A properly executed kitchen remodel is one of the best ways to boost the value of your home. Even if you’re not planning to sell, refurbishing your kitchen improves its functionality, and energy efficiency.
You also have to mind the budget, so your kitchen renovation doesn’t end up over-capitalized to the point that you can’t see a return on your investment. The process starts with understanding the benefits of a kitchen remodel and how your budget needs to balance the things you need with the things you want.
Can you get away with a low-cost DIY kitchen facelift? Maybe a flatpack kitchen remodel fits the budget better than a custom kitchen? When do you truly need to call in a professional builder? This article will explore all these questions, and more to help you balance the benefits and costs of your next kitchen renovation.
You also have to mind the budget, so your kitchen renovation doesn’t end up over-capitalized to the point that you can’t see a return on your investment. The process starts with understanding the benefits of a kitchen remodel and how your budget needs to balance the things you need with the things you want.
Can you get away with a low-cost DIY kitchen facelift? Maybe a flatpack kitchen remodel fits the budget better than a custom kitchen? When do you truly need to call in a professional builder? This article will explore all these questions, and more to help you balance the benefits and costs of your next kitchen renovation.
The Benefits of a Kitchen Remodel
A kitchen makeover is one of the best ways to improve your home’s value and liability. Yet you still have to mind your kitchen renovation costs to make sure you don’t fall into the trap of over-capitalization.
Improved Functionality
A proper kitchen remodel allows you to alter the layout and update the appliances to suit your needs. Not only does it make it easier to cook meals and clean up easily. It also lets you take advantage of the latest kitchen technology. This includes things like:
- Induction Cooktop
- High-Efficiency
- Dishwasher
- Air Fryer
- Energy Efficient Fridge/Freezer
- Double Oven
- Beverage Station
- Built-In Appliances
- Smart Kitchen
- Technology LED Under
- Cabinet Lighting
Improved Aesthetics
A kitchen facelift gives your home a fresh, modern look. It’s also an opportunity to make your kitchen match your personality. It can even be a great “Conversation Starter” the next time you have guests over.
Some of the most popular aesthetic kitchen improvements to consider include things like:
Some of the most popular aesthetic kitchen improvements to consider include things like:
- Black & White
- Appliances Stainless
- Steel Appliances Earth
- Tones Butcher Block
- Counter Tops
- Commercial Grade
- Appliances Smart
- Technology Glass
- Door Kitchen Cabinets
- Custom Painted
- Cabinet Fronts Exotic
- Wood Cabinets &
- Benchtops
Improved Home Value
A fresh kitchen remodel is often a major selling point that helps draw the highest bid from potential buyers. The average kitchen renovation can increase the overall value of your home by as much as 5 to 10%. The average return on investment is typically 60 to 120%.
Improved Energy Efficiency
Modern kitchen appliances lighting, and fixtures are far more energy efficient than they were even just 10 years ago. Even if you don’t intend to sell your home, a kitchen makeover with energy-efficient appliances helps pay for itself over time.
New kitchen appliances use 20 to 30% less electricity. A high-efficiency dishwasher can use 25 to 40% less water.
LED kitchen lights use up to 90% less electricity than traditional incandescent lights and can last up to 25 times longer!
New kitchen appliances use 20 to 30% less electricity. A high-efficiency dishwasher can use 25 to 40% less water.
LED kitchen lights use up to 90% less electricity than traditional incandescent lights and can last up to 25 times longer!
Maximized Storage Space
One of the biggest unsung benefits of a full kitchen remodel is the ability to maximize your available storage space. Storage innovation has evolved by leaps and bounds in recent years given with things like:
- Shelf Divider Systems
- Drawer Divider Systems
- Overhead Hanging Systems
- Kitchen Cabinet Storage Systems
- Under Cabinet Storage Solutions
- Pantry Storage Systems
- Under-Sink Organization Systems
Setting A Kitchen Renovation Budget
Unplanned kitchen renovation costs can leave you over-capitalized to the point that you can’t fully recoup your investment. It’s easy to get swept up in designing your dream kitchen. So, you need to be wise about setting up a realistic kitchen renovation budget and sticking to it.
