How to fit and style a kitchen without spending a fortune
A new kitchen is usually a high priority for people who are renovating or remodelling a house. Gone are the days when the kitchens were viewed as nothing more than functional spaces. These days they are most definitely the heart of the home.
But what if you’re on a tight budget?
Designing kitchens on a budget does take some skill. After all, when it comes to planning a new kitchen, there is often a huge gulf between budget and expectation. You can start designing your dream kitchen with a limited budget in mind but then when you start adding on the price for labour, appliances, worktops, tiles and other extras, costs quickly escalate and that original number you started with just seems impossible to stick to.
We’re here to tell you that you can renovate your kitchen keeping a high-end feel but with a low-end cost. Whilst it is frighteningly easy to spend tens of thousands on a new kitchen, there are also plenty of ways to keep a lid on costs too.
Kitchen renovation on a budget
Read on for our top tips on achieving your dream kitchen without breaking the bank.
Replace your kitchen worktops
New worktops are a simple way to save on your kitchen budget and still accomplish a high-end look.
Whether you are looking at stone, composite, wood or laminate worktops; one option is to mix and match to keep costs down.
Splash out on areas where the worktops will have the most visual impact – island tops for example – and go for something less expensive in the areas that are more hidden. Some timbers are priced very reasonably and providing they are properly treated and maintained should perform well.
When buying a new kitchen, it can be tempting to buy your worktops as part of a package from the same company you are purchasing your units from (and they will often be included in the overall quote) but local suppliers often offer far better prices. Either way, you can count on the Bliss team to help you source the best possible deal.
2. Replace doors and update your kitchen floor
Rather than buy a whole new fitted kitchen at a cost that could mean re-mortgaging the house, we’re talking about spending a far smaller amount to make a huge impact still. Take the fronts of the cupboards off and replace them with new doors to give the whole kitchen a brand-new look on a budget, or even spray paint them a new colour.
If a well worn kitchen floor is letting the scheme down, worry not. Getting new flooring may sound scary (and expensive!), but it doesn’t have to be and there are a wide range of alternative products to tiles on the market these days.
3. Update the kitchen splashback
A great kitchen should not only look fabulous, but it should also be functional too. Kitchen tiles are a great choice for a wipe clean, fuss-free worktop or splashback. You’ll find a range of stylish yet practical tiles on the market to suit all tastes from contemporary to traditional tiles.
A cheaper alternative to a tiled splashback is a matching upstand, or matching wall board, both of which are much easier and cheaper to install.
Under-cabinet lighting is becoming increasingly popular with both homeowners and interior designers and, as such, there is an extensive range available to buy with a wide array of options including; surface mounted, recessed, round, triangle, square and when it comes to under cabinet lighting, of course, it has to be LED!
4. Replace wall cabinets with open shelves
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to update your kitchen is to substitute expensive wall units with decorative shelving.
Whether you're budgeting for a full-scale remodel or you just want a small update, we can help find the right shelves for you. A lot of people assume when they incorporate open shelving into their kitchen, they have to add tons of shelves. This isn't always the case.
A couple of smaller shelves that take up the space of one cabinet can make a significant impact on the space. This idea works particularly well for those who want the look of open shelving but less commitment in regards to cleaning and styling them.
If you have a spare wall in your kitchen but no pantry, consider creating a right angle and making use of the corner space, too. Since most corners are relatively hidden from view, use this space for microwaves and other less attractive kitchen gadgets. This solution is ideal for those favouring a functional kitchen over an overly designed one, as it helps keep a more organised pantry, and the visibility will help you know exactly how much you have left of certain dry goods.
At Bliss, we work with the best local suppliers and know exactly who to recommend based on your needs and budget. Just have a look at these Before and After photos of kitchens we recently renovated:
On this kitchen, all we did was paint all the doors to give the space an instant '“lift”. The lighter colour immediately gave the kitchen a more modern, bright look and made a big difference.
Here we replaced the floor, doors and worktops and added a new splashback to give it more contemporary feel. The client was over the moon with the results, and once again our team proved that you don’t need a big budget to massively improve your kitchen.