The kitchen is one of the most used spaces in your home. Inevitably, your kitchen will need a refresh or remodel to make repairs and keep it up to date. However, kitchen remodels can be expensive, but a good kitchen remodel can add in value and functionality to your home.
Here’s some advice on what kitchen remodels are worth the money and some suggestions on how you can save on your kitchen remodel.
Appliances
You utlizie your kitchen appliances daily and it can be frustrating to have appliances that are too small for you or your family, appliances that have a weird set up, or simply not having the things you need. When updating your appliances, consider the following:
- Stainless Steel Appliances – most people expect or look for stainless steel appliances when house hunting, so this is a great upgrade if you are planning on selling.
- Double Ovens and 6 Burner Ranges – these items are the holy grails of kitchens and are perfect for families
- Island – islands are great, especially those with built-in storage and bar seating, though the bar seating can be a give or take.
- Consider your appliances/cabinet setup – If you’re keeping your current cabinet setup, you’ll want to think about what appliances are logical for that placement. You, however, have more freedom if you’ve decided to do a full remodel of your kitchen as you can change the layout and placement of the appliances and then plan the cabinets around it.
Countertops
Countertops are one of the areas that can make or break a kitchen as they are one of the few focal points of the kitchen. Here are some things to consider:
- While there are some inexpensive options, stone countertops add significant value and beauty while also being an expectation in most houses at this point.
- Everyone hates tiles except on backsplashes and floors—then they love it. Tiles on countertops can make cleaning difficult and tends to not last as long meaning more frequent remodels are necessary.
- Granite can mimic marble and look just as nice at a much cheaper cost.
Cabinets
This is likely the most expensive part of your kitchen, so you’ll want to be careful. They also are a focal point, and nice cabinet storage is a necessity. Some advice to follow:
- The cost can add up quick with delivery, taxes, installation, and all the upgrades you can make. A lazy Susan alone can add $1500 to the cost. You’ll need to decide if certain upgrades are worth it.
- Soft close drawers are a great addition to consider and they are great for hiding garbage and recycling.
- You’ll want to make sure that the cabinets can fit your plates—upgrading to the 15” depth or if possibly deeper is almost always worth it.
- Most people need a lot of storage in their kitchen. There’s a ton of places to fit this in, but one of the easiest is installing floor-to-ceiling cabinets.
- If the kitchen already has good cabinets, a fresh paint or stain and new hardware can refresh the kitchen at a cheaper cost.
Tile and Floor
Tile and floors is another potentially expensive cost. You’ll want something that is functional without breaking the bank. Some considerations to keep in mind:
- Floors aren’t the place to customize with pretty little tile. It’s expensive, harder to take care of properly, and can often make the kitchen too busy visually. Instead, keep it a simple, larger tile.
- While marble is the holy grail of flooring and tile in general, it is also crazy expensive. There are a ton of great stone options that look just like marble for a fraction of the cost. Porcelain is a great, low-cost option that is resistant to chipping and cracking and tends to last a long time. If you must have stone, check out travertine. I also am a fan of the wood-look tile.
- Backsplashes are a great way to make cleaning the kitchen walls easier while also providing a focal point with some beauty. It can get expensive sometimes, so be attentive to the cost for your space, but this is a great upgrade that people love.
- Floors and tile can last a long time, and can make or break the space. Choosing something timeless can reduce the need to upgrade later one. White subway tile has been around for nearly forever and continues to be one of the most used styles for backsplashes.
General places to cut costs for a remodel
- Work with the structure of your kitchen rather than through it. Plan your space to avoid structural changes, such as plumbing, mechanical systems, and walls.
- Make sure everything is what you want and you are getting everything you need when you place your order rather than later. Changing your mind after can be an expensive cost.
- Be specific when comparison shopping and be sure to compare exact products because prices can vary depending on model and even the finish.
When doing a kitchen remodel, first and foremost do what you need to enjoy the space yourself. Make it functional, sleek, and enjoyable for you, but also try to keep in mind long-term plans.