Evaluate Your Needs Then Your Wants
The easiest way to end up going over budget in a kitchen remodel is by prioritizing the things you want over the things your kitchen needs. This means making sure you budget to replace the leaking sink before you allocate money for LED undercabinet mood lighting.
Research Costs
Even if you’re hiring a builder to handle your kitchen remodel you need to research the basic costs of materials and major appliances. The following are all things you need to consider when researching kitchen remodelling costs.
- Cabinets (New or Painting Existing)
- New Countertops vs Veneering Existing Counters
- Replacement Hardware (Handles, Pulls & Hinges)
- Appliances (Refrigerator, Range, Oven, Microwave, Dishwasher & Hood)
- Plumbing (Kitchen Sink, Garbage Disposal, Water Line)
- Lighting (Overhead, Task, Under-Cabinet, Decorative Fixtures)
- Paint & Finishing Supplies (Primer, Paint, Trim, Brushes, Rollers, Stain & Varnish)
Types of Kitchen Remdels
You might be able to get away with a DIY kitchen facelift that refreshes the current look and feel of your kitchen without replacing any major appliances or fixtures. For a more extensive kitchen remodel you’ll have to decide if a flatpack or a custom kitchen fits your budget.
Flatpack Kitchen – the budget option
You can buy a flatpack kitchen remodel kit online or through a big box retailer. The prefabricated components are shipped in flat boxes with cabinets, drawers, doors, hardware, and other essential components.
The average person can usually handle this type of kitchen renovation. A lot of people who choose a flatpack kitchen renovation will handle most of the basic installation themselves. Then call in a licensed tradesman to handle the special tasks like electrical wiring and plumbing.
The average person can usually handle this type of kitchen renovation. A lot of people who choose a flatpack kitchen renovation will handle most of the basic installation themselves. Then call in a licensed tradesman to handle the special tasks like electrical wiring and plumbing.
Custom Kitchen - the premium option
A custom kitchen remodel is often a high-priced thing of beauty. It’s typically beyond what a DIY homeowner can handle. Especially if your dream kitchen has a lot of elaborate fixtures and high-priced appliances.
DIY Kitchen Facelift Options
There are a lot of budget-conscious ways to give your kitchen a facelift. If you’re a modestly handy homeowner, you might want to consider some of the following options.
Painting Cabinets & Trim
Painting cabinets is an easy, low-cost way to dramatically change the look of your kitchen. It’s become so popular that a lot of hardware stores now carry “Furniture Grade” paints specifically formulated to adhere to kitchen cabinets.
It’s usually worth it to pay a little more for the higher-grade cabinet/furniture paints that are essentially paint and primer in one. Especially if you’re covering dark-coloured wood with a light colour paint.
It’s usually worth it to pay a little more for the higher-grade cabinet/furniture paints that are essentially paint and primer in one. Especially if you’re covering dark-coloured wood with a light colour paint.
Replacing Cabinet Hardware
Replacing cabinet handles, pulls, and other hardware is another easy way to give a kitchen a facelift. It usually goes together with painting your cabinets.
Most homeowners choose to leave the existing hinges in place. If a few are damaged, it’s usually worth it to try to find a near-exact replacement, then it is to try to replace all the cabinet hinges.
Most homeowners choose to leave the existing hinges in place. If a few are damaged, it’s usually worth it to try to find a near-exact replacement, then it is to try to replace all the cabinet hinges.
Refresh Walls
Painting your kitchen walls is another easy kitchen facelift technique that most homeowners do when repainting their cabinets and drawers. If you’re covering up grease spatters and smoke stains, you’ll need to factor the cost of primer into your budget or plan on buying a high-quality paint and primer in one.
Install a Backsplash
Adding a backsplash is another low-cost way to give your kitchen remodel some visual pop and personality. It can be as inexpensive as peel-and-stick tiles, installing subway tiles, or applying a beadboard to create a stylish, yet functional kitchen backsplash.
Update Kitchen Lighting
Upgrading your kitchen lighting can change the look of your kitchen while improving its energy efficiency. Modern LED kitchen lights are more energy efficient and last longer than traditional incandescent lights.
Refinish or Veneer Countertops
If you don’t have the funds in your kitchen remodelling budget to replace your countertops, you can simply refinish them. Most hardware stores carry countertop refinishing kits that make it easy to paint to laminate worn-out, outdated counters.
