There’s no escaping the fact that your kitchen is probably the most expensive room in your house. It’s the room you and your family spend most of your time in and generally the focal point of your home if you do some entertaining for family & guests. Renovating your kitchen will be a substantial investment either way. Still, there are several clever ways to minimise the cost of kitchen renovation by getting your hands dirty if you can make cost-effective design choices.
1. Do your own Demolition and Removal
You can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars if you provide your kitchen installer with a clean, empty room for your new kitchen installation. Rip out your old kitchen and dispose of it yourself, or advertise it on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree to sell. It’s amazing how many people will buy a second-hand kitchen if it’s in good condition.
2. Work with Existing Electrical and Plumbing Layout
If you can simply replace your old kitchen with a new kitchen that utilizes the same electrical and plumbing layout, again, you will save yourself many hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Relocating services during installation is labour-intensive and costly. So, if you can reuse existing, you will have made a smart choice.
3. Benchtops
While there has been a substantial move to solid surface benchtops (Caesarstone, etc.) over the last few years, the average cost of a new kitchen has increased accordingly. Laminated benchtops are still very durable, and manufacturers have recently brought out patterns and colours that very closely mimic the looks of natural stone solid surfaces at a fraction of the price. If you are open to compromising a solid surface for a laminated benchtop, you can save yourself thousands of dollars.
4. Open Shelving vs. Cabinetry
The doors and hinges/hardware are your kitchen cabinetry’s most expensive components. If possible and/or practical, you may consider opening shelving to overhead areas to display items and be creative. Here, you’ll possibly save yourself hundreds of dollars.
5. Generic Brand Appliances
While getting the newest and most advanced branded appliances for your kitchen is nice, you can often get top quality generically branded appliances with similar features for a fraction of the price. Some of the world best best-known high-end manufacturers also own and produce generic equivalents in the same factories using the same components. You can save yourself a lot if you research brands and even online purchase options to save even more.
6. Do your own Painting
For many, the thought of DIY painting would never enter their mind. For some keen to have a go and save a few bucks, painting is one of those tasks that are often embraced. You can save yourself substantial dollars if you’re prepared to don the whites and pick up a brush or roller.
So, there you have it: six clever ways to minimise the cost of your kitchen renovations. None of these ways may serve you; it’s up to you. When it comes time to start your kitchen renovation, our expert designers at Easy Living Kitchens can help you achieve your dream kitchen and work with you to achieve the best solutions for the best price.