Remodeling is going to cost you some money, there’s no two ways about it, but the question is: is it better to go for it and have a relatively expensive renovation project or is it better to focus on saving money with a cheap kitchen remodeling plan?
Long Term vs Short Term Kitchen Goals
Depending on your situation, the answer is not always clear cut. Going all out on an expensive reno isn’t necessarily the best answer. First there are a few questions you should ask before moving on.
1. Do you like to keep up with current trends on a regular basis?
2. How much can you realistically spend on a kitchen remodel?
3. Do you want to avoid remodeling again at all costs?
4. Does your kitchen need a new layout?
Going into detail with these questions will give you an idea of why there it isn’t always necessary to do an expensive kitchen remodel.
1. Keeping up with trends: Unless you are a millionaire (or someone with a lot of extra money), if you like to keep with the kitchen trend of the day then consider saving costs here and there by buying cheaper products. The reason is because chances are you will want to change your kitchen every 5-10 years or at least give it an update. If you spend your life savings on a kitchen today, what will you do if you can’t afford to make changes later when you want a change? Budget so that you can afford to make updates over the years as you like. Also choose items that are easy to give a new look to. For example, buy cabinets that can easily be refaced. That way in the future you can move to a totally different look without breaking the bank. There are many product available that mimic the expensive varieties but at a fraction of the cost. So your kitchen can look great but stay on the cheap side.
2. Once you come up with a preliminary budget, consider certain questions of longevity. If the cheapest appliances will last only 5 years, it may be worth spending a little extra to prevent having to replace them so soon after purchase. You may find that it is beneficial to jump up to the next price level if you would like your appliances/faucets/flooring to last a certain amount of time. You may have budgeted an amount but find that the extra output today will more than pay off in the long term.
3. If you are the kind of people who absolutely hate renovating and all the hassles that come with it, consider spending the extra so that the products you install go the distance. You may want to choose classic designs and styles; ones that won’t become dated in the near future. Choose flooring and cabinets that are built to last. Spending the extra now will pay off by staving off needing to renovate.
4. If your kitchen layout is fine, you can get away relatively cheaply with keeping the existing cabinets and refacing them. Sometimes simply changing the doors will do the trick. Other times you may want to change the look of the doors, the face frames and end panels. However, if you need to change the layout in order to streamline your kitchen, or if you need to add a lot more storage space, then redoing the entire cabinet structure is probably necessary.
So expensive or cheap? It’s not always as simple as it seems. Make sure to take into account all of the above questions to help you make your decision.