Looking to remodel your kitchen can be exciting and stressful. Before you start take the time to read a few helpful tips to keep your budget and your design in check!
Research – Do your research before you make a trip to your local home improvement store or hire an outside service. Start compiling an Ideas Book that includes appliances, cabinets, flooring, window treatments, etc. that you like. You may find these ideas online or in different home design magazines.
Budget – The number one fear associated with a kitchen remodel is breaking the budget. It is important to remember what you can afford and what you cannot. Sit down and create a budget in writing that can be used as a reference. As a homeowner it’s a good idea to build a 20% cushion into your budget to cover any surprises or any unforseen design changes.
Layout – The kitchen layout is an important function of any kitchen but can be expensive to change. To avoid budget busters like knocking down walls or adding plumbing and electrical try to work with your kitchens current layout. The problem may be more in the arrangement and not the layout itself.
Cabinets – Whether you are adding more cabinets or updating old ones, homeowners have many different options available for all budgets. To save money you can purchase cabinets off the rack from a home improvement store or reface the cabinets that you currently have with stain or paint. Sometimes all a cabinet needs is updated hardware. New hardware on a cabinet can change the entire look of a kitchen for less than $2 per cabinet.
Countertops – Replacing countertops can be difficult on both your wallet and your design. Many choices exist from concrete to stone to stainless steel. To keep your budget in check look into remnant countertops or using laminate. Many countertop dealers will have remnants available in all sizes and selections at a fraction of the cost. And don’t fool yourself laminate has come a long way over the years and may surprise you at how well it looks.
Flooring – Along with bathrooms, kitchens are one place where flooring really needs to perform. Make sure the flooring you choose resists water even if it is not waterproof. Despite the look of hardwood floors they tend to be more expensive and soak up rather than resist the spills. Ceramic tiles and stones are still good for a kitchens but a few cost friendly options would include vinyl tile or even laminate flooring for a great hardwood look.
Paint – A cheap design fix to any room in your house, especially your kitchen is paint. Color on the walls can change the entire look of a room. With the average cost of a can of paint being $35 per gallon you can refresh your kitchen in one weekend. Make sure to compare paint swatches to your cabinets and flooring. You may also want to purchase small paint samples for your wall to test a color or even upload a photo of your kitchen to the internet and use a virtual painting program to see the overall effect. Either way color is always a good choice.
Window treatments – Often times windows are overlooked when a room receives a make-over. One of the easiest things you can do is to change old blinds in for wood blinds or add a nice roman shade. Not only do the right window treatments add color and flare to a room they also help reduce heat loss in the winter and prevent heat gain in the summer.
Mr. Handyman can help with your kitchen remodel and help maintain your home to save you money. One call really does take care of everything on your to-do list. Make sure to stay on top of all your household repairs, improvements and maintenance needs and request service now online.
