No other room in a home sees activity the way a kitchen does. It’s where we gather with friends and family. Kids sit on counters and share their stories while we cook dinner and friends may sip wine at the breakfast bar when they come to visit. The kitchen is a place for socializing, cooking, and eating. Follow these tips for remodeling your kitchen and make your kitchen the place everyone wants to be.

Make a Plan

Every great design begins with a plan. Grab a notebook and pen and jot down some ideas for the remodel and how they might be accomplished. Here are some questions to get you started:

• Who will do the work?
• What’s the timeline?
• What do you love about your current kitchen?
• What needs changing?

After asking those questions, decide how to make the changes happen.

Define a Budget

In a perfect world, there would be no budget and we’d all change our kitchens in whatever way we choose and as often as we like.  But, if you are like me, you must set a budget for a kitchen remodel and try to stick to it.

It’s so easy to go over-budget a little here and a little there, thinking you’ll make up the difference somewhere else.

Unfortunately, construction surprises may come along during a remodeling project that have to be taken care of, which makes the chance of correcting the difference more difficult.

Have an understanding up front of what everything will cost, know what you can afford, and set your budget for the project. If something needs to be cut out, you may be able to add it back in later down the road.

Where to Save Money

A kitchen remodel doesn’t mean everything must be brand new. The best way to save money on your remodeling project is to keep as much of what you already have but reuse or repurpose it in the new design.

Cabinets

Cabinets are often the first thing people think of during a kitchen remodel. They’re impossible to hide, used daily, and vital to an efficient kitchen. They are also one of the most expensive items to replace in a kitchen. Here’s the good news—you don’t have to replace them completely. Try these ideas instead:

• Paint your current cabinets rather than replacing them. You can save thousands of dollars.
• Tear down one area of cabinets and replace them with open shelving for a new look. Simple shelves and brackets from your favorite online or home improvement stores make this easy.
• Reface cabinets with laminates on drawer fronts, cabinet boxes, and doors for a whole new look.
• Adding or replacing decorative hardware can dramatically change the look of your kitchen.

Don’t Move Plumbing

Don’t try to rearrange anything in your kitchen that involves plumbing, if at all possible. (Some examples are a sink or refrigerator with water dispenser or ice maker.) Moving plumbing around is messy, time consuming, and expensive.

Keep the Layout

If your desire is to create a new kitchen while not spending too much money, don’t change the kitchen layout too much.

Changing a layout is when costs begin to add up. Just like plumbing, keep counters and cabinets in the same configuration and make changes in different ways. Your remodel will be quicker, less messy, and less expensive.

Do the Work Yourself

In some areas of a remodel, hiring a professional is unavoidable. Whatever you can do yourself will help you save a lot of money.

Painting or installing hardware are tasks you can learn about online or in books and do on your own. Other aspects of the remodel, such as anything to do with electricity, will require a licensed electrician if it’s not your area of expertise.

Where to Invest

Sure, you were hoping this article was all about how to save money. It’s definitely high on the priority list, but some areas of your remodel are worth a little extra investment.

As you save on the projects you can do yourself or areas that won’t need to be changed, use the extra money to purchase kitchen items that will stand out, work more efficiently, and really pull your remodel together. Here are some ideas:

• Invest in strong, high-quality countertops that will stand the test of time. Beautiful granite or quartz counters can become the center of attention in the kitchen.
• Make sure all appliances match and look up to date. Staying within the same brand helps to ensure colors and shades coordinate perfectly.
• Modernizing light fixtures instantly brightens a kitchen and gives a new feel. Search for unique fixtures that stand out.
• Today, there are a wide variety of kitchen sinks in different shapes, sizes, and materials to choose from. Sinks take a beating so, consider a new sink a worthwhile investment. Spend on a beautiful but durable one.
• The same goes for your faucet. A stunning faucet can be so eye-catching.
• Don’t overlook improving storage. Invest in organizer pull-outs and other storage elements you didn’t have before.
• If you’ve never had a backsplash or yours is outdated, then investing in one is a great idea. The backsplash brings the design together and sets the tone of the kitchen.

Know Your Style

This can be a tough one if you’ve never really considered what your style is. Search through magazines and websites online and get a feel for what you love in a kitchen. As you get ideas, remember you can alter them to suit your own needs and budget.

Choose a style for the kitchen and stick with it for your design..

Think Outside the Box

Give yourself time to plan your kitchen remodel. This is a big investment and should be planned appropriately.. Give yourself enough time to explore different options… adding or subtracting until you design your perfect space.

Get creative with color palettes for walls and cabinets. It’s your kitchen so design it accordingly. Trends are a great springboard for ideas but, in the end, you create your kitchen to be whatever you want it to be.

Storage is another area where creativity can flow. Maybe add open shelves holding staple pantry items, such as flour and sugar. You could also have baskets to hold measuring cups, spoons, or other kitchen tools.

Thinking outside the box is a great way to add uniqueness when remodeling your kitchen.

In conclusion, a kitchen remodel doesn’t have to be overwhelming and expensive. Take your time, plan well, and enjoy the process of watching your kitchen go from everyday to extraordinary. Woodworker Express is your trusted source for kitchen remodeling needs such as storage solutions, hardware, and more. We offer woodworking tools and supplies along with an impressive inventory for many home remodeling projects. Contact us or visit us online to see how we can help you with all of your remodeling needs.