So you want to redo your kitchen, but don't have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on it? The kitchen is often the "hub" of the home, and of course the most expensive room in the home to remodel. Here are some ideas to transform the look of your kitchen on a budget.
1. Remodeling a kitchen: Paint.
This a great affordable way to transform the look of a kitchen under $100. Be creative and try a new color! If you have lighter cabinets, try a darker shade of paint. We recently painted our walls a shade of "chocolate" and it contrasts nicely with our ivory cabinets! On the flip side, if you have a darker cabinet, a lighter color paint might be in order.
You may also want to consider painting the cabinetry if you want a new look but cannot afford new ones.
2. Remodeling a kitchen: Cabinet Hardware.
If you really want to update your cabinetry, and cannot afford new ones, try replacing the knobs, handles and hinges. This can be a tedious job, but can improve the overall look dramatically. Styles of hardware change often. It is time to replace the brass knobs with the brushed nickel! This can be done usually for $50 to $75, more if you have tons of cabinets, less if you have very few.
3. Remodeling a kitchen: Cabinet Trim.
If your cabinets allow for this, add a decorative strip of trim either on the top or bottom. This can be found in home improvement stores and offer a variety of decor and design options. Estimated price for this would depend on the amount of cabinetry to cover, but should be around $50.
4. Remodeling a kitchen: Door & Window Trim.
Try painting existing trim an accent color different from you wall color. Or, if you are going for completely new look, replace this altogether with a different style. This kitchen remodel tip would cost about $100.
5. Remodeling a kitchen: Lighting.
Try hunting down some new light fixtures. If you can find some at your local home improvement store, they will be moderately priced. Another place to watch for these are builder auctions. New light fixtures can transform a room drastically! Plan on spending $100- $200 on this.
6. Remodeling a kitchen: Counter tops.
If you choose to skip one or more of the above steps, you might have room left in your budget to redo your counter top. Tile is a nice option, and can be affordably done. It can almost always go right over top of your existing counter. One nice feature of tile is that it acts as a natural hot plate. If you want a more upscale look, such as Granite or Corian, try watching for builder auctions. These are difficult and tricky to install, so consider paying someone to do this when you consider budget. Budget on this can vary drastically, beginning at $100 and going up from there.
Remember, remodeling your kitchen will always be a good investment. Kitchens and baths are the two rooms in the house that will often bring back 75% to 100% of your investment if you ever need to sell.
Be creative and remember that by doing the remodel yourself, you will save a lot of money. However, hiring a professional is the best idea if you are not handy person yourself. This can save a lot of headache and perhaps even money in the long run.