Changing things up can be daunting, but a kitchen remodel is a change that should be welcomed, especially if it has been a while since your last one. A kitchen remodel may be just what your home needs to feel as good as new. When you think of remodeling your kitchen, the thought may be accompanied by many dollar signs and the stress of covering this cost. Materials like new paint, tile, countertops, and cabinets tend to be costly if you want to give your kitchen a luxurious makeover. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips and tricks you can use to give your kitchen a new look while keeping the expenses to a minimum.
Before You Start
Before you begin any project, it’s important to have an overall goal in mind of what you want your results to be. Having this picture of your final remodel is essential, as it will help to guide your project. Going into the project blind with no end goal can cause many issues along the way, including falling short on materials, making last-minute or rash decisions, or even causing permanent damage to your kitchen and appliances. You should have an idea of what materials you want to use, and then you should get all of these materials before you even start the remodel. Doing this will help you avoid making multiple trips to different supply stores or having any items you need go out of stock midway through your project. Errors like this can delay or halt your project altogether. So, have a plan! It can save you a lot of unnecessary time and hassle throughout your project.
Cabinets
The first area of your kitchen that you may want to tackle is the cabinets. It’s not necessary to start here, but it could be more convenient to do them first. To start, you’ll want to assess the basic structure of your cabinets and see if it is viable. If the structure can’t be salvaged, you likely need to consult a professional in order to do a complete cabinet replacement. Be sure to assess the state of the doors as well. If the structure of your cabinet is strong but the door needs to go, replacing only the door rather than the whole cabinet will be beneficial to your budget. Doing this will give your cabinets a brand-new look for only a fraction of the cost. If the structure of your cabinets as a whole is nice and sturdy, there are a few inexpensive remodeling tricks that you can do or have done. A good one to start with is paint. Going with a light color, such as white or pastels, will reflect light off of your cabinets and open up your space. White or light paint is also great at hiding any cracks or aging that may have appeared on your cabinets over the years, so choosing this paint will hide these unwanted blemishes while also giving your kitchen a modern look. You could also consider refacing your cabinets instead of painting them if the structure will allow for it.
Countertops
Freshening up your countertops is a great way to have your kitchen feeling brand new again. Start by doing a deep clean of your counters. Grout is easily susceptible to dirt and grime, so using a grout cleaner is essential to your deep clean. You will also want to replace or redo your laminate countertop as it can get worn down over time. This can be done by yourself, or you could have a professional come and replace it for you. Lastly, if you have granite or marble countertops, you will want to reseal them at some point. A sealant acts as a shield for your countertop against food, water, and other objects that it may come in contact with, so this is a very important part of ensuring that your countertops will last for a while. If you feel as though your countertops are beyond repair, consult a professional about getting them replaced and what will work best for you and your budget. The replacement process can be the most expensive due to using materials like granite or marble. However, you can talk with your supplier to see if paying in installments is an option, or you could plan to do your remodel in stages to ensure you stay in your monthly budget. There are also cheaper materials, such as laminate or ceramic tile, if you’d like a less expensive option when replacing your countertops. Be sure to save whatever leftover materials you may have; they can be repurposed throughout your kitchen in the form of cutting boards or other kitchen objects.
Plumbing and Electricity
In order to complete this project within your budget, you’ll want to avoid attempting to deal with any plumbing and electricity that accompany your kitchen appliances by yourself. If your renovations involve these appliances, it is recommended that you consult a professional. Not doing so could potentially result in errors or damage that can be very expensive to fix. This is one area of your kitchen that you should be willing to spend a larger amount of money to ensure that it is done correctly. Fortunately, kitchen appliances only need to be replaced about every 10-15 years, so this is not an expense that needs to be dealt with often.
Finishing Touches
On top of the major projects in your remodel, there are plenty of minor elements that you can add to jazz up your space. In addition to natural sunlight, you may want to have more lighting installed around the walls or even underneath the cabinets for some extra brightness. Another element that can tie the whole kitchen together is an island. Installing an actual island can get expensive, so finding a counter-level table to act as an island instead could be a significant investment, especially if you can find some decent barstools to go with it. Little additions to your kitchen can liven it up and give it character, but it is important to make sure that anything you add is appropriate to you and your space and that it fits nicely within your kitchen.
These tips and tricks, along with some additional research, will be everything you need to complete this project within the budget that you set for yourself. Be sure to have a plan before you start and to be creative throughout this process! You have the capability to cost-effectively design your dream kitchen. 
Rylee Mehr
Home & Yard Magazine
