and new knobs or pulls for the cabinets. Also, if you really want to change the look of the room, changing the countertops is an expensive but effective way of doing so. But you could choose more affordable materials that still give your kitchen a good face-lift.
Appliances are the other big drain on your budget. Now, simply because appliances are included in this section does not mean that you cannot find great deals on used appliances in places like antique stores or from online auctions. You can also look at new ones that are “dinged,” which will often lower the price significantly for something as minor as a tiny scratch on the backside of an appliance.
Generally speaking, it depends on what style you are aiming for in your kitchen, and so the costs may vary. Since the slick, modern style is in vogue right now, it will usually cost more.
Now, here is the fun part. Obviously, it can be cathartic to smash apart cabinets and such. This is true especially if you don’t like your kitchen.
Hold your hammer for a moment, though. Take a look at your cabinets and at your sink. Do you really need to replace them? Or do they just need an update? Paint, stains, and adhesive backings can go a long way towards transforming the look of your cabinets.
The point here is that you may already have your ideal cabinets. They just don’t look like that yet. In the planning stages, you should have made a general color scheme for the room. This is where that comes into play. Having a clear, expressive pattern can instantly transform a room into something completely different. Instead of a wood grain, perhaps a sharp black could help propel your old cabinets into the stylish modern ones that you have always wanted. Alternatively, red is also a great color for modern kitchens.
As for your appliances, those can be a similar story. Instead of throwing out the sink with the faucet, simply replace the faucet.
When to Start Working
The answer, of course, is as soon as you can! Once you get to work, you will be surprised at how easy it can be to work on the project. Do not give up. Schedule days for the times when you will either work at it or make a list of stages to the project and plan days to get each stage completed. That includes going to an antique or outlet store to browse selections, scraping paint or stain of the cabinets, etc.
Of course, you may not know how to change certain things, such as plumbing or electrical. In those cases, contact your local plumbing company or your local electrician and get their rates. Certain areas you do NOT want to attempt a DIY job and plumbing and electrical are two of those areas.
But, for everything else, if you get a bit creative and follow the above advice, you will be living in your dream kitchen in no time!
