Renovating your kitchen can be an exciting project to start. However, depending on the kitchen design, materials, and furnishing you wish to implement, it can also be an expensive venture.
And this is where careful planning and budget come in. With planning ahead, you can be better equipped to achieve your dream kitchen without breaking the bank.
To help you get started on this journey, here are some insights to help you budget for a kitchen renovation:
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Make Design Decisions
To help you with budgeting, start by determining your reason for starting this renovation project. Perhaps your current kitchen layout is too cramped, and you want to improve its functionality.
Maybe you wanted to add more storage to cater to cooking items and food. Or, it could also be that you want to give your kitchen a fresh look, so a new countertop may seem a good idea.
Knowing the reason can help you understand your priority or requirement at the moment. It allows you to identify the necessary design decisions that are must-haves or non-negotiable and elements that may fall under the wish list category. That way, you can plan your budget carefully and appropriately.
On the other hand, if there are no design priorities to keep in mind, you can focus on what you want for your kitchen. Is there a specific look or design style you’re interested in? Or maybe you’re also considering upgrading your kitchen appliance. In this case, list down everything you want for your kitchen.
That way, you can have a renovation checklist of your preferences and things to plan for, which can be helpful once you start finalizing your budget and when working with a design professional.
During this process, it’s always recommended to go for a classic and timeless style. That way, you wouldn’t have to conduct renovations every once in a while.
Prepare A Cost Sheet
Now that you’ve sorted out your priorities and design preferences for your new kitchen, it’s time to detail the specifics so you’ll have more or less an idea of how much the total project cost will be.
In this step, you’ll have to take note of the rates of each item to be used in your kitchen renovation, which includes paints, wood planks, tiles, knobs, cabinets, countertop material, kitchen fixtures such as sinks and faucets, and appliances, to name a few.
You’ll also have to factor in the professional fees of designers and contractors that can help you build your dream kitchen. If you aren’t working with one yet, click here to get started.
By preparing a cost sheet, you’ll be able to have a detailed rundown of the expected costs for your kitchen renovation. This can be a starting point, although note that your contractor can best help you with the estimates.
Revisit Your Design
Before you embark on your kitchen renovation project, chances are, you already have a number on how much you’re willing to spend in mind.
Perhaps you’ve been saving up for this big project. With that in mind, should the projected cost of remodeling surprise you, it’s recommended to rethink your plans and make some adjustments to accommodate your budget.
This is where knowing your priority comes in. You can trim down the total project cost by letting go of items or design elements that may not be as necessary. Be honest with yourself and realistic when assessing which items you’re willing to compromise on.
In addition, you can also value engineer design materials. For instance, instead of having granite countertop, you can opt for a solid surface. While they’re both stylish and can give your kitchen an elegant boost, solid surface is considered less expensive than granite.
You can also consider keeping your kitchen cabinet doors instead of installing new ones. And to give your cabinets a fresh look, you can opt to replace the handles or drawer pulls instead. Even a small change can revamp your kitchen.
Plan For Contingencies
When planning the budget for your kitchen renovation project, you’d also have to consider the possibility of extra costs along the way. It could be due to the price escalation of some construction materials, mistakes during the renovation, which may require the need to purchase new materials, etc.
Including such costs in your budget allows you to be prepared for unexpected scenarios and expenses. And suppose at the end of your kitchen renovation project, this fund remains intact. You can utilize it for items that may have been scratched off when you valued engineering your kitchen design. A kitchen appliance upgrade, for instance.
Wrapping Up
Kitchen renovation is one of the many ways to spruce up your home. Perhaps you wanted to improve its functionality to cater to your family’s growing needs, or it could also be to give its aesthetics a boost.
Regardless of your reason, embarking on such a significant project can be costly. And so, planning and preparing your budget can go a long way in helping you achieve the kitchen of your dreams.
Hopefully, the insights presented in this article can send you off to a good start in renovating your kitchen.
