Kitchen Remodel on a Budget: 5 Basics (2024)

Home Improvement

Kitchen remodeling on a budget may not seem possible—at least on the face of it. Given the high price of materials and appliances, as well as labor costs, a kitchen remodel can turn into one of the more expensive home improvement projects. By sticking to five basic concepts, though, you can keep kitchen remodel costs under control.

• 01 of 05

  Refurbish Materials

  

  In most cases, it's less expensive to keep materials than it is to remove and replace the materials. New materials are an additional cost (you already own the existing materials). Existing materials need to be removed, and this entails labor costs. They need to be disposed of—another cost that is becoming increasingly expensive.

  Refurbishing the materials typically goes hand-in-hand with keeping the materials:

  • Paint cabinets: Painting kitchen cabinets is a classic method of updating them. It's simple enough that beginners can achieve professional results with enough time and care.
  • Reface cabinets: Cabinet refacing adds a new veneer to the outside of the cabinet boxes and entirely replaces doors and drawer fronts. While this isn't a DIY job, it's still cheaper than buying new cabinets.
  • Paint walls: Removing drywall starts a domino effect that leads to other costs: demolition, disposal, removing and replacing insulation, electrical and plumbing work, and of course, replacing and painting the drywall. If a wall doesn't need to be opened up, leave it in place and paint it.
    

• 02 of 05

  Repair Appliances

  

  When you buy a new refrigerator, where does the old fridge go? The old appliance will rarely be reused. In most cases, it will be sold as scrap metal or, depending on the removal service, landfilled.

  Fixing your appliances can be less expensive than buying new appliances, and it avoids these disposal issues. You can even fix some appliances by yourself, including:

  • Dishwasher
  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave
  • Water heater
  • Water softener
  • Garbage disposal
    

  Warning

  Stay safe by only working on appliances that have been fully unplugged and detached from water supply and water drain lines. Watch for appliances that may tip. Dishwashers especially tend to tip forward once they have been released from the bay in the base cabinets. Refrigerators are top-heavy, too.

• 03 of 05

  Retain the Layout

  

  Major changes to the kitchen layout will drive up the cost of remodeling the kitchen. Moving the sink or dishwasher means hiring professionals, buying new materials, and sometimes opening up walls.

  Keeping your kitchen layout essentially the same while updating the elements within that framework is cost-effective. This doesn't mean that you cannot make layout changes. Any change that doesn't move plumbing services is usually fair game. Even limited electrical changes such as adding an outlet or a kitchen light can remain reasonably inexpensive.

• 04 of 05

  Do Some Work Yourself

  

  Do-it-yourself home remodeling brings the cost of labor down to zero. All you pay for is the materials. It all depends on your level of skill and your inclination. Some remodeling projects that require only beginner or intermediate expertise include:

  • Interior painting
  • Installing a tile backsplash
  • Flooring installation
  • Changing outlets and lights
  • Hanging drywall
  • Installing baseboards and other trim

  Tip

  Hiring a professional may ultimately be the most efficient option to save time and money, and to stay safe. Assess your abilities before undertaking some of the more difficult projects.

  Continue to 5 of 5 below

• 05 of 05

  Use Less Expensive Materials

  

  It may not be possible to refurbish existing materials. For example, structurally sound kitchen cabinets can be refaced, re-stained, or painted. If not, the cabinets should be removed and replaced.

  Using less expensive materials pares down costs and keeps the kitchen budget within reason. A few examples include:

  • Floating floors: Floating floors like luxury vinyl plank or laminate can be installed over the existing flooring.
  • Laminate countertops: Laminate is consistently one of the least expensive kitchen countertop materials. Not only that but some types of laminate countertops are DIY-friendly.
  • RTA cabinets: To save money, look for ready-to-assemble options. It's typically not that difficult to assemble the pieces yourself, so you won't have to pay for labor costs. Cabinets are sold flat-packed. The cabinets assemble using an innovative cam-lock fastener system. No pieces are constructed from scratch. If screws are used, pilot holes will usually have been pre-drilled for you.

  Tip

  To save money, time, and possibly frustration, many RTA retailers offer pre-assembled RTA cabinets. The same cabinets that you would assemble at home are instead assembled in the factory and then shipped by freight to your home.