Replace Window Treatments
Updating your kitchen’s window treatments by replacing curtains or blinds can add colour and refresh your kitchen. Without taking a big bite out of your kitchen remodelling budget. Check out Facebook Marketplace for great pre-loved window treatments such as plantation shutters.
Using Licensed Contractors
If you’re not particularly handy, or you have an extensive vision for your dream kitchen remodel, the wise move is to bring in a professional builder. You want to make sure that they’re licensed and insured according to the regulations for your state or territory.
Updating your kitchen’s window treatments by replacing curtains or blinds can add colour and refresh your kitchen. Without taking a big bite out of your kitchen remodelling budget. Check out Facebook Marketplace for great pre-loved window treatments such as plantation shutters.
Some will offer design services for major kitchen renovation projects, which might increase the cost. However, it’s the preferred route for custom kitchens.
Updating your kitchen’s window treatments by replacing curtains or blinds can add colour and refresh your kitchen. Without taking a big bite out of your kitchen remodelling budget. Check out Facebook Marketplace for great pre-loved window treatments such as plantation shutters.
Some will offer design services for major kitchen renovation projects, which might increase the cost. However, it’s the preferred route for custom kitchens.
Get Multiple Quotes
For any major kitchen remodel, you want to make sure you’re getting multiple quotes from various builders in your area. You can then compare the cost difference in labour and materials.
Kitchen Remodelling Subcontractors
A lot of mechanically inclined homeowners take a DIY approach to handling some tasks, then bring in subcontractors or specialists to handle specific parts of the kitchen renovation project.
Plumbers are often needed to install new kitchen sinks, faucets, or dishwashers.
Electricians are often required by code for doing things like relocating electrical outlets, lighting fixtures, or installing built-in appliances. Rewiring is often complex and potentially dangerous.
Countertop installers are often necessary to measure, fabricate, and install all-new benchtops. Especially for special materials like granite or quartz countertops.
Flooring installers are often a better option if you’re installing tile, hardwood, laminate, or vinyl flooring. Especially if you have unique dimensions to your kitchen floors, or there might be variations in the grade of the subfloor.
Cabinet installers are often needed to fabricate, assemble, and install custom cabinets. However, most flatpack cabinet kits are designed for DIY installation.
Painters and drywall technicians are usually needed if your kitchen renovation calls for drywall repair or you’re removing an existing wall. Otherwise, most homeowners can handle basic painting and minor drywall repair without outside help.
HVAC technicians might be needed if your kitchen remodel involves relocating or adding heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) vents. They can also help install or replace a range top hood.
Electricians are often required by code for doing things like relocating electrical outlets, lighting fixtures, or installing built-in appliances. Rewiring is often complex and potentially dangerous.
Countertop installers are often necessary to measure, fabricate, and install all-new benchtops. Especially for special materials like granite or quartz countertops.
Flooring installers are often a better option if you’re installing tile, hardwood, laminate, or vinyl flooring. Especially if you have unique dimensions to your kitchen floors, or there might be variations in the grade of the subfloor.
Cabinet installers are often needed to fabricate, assemble, and install custom cabinets. However, most flatpack cabinet kits are designed for DIY installation.
Painters and drywall technicians are usually needed if your kitchen renovation calls for drywall repair or you’re removing an existing wall. Otherwise, most homeowners can handle basic painting and minor drywall repair without outside help.
HVAC technicians might be needed if your kitchen remodel involves relocating or adding heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) vents. They can also help install or replace a range top hood.
Conclusion
A kitchen remodel is one of the best ways to improve the look, functionality, and value of your home. It’s easy to go overboard and overspend on your new dream kitchen.
Making sure you stay on budget without overcapitalizing beyond the return on investment, starts with identifying the things your kitchen renovation truly needs. Once you’ve accounted for all those sink replacements, flooring repairs, and electrical upgrades, you can turn your vision for your dream kitchen to colours, new cabinet hardware, and visually stunning backsplashes.
Making sure you stay on budget without overcapitalizing beyond the return on investment, starts with identifying the things your kitchen renovation truly needs. Once you’ve accounted for all those sink replacements, flooring repairs, and electrical upgrades, you can turn your vision for your dream kitchen to colours, new cabinet hardware, and visually stunning backsplashes.