Remodeling your home’s kitchen is one of the most rewarding and satisfying investments you can make. It may also seem prohibitively expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. With some creativity, planning and a moderate amount of work, you can update your kitchen without breaking your budget.
Planning
Don’t try to tackle everything at once. Start with small changes you can do and complete projects one at time. If it is at all possible, enlist family and friends to help you out. Not only will you accomplish your goals faster, but it will also make doing the work more fun. Make a list of remodeling goals and prioritize them by what you can reasonably accomplish. Save the pricey projects for later so you have time to save up money for big-ticket items like new appliances.
Cabinets
You don’t always have to replace your old cabinets to get “new” ones. If the cabinets you have are structurally sound, why not just refinish or paint them? You can make wood cabinets look like brand new just by applying a different color of wood stain. Even white particleboard cabinets can be repainted to brighten up your kitchen. It’s also a good idea to replace the cabinets’ fixtures such as handles and hinges so that they look new and shiny.
Walls
One relatively easy thing you can do to make an immediate difference in your kitchen is to paint the walls. Over time walls, especially light walls tend to turn yellowish and look dingy no matter how often you clean them. A new coat of paint will make you feel like you’re stepping into a new room. If you want to be really creative, you can inexpensively replace your old backsplash with a new one to match the new paint color or match it to your refinished/repainted cabinets.
Ambience
Lighting can make a dramatic difference in any room. Working in a dimly light kitchen can feel dull and uninspiring. If your kitchen has a ceiling fan, replace it with a brand new one. Ceiling fans are relatively inexpensive and easy to install as long as you are careful. Replace your old light bulbs with CFL bulbs for softer lighting. You can also replace old globes without spending a lot of money. While, you are at it, getting new outlet covers may be a good idea too.
Countertops
New countertops can be hard to do on a budget. Most people prefer granite or marble countertops that are quite pricey. As an alternative, you can buy laminate countertops that look just as good and cost far less. If you can install them yourself, or know someone that can help you install them, you’ll save a lot of money on labor charges. If you are leery of installing new countertops, you can buy great looking overlays that fit right over your existing countertops.
Remodeling your kitchen on a small budget isn’t always easy, but it isn’t impossible either. Be creative and think of little touches you can do. Every little thing you do will add up to big overall improvement. Make changes in increments as your budget allows. This requires some patience, but in the end you’ll be much happier with your new kitchen and not feel devastated when you look at your bank balance.
About the Author: Rivka Gonya just finished remodeling his kitchen. He did everything slowly but surely over a span of about 6 months, replacing everything from the weatherstripping on his back door to his cabinet hinges. The slow approach enabled him to fit small repairs into his budget easily.
5 Tips For Remodeling Your Kitchen On A Small Budget
