Top tips on how to redo your kitchen without breaking the bank
Investing in a new kitchen is a surefire way to add value to your home. But with the credit crunch starting to hit, we show you how to create a beautiful new design without breaking the bank.
diy
The easiest way to save money is to do as many adjustments as possible yourself.
Cabinets:
Installing them yourself can save you hundreds of pounds in installation costs.
Countertops: You can install tile, laminate, and wood countertops yourself, but you’ll need an installer who specializes in granite, marble, stone, and glass.
Flooring: This is one way to really save money. Vinyl tile, ceramic tile, wood and laminate flooring are relatively easy to install.
Plumbing: If you’re a confident DIYer, you should be able to install your sink and faucets, especially if you haven’t needed to move any plumbing from your previous schematic. However, if it is necessary to move the plumbing, it is better to call in the professionals.
Painting, wallpapering – this is the simplest task and an easy way to save a couple of days in labor costs.
Dashboard – If you are using tile for your backsplash, this is another way to save money by doing the work yourself.
reuse appliances
Appliances are often the most expensive items in a kitchen. If the old ones are in good shape, consider reinstalling them in the new design, or just replace the ones on display, like the countertop.
If you need to shop for appliances, be sure to search the internet and the high street for the best deals. It is often cheaper to get the appliances yourself, rather than let the kitchen design company do it for you. And if you’re shopping for new appliances, be sure to invest in energy-efficient models that will save you money on running costs down the road. The Energy Saving Trust has a full list of appliances and their energy ratings to help you choose.
Consider a face lift
If your basic kitchen design is solid, you can make a big difference in the look of your kitchen by updating a few key elements. Replacing an old laminate countertop with a new granite one, for example, will make a big impact. You can also refresh tile backsplashes by painting them with special tile paint.
If you have solid wood cabinets, sanding and refinishing them is a quick and easy way to achieve a striking new look at a fraction of the cost of replacing them. Even small touches, like replacing outdated cabinet handles with new ones, will make all the difference.
If you don’t think anything from your old kitchen is worth saving, make sure you spend your money in the right places. You can use inexpensive cabinet frames with more expensive doors and consider installing an inexpensive sink and spending the money on fancier countertops.
Research and Financing
The Internet is a great place to find discount appliances, cabinets, and accessories, so be sure to take the time to research all the options available. Kitchen suppliers run sales several times a year, so it always pays to stick to sale prices. Use sites like Kelcoo to locate the cheapest prices available on appliances.
When it comes to financing, with interest rates so low right now, the cheapest way to borrow money is often to extend your mortgage. If this isn’t possible, investigate zero or low interest credit card offers, which often also give you the added peace of mind of having insurance in case your kitchen provider goes bankrupt. Low-cost loans can be a good way to borrow money, but beware of hidden payment protection insurance offers that cost more than the interest itself. The most important thing to remember is to have your finances in place before you buy, and don’t rush to use the financial offers provided by the kitchen supplier without researching the alternatives first.
Finally, remember that kitchen suppliers will also suffer from the recession, so it pays to haggle. Getting two quotes from two different vendors and comparing them against each other is often a good way to save money on the cost of your kitchen.