Regardless of the budget you have set aside to perform kitchen renovations, there will almost always be a few changes that will have to be considered to prevent overspending. If you have been pinching the pennies so that you can complete this project in your home, the tips below will help ensure that you obtain the best possible deals when shopping for fixtures and other essentials.
1. Choosing Appliances
Although that shiny new oven and cooktop will be a tempting item to add to your kitchen, keep in mind that you may be able to obtain a better deal when looking at display or ‘scratch and dent’ models. In many cases, you can obtain quite steep discounts on these, despite the fact that the apparent damage to them is usually barely noticeable. Another option to consider is asking the salesperson about potential package deals where if you purchase a cooktop and oven, you could get discount on the range hood unit.
If you are willing to purchase last year’s appliance models, you can also save a substantial amount of money – no one will even know the different when seeing your kitchen.
2. Looking at Tiles
Many homeowners think they will have to spend a few thousand dollars on tiles to make their kitchen look attractive. However, this need not be the case. If there is an expensive tile that has caught your attention, consider using it to create a trim detail and use a more affordable option to fill in the larger spaces.
3. Plan your Cabinetry
One of the most important features of any kitchen is its cabinetry. No one wants to have to bend down and stretch right into a cabinet to pull out a tin of peas. Consider adding sliding drawers to cabinets that will enable you to see all of the contents at a glance – without having to act like a contortionist in training.
If you are trying to cut costs wherever possible, consider just replacing cabinet doors, drawer fronts and hardware such as handles. This will allow you to give your kitchen a much-needed makeover without you having to spend a fortune. While it is possible to save on cabinetry by doing this, it is important to remember that you should spend as much as you can comfortably afford when it comes to hinges and drawer runners.
4. Costly Countertops Aren’t Necessary
While granite countertops are currently all the rage, chances are that these will be sold off secondhand in a few years for a fraction of their original price when they go out of fashion.
Although no one wants the standard melamine countertops nowadays, there are other options that are still quite affordable – especially when compared to granite. These include butcher’s block or even poured concrete, both of which are also extremely attractive and durable.
When hiring a tradesman to install cabinetry or appliances, bear in mind that reputation should be considered more than price. You may save a few hundred dollars in the beginning, but in the event that something goes wrong with a cheap installation, you will end up forking out far more than that to rectify it.
