Picture this. You’ve been meaning to renovate your kitchen for a while, but money, or the lack of it, keeps getting in the way. The bills need to be paid. The bank wants what’s owed to them. And when you factor in groceries, birthdays, and the holiday season, it can be hard to set aside a renovating budget.
According to a 2017 Houzz survey, 49% of homeowners spent between $15,001 and $25,000 on their kitchen renovations. If that number made you gulp, we don’t blame you. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are 4 ways that you can give your kitchen a facelift, leave your guests saying things like, “Wow! I can’t believe how good your kitchen looks!”, and save money all at the same time. Keep reading to find out more.
#1: Paint or Reface (Don’t Replace) Your Cabinets
Homeowners sometimes think that they have to buy new cabinets, rip up the old ones, and install a fresh set in order to get magazine-worthy results. But as it turns out, if your current cabinets don’t have any structural issues, you don’t necessarily have to go that far. You can simply add a touch of paint or change up the doors and handles of your cabinets to get the stunning results of a new cabinet at a fraction of the price.
If the wood is soft to the touch or showing signs of warping and water damage, you may not be able to make cosmetic changes and call it a day. But thankfully, depending on where you look, it’s possible to find reputable professionals who are willing to give free kitchen cabinet consultations to homeowners in your area.
#2: Change up Your Sink Faucet
If you’re the sort of person who uses the dishwasher 9 out of 10 nights, it’s easy for your kitchen faucet to be functionally invisible to you unless it’s not working. As easy as it is to overlook, however, a stylish new faucet can quickly make your kitchen look more modern and elegant.
They’re easy to find, easy to install, and affordable. If you’re still refining your renovation to-do list, your kitchen sink faucet can subtly help you enhance the look and feel of your kitchen.
#3: Curb Spending on Appliances
It goes without saying that new, fresh out of the box appliances can set you back a pretty penny. But at the same time, because you’re probably not shopping for new appliances every day, bargain-hunting can be hard to do.
Because as much as you may want to save money on your new fridge, the product warranties and manufacturer guarantees that often come with purchasing in-store may not be available on the secondhand market.
It may take a bit of advanced planning, but Black Friday and Boxing Day sales are two fantastic opportunities to save big on your appliances.
#4: Upgrade Your Backsplash
Sometimes a successful kitchen refresh comes down to finding new ways to add artisanal touches. To that end, a backsplash upgrade can help you do exactly that.
You can go out of your way to find eye-catching designs, you can experiment with the finish, you can try a more exotic color scheme, or you could even do a combination of all three.
A backsplash is an excellent way to bring more of your personality into your kitchen decor without breaking the bank in the process.
Conclusion
The United States Department of Agriculture noted that on average, Americans spend 37 minutes a day in the kitchen prepping, serving, and cleaning up after meals. When you throw in time spent eating and doing work at the kitchen table, that could very well mean that many Americans are spending more than an hour in their kitchens every day.
Whether you’re trying to upgrade for your own ease of living or you’ve got long-term plans to sell your house, there comes a point where it’s not enough to have a kitchen that’s just “Okay”.
The good news is that it’s more than possible to refresh your kitchen on a shoestring budget. All it takes is a little bit of creativity.
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