Many homeowners see the kitchen as the most important room in their home, and kitchens get more traffic and use than any other room. These reasons alone often put the kitchen at the top of the list when it comes to home renovations. Most homeowners want their kitchens to be as functional as they are stylish.
It’s also no secret that kitchen renovations can be incredibly expensive. Angi reports that the average kitchen remodel is about $30,000, with material and labor costs, as well as the size of the kitchen and scope of the project being the main contributor to high remodel prices.
Cabinetry can be a main component of the price, often ranging between $2,000 to $30,000 or even more for new cabinets. While flooring, on average, can cost between $1,000 and $4,000. But a new kitchen doesn’t have to break the bank. Jennifer Todryk from HGTV’s “No Demo Reno” transforms homes without a major remodeling project and without spending tons of money (via HGTV). If you’re looking to save money on your remodel, here’s what Todryk suggests.
Refresh your current cabinets
Replacing an entire kitchen’s worth of cabinets is a surefire way to increase the final remodel cost. But new cabinets are often a top priority when it comes to a kitchen remodel. So how do you get the look of new cabinets without spending a ton of money replacing them? Jennifer Todryk says to paint your cabinets, which can refresh your cabinets at a much smaller price point (per Realtor.com). Panting your cabinets can also give your kitchen a more customized look, as you can choose the exact shade of paint.
Painting your kitchen cabinets is also a project that many homeowners can take on themselves. West Magnolia Charm says that the key to getting perfectly painted cabinets is preparation. You should clean and degrease all surfaces you plan to paint to ensure you get an even coat. Another key to a perfect paint coat? Sanding the cabinets. You want to sand off the gloss finish or previous stain so that the new primer and paint color stick. Don’t forget to patch any holes or imperfections to create a smooth and even surface. And before you start painting, be sure to clean the cabinets again of any sanding dust or dirt.
Opt for luxury vinyl flooring
New floors can also cause kitchen renovation costs to increase. Because of the major traffic kitchens receive, floors often take a beating and show wear and tear pretty easily. Water, whether spilled or a leak, can also be a culprit in the wearing away of floors. Unfortunately, with floors, the solution isn’t as simple as a coat of paint. And new flooring materials like tile and hardwood can be expensive when priced per square foot. Jennifer Todryk suggests using luxury vinyl flooring as a money-saving alternative (via Realtor.com).
Luxury vinyl flooring is made from multiple layers, including a transparent protective coating and a surface that mimics the look of wood or stone, says Ambience Hardwood Flooring. Not only can you get the look of wood floors for less, but luxury vinyl flooring is also durable and waterproof, so they’ll stand up to the wear and tear the kitchen floors are subjected to. The top layer has a scratch-resistant stain guard, which means your kitchen floors will continue to look new for years to come.
