Reno Tip!

You want to renovate your kitchen, but you’ve just discovered a full kitchen renovation will set you back at least $10,000, so you stop in your tracks.

“My kitchen isn’t in that bad shape,” you think, but you still want to give it a facelift.

The good news is that you CAN give your kitchen more than just a facelift – and for less than the cost of a full renovation.

If you want to renovate your kitchen on a budget, you’ll have to be willing to commit time to the project. Instead of hiring a kitchen renovation company to build and install your new kitchen, you’ll probably need to plan ahead and perhaps do some of the work yourself.

Your first job will be to take a look at your kitchen and determine what needs to be replaced. If your floor and overhead cupboards and cabinets are in good condition, you’ve already saved thousands of dollars. If they need to be replaced, you can still do a budget renovation, but you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

You can build a flat pack kitchen using ordinary household tools – they are designed to be easily built and you can choose from a variety of cabinet sizes. You’ll need to carefully measure your existing kitchen and make sure your flat pack kitchen fits into your current layout. Ikea and other flat pack kitchen manufacturers often have online kitchen design programs that allow you to fit their cabinets into your existing space  – so you can ensure everything will fit neatly.

When your kitchen is delivered to your home, it will come with complete instructions. Installing the floor cabinets is relatively easy but you may need help from a handyman to install your wall cabinets.

After your cabinets are installed, you will need a plumber to install your sink and you may need to hire an electrician to install power points and/or lighting. You’ll also need to buy a benchtop and splashback or wall tiles.

Your benchtop supplier should install the benchtop for you to be sure it fits flush to the walls and the mitres meet perfectly. For this reason, it’s probably better to install your floor cabinets before the benchtop supplier measures the space for your new benchtops.

You can buy and install wall tiles yourself, but if you’re not comfortable with the thought of tiling and hiring a tiler is a budget-buster, you can install an acrylic splashback instead. Acrylic splashbacks are inexpensive and can be installed on top of your existing tiles.

The least expensive acrylic splashbacks come in standard sizes. If you measure carefully when you install your overhead cabinets, you may be able to install them yourself. However, installation is not expensive and a professional installer will have the tools and skill needed to do a perfect job.

If your cupboards and cabinets are still in good condition, you will only need to:

• Replace or resurface your doors, drawer fronts and exposed panels (a good kitchen cabinet maker can to this for you)
• Replace your benchtop
• Replace or resurface your wall tiles (or install splashbacks)
• Replace any fittings and appliances that are worn or outdated

Cabinets are a big part of a kitchen renovation. If your exisiting ones are salvageable, you’ll have more money to spend on the little things that make a kitchen sparkle. Consider, for instance, hiring a lighting expert to install better lighting in your kitchen. You’ll appreciate working with improved lighting and this can be the finishing design touch your kitchen needs.

A budget kitchen renovation isn’t a weekend job, but if you plan carefully, you shouldn’t have to be without a kitchen for too long. Take it one step at a time and if you have to hire a plumber or electrician, be sure everything is ready for them when they arrive. If they are unable to do their job, they will still charge you a call-out fee. If everything is ready for them, they can be in and out of your house quickly.

 

Thank you to onthehouse.com.au for sharing this interesting tip!