Kitchen renovations can transform a dated space into a functional area for cooking, storage, and entertaining. However, remodeling a kitchen often comes with concerns about cost and budgeting. In this guide, we’ll explain how to renovate your kitchen while staying on budget using smart design choices and budget-friendly solutions.
Transforming a Kitchen on a Budget
When homeowner Zorina Rahman wanted to start hosting dinner parties for family and friends, her outdated, small townhouse kitchen stood in the way. Fortunately, Ask This Old House experts stepped in to create her ideal kitchen while keeping costs under control. Their approach shows that with careful planning and strategic choices, a kitchen renovation is possible on a modest budget.
Identifying the Kitchen’s Issues
Rahman’s kitchen space hadn’t been updated in years, featuring mismatched appliances and a hard-to-clean tile countertop that gave the room an outdated appearance. Storage was another issue, with small cabinets and only one drawer in the entire kitchen. These challenges made cooking and entertaining nearly impossible. The initial step of the renovation focused on understanding her needs for better use and a nice charm to the space.
Install New Kitchen Cabinetry
The renovation started with the installation of new cabinets. The team chose solid plywood cabinets with an ivory finish, which arrived flat-packed for on-site assembly. While this required additional labor time, it resulted in staying under budget when compared to pre-assembled options.
When selecting cabinetry for a budget-friendly kitchen makeover, consider ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets or stock cabinets from big-box stores. You can also reface existing cabinet boxes with new doors and hardware or design an open shelving look at a reduced cost. Choosing the right cabinetry can set the tone for the entire kitchen, elevating both functionality and style.
Shown: B. Jorgsen & Co. Victoria Ivory cabinetry by Cabinets to Go
Consider Decorative Details for Your Kitchen Makeover
To elevate the design, the crew added classic crown molding to the upper cabinets. Crown molding adds visual interest and creates a custom, high-end look without a major increase in cost. Other budget-friendly decorative details to consider include updated cabinet hardware, under-cabinet lighting, decorative backsplash tiles, or glass inserts for cabinet doors.
Add a Creative Kitchen Corner
Maximizing space and functionality is important for any kitchen renovation, especially with a limited budget. The Ask This Old House team combined two new cabinets to form a peninsula, increasing storage and workspace areas. This addition included a new drawer unit for storing pots, pans, and other kitchen essentials.
The end of the peninsula has a decorative panel to create a polished look that tied the new addition into the overall design. The strategic use and installation of this peninsula provide a multi-purpose solution for small kitchen layouts.
Improve Kitchen Storage Solutions
One of the biggest changes in Rahman’s kitchen makeover was the transformation of a previously blank wall into a floor-to-ceiling pantry unit. This addition increased the kitchen’s storage capacity, addressing one of the issues with the original layout. By using vertical space, the team maximized storage without compromising nearby living spaces.
Shown: Cabinets to Go
Install New Kitchen Countertops
While most of the renovation focused on cost-friendly solutions, the one splurge was on a sleek Carrara marble countertop. When planning a kitchen makeover on a budget, allocate a larger portion of the budget to a single element that will elevate the space. This marble countertop serves as a focal point for the entire kitchen and adds value to balance out the overall space.
Upgrade Functionality on a Budget
By installing a pulldown faucet directly into the countertop, the team upgraded functionality in the space. This choice eliminated the need for a separate side sprayer, reducing the number of holes in the counter and creating a cleaner look. The high-arc design of the faucet also allows for easy filling of large pots and can be operated with one hand, improving the usability of the kitchen sink area.
Shown: Kipton chrome one-handle faucet by Moen
Add the Finishing Touches on Your Kitchen Makeover
To complete the transformation, the team selected a suite of matching modern stainless steel appliances. They also installed an above-range microwave, which doubles as a vent hood and frees up counter space. A multi-colored backsplash ties the color scheme together, and a fresh coat of paint brightens up the newly renovated room.
Budget-Friendly Kitchen Makeover Tips
When planning your cost-effective kitchen renovation, choose affordable countertop materials, such as laminate or butcher block, and paint existing cabinets instead of replacing them. You can also install a new kitchen faucet for an immediate update and keep the existing layout to avoid plumbing and electrical changes, which increase costs.