Kitchen Remodeling on a budget Bizpals

Category Kitchen and Bath Remodelers

Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget

If your out-of-date kitchen is getting on your nerves but you don't have the resources for a complete renovation this year, don't despair. Your kitchen remodel doesn't have to cost a fortune. Whether you work with a contractor or decide to do the work yourself, there are low-cost fixes you can make that will give your kitchen a smart, fresh look.

Making a Budget

The first step is to draw up a budget for the project. Decide how much the total budget for the renovation will be and set aside a percentage of 5% or 10% as a “cushion” for cost overruns and unexpected problems that crop up. Doing your homework by looking up the cost of appliances and materials you will be using in the remodel will help you get started on your budget. If you want a new countertop for the kitchen island, what are the respective costs of granite, quartz or wood? Exceeding your remodeling budget is more likely to happen if you don't do enough research before selecting the products for your kitchen. If you decide to hire a remodeler, make a kitchen budget worksheet and discuss with the contractor the percentages you've allocated for lighting, walls, flooring, countertops, cabinets, etc. Be sure to track the progress of your project and its costs with your contractor on a regular basis. Renovation Budget Tracker is a useful app for the iPhone and iPad that you can use to monitor the cost of the renovation as you go.

Paint Options

A coat of paint is an inexpensive way to give your kitchen a striking new look. But it’s important that you choose the right kind of paint. A latex paint with a semi-gloss finish that can be wiped clean is a good option for the kitchen. Flexible about your exact color shades? Ask your remodeler if they ever use mismatched paint, designer paint mixes returned to a vendor by a customer and resold. So-called “Oops paint” can save you money on the more expensive paint brands. Talk to your remodeler about what color would suit your kitchen: whites, off-whites, yellows and light blues are all popular choices that suit most rooms, but if you're tempted by a more adventurous paint color for your kitchen like a jewel tone, try painting a small, inconspicuous area of the room and letting it dry to see if the shade looks good in your house.

Countertops and Cabinets

If your budget doesn't allow for costly countertop surfaces such as marble or granite, more economical choices are available. With its wide variety of colors and patterns, laminate for kitchen countertops is an affordable option that's easy to clean. Choose light colors if you're concerned about scratching: they won't show wear as much as darker colors.
Replacing cabinets can be an expensive proposition, so besides painting your existing cabinets, you can add glass inserts to cabinets doors and replace the old handles with stylish new cabinet pulls for a fresh, new look. When selecting the type of glass - if you don't want your cabinet interiors to be completely visible, choose a frosted or textured glass. You can also remodel the interior of your cabinets by installing some cabinet organizers like wire shelves, spice racks and corner lazy susans to maximize your cabinet storage space.

Light it Up

Replacing or adding light fixtures is a smart strategy for giving your kitchen an inviting look without spending a lot. You should have a mix of ambient and task lighting, so that all parts of the kitchen are well illuminated. Look around: where could you add lighting to give the kitchen a warm and cozy feel? Think about using unusual and appealing fixtures: a shaded table lamp on the dining table, for instance, or a row of pendant lights over the kitchen island. Also you can install some low-cost under-cabinet lighting to illuminate the food prepping area.

Another Look at Linoleum

If your budget for new kitchen flooring is limited, consider an economical choice of materials such as vinyl or linoleum. Made from wood resin, linseed oil and other natural materials, its eco-friendly nature is making linoleum popular again for kitchen flooring. It's also durable, easy to clean, and is available in a wide range of colors at very affordable prices.
If you've decided to go ahead with remodeling, use BizPals to help you find top kitchen contractors. And our system of reviews will help you to evaluate the work of your contractor once the project is complete.

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