We all spend a lot of time in our kitchens, but this becomes less enjoyable when the decor and fittings begin to look outdated. You want a new look for your kitchen, but think you can’t afford to renovate. Think again! As we regularly prove with our innovative custom kitchens in Liverpool, it’s possible to create your dream kitchen on even a tight budget. Here are a few of our favourite tips.
Work out your budget – and stick to it
Before you get started, it’s vital to work out exactly what you can afford. You then have to keep this figure in your head at all times when planning your kitchen. If you excuse yourself for going over budget once, you’ll do so again. No excuses; everything you choose has to be within your price range.
Build your design around the existing layout
It’s tempting to start pulling out appliances and knocking down walls straight away, but this can be a costly mistake! Even if you are replacing every appliance, it’s advisable to work your kitchen design around the current positions of key items that need water and gas supplies. Keeping your sink, gas stove and dishwasher in their current positions will save you thousands, as you won’t need to pay for a plumber or any new piping.
Decide how to allocate your budget
While it’s easy to let your imagination run wild when you’re designing your new kitchen, in fact you have to stick to your budget, so you need to decide what your main priorities are. Do you really need all-new appliances or are any of them still in good enough condition to save you splashing out on new ones? Saving money on these items will free up more to spend on the most important features, such as kitchen worktops and back-splashes.
Choose everything before you start
Once you’ve decided on the layout and look you want for your kitchen, it’s time to start choosing what to put in it. Before any work actually starts on your kitchen renovation, you should have chosen all your appliances, fixtures and fittings, and had them delivered. This gives you time to change them if they’re not what you want, and prevents the added expenditure of suddenly finding out something you want is no longer stocked, which often leads to an impulse purchase of a more expensive item out of necessity.
Explore less expensive decor options
Often we overspend on our kitchens because we don’t realise stunning visual effects can be created at a fraction of the price. For example, if your cabinetry is structurally sound, you can save a great deal of money by simply changing the doors and drawer fronts rather than having completely new cabinets fitted. New lighting will also make a big difference to the ambience of your kitchen – choose stylish pendants over the dining area, and consider including under-cabinet lighting, which creates a beautiful effect at a very reasonable price.
Wood flooring isn’t likely to need replacing; you can simply sand it down and re- varnish it to make it look as good as new. If you want to create a stone effect, there are many high-quality vinyl options on the market now which will give the appearance of stone at a fraction of the price. It’s also warmer underfoot, and less likely to break your crockery if you drop it!
Consult with a reputable designer
Many people assume that creating their own kitchen design is a cheaper option, but in fact the opposite can be true. Kitchen renovation mistakes are extremely costly and time-consuming – in some cases, so much so that it can take years to put things right, especially if you’re only working on it in your spare time.
An experienced kitchen designer will consult with you to bring your vision for your kitchen to life, even on a tight budget. They have a wealth of knowledge and ideas that could end up saving you a fortune, and getting the job done in half the time!
HB Kitchens is highly experienced at creating impressive effects on a low budget – some of our renovated kitchens in Liverpool have cost a lot less than you might assume. To find out how we can do the same for you, call us on 0151 263 4843.