When the kitchen’s too cramped or just doesn’t flow right, making dinner and enjoying cooking can be difficult. Kitchen remodel are the number one type of remodels homeowners do because of how much time they spend in the kitchen each day. If you’re planning on remodeling your kitchen, think about what you really want and create a budget you can stick with for the renovation.
National Averages for Remodeling a Kitchen
The national average cost for kitchen remodeling is around $23,000. Most homeowners spend between $12,000 and $35,000 to remodel their kitchen, with extremes being anywhere from $4,000 for a minor remodel to $56,000 for a major remodel. When you’re considering how much to spend, try to stick with between 5 and 15% of your total home value. Spending more than this means you might be putting more money into the kitchen than you’ll get out of it if you decide to sell your home.
What Impacts the Cost of a Remodel?
Every single decision you make can impact the cost of your renovation. Some of the most common expenses during a home renovation include design fees, installation fees, appliances, cabinetry, countertops, lighting, flooring, windows, painting, and plumbing. When you choose more expensive materials for your kitchen, expect to pay significantly more for them. Countertops average at around $2,300 but can be much higher or much lower depending on the material you want to use.
If you’re planning on changing how the kitchen is set up, plan on extra to move plumbing and electrical to fit your new design. The installation of everything as well as hiring professionals for plumbing and electrical may be one of the biggest parts of your budget, depending on what you need to have done. Consider how much you want to spend on your kitchen renovation, then look into the costs for various aspects of the remodel to see where you can save money and where you might want to spend a little more.
Creating a Budget for Your Remodel
Deciding on a budget should be the first thing you do when you want to remodel your kitchen. This is a crucial part of the remodel, as you don’t want to end up running out of money for the renovations halfway through them. Consider how extensive your remodel is going to be, what you can do on your own, and what you’ll need to hire a professional for. Decide if you want to do a basic remodeling project, a mid-range remodel, or if you want to completely change your kitchen with a high-end remodel.
Basic Remodeling Projects – What You Can Do
According to Fairfax Kitchen Bath, basic remodeling projects are those that are done for under $15,000. To stick with this budget, you’ll likely need to do some of the work on your own. You’ll also want to purchase materials on your own to save money and to make sure you get exactly what you want. When you take on a basic remodel project, some of the things you can do include upgrading your sink and faucet, painting walls and ceilings, adding a backsplash, refinishing cabinets and upgrading appliances. You may also be able to replace your current countertops with a budget-friendly option.
Mid-Price Remodeling Projects – What You Can Do
A budget of around $15,000 to $30,000 gives you a lot more room for upgrades. Instead of tackling a lot of this on your own, you can afford to hire professionals to handle installations. Some of the tasks you can do within this budget include refinishing your cabinets, painting, new lighting, and new flooring. Depending on what you choose, you can look at better countertops, consider custom cabinets, or have an island installed in the kitchen. If you’re planning on choosing custom cabinets or high-end countertops, remember to budget more for these options to make sure your budget can cover both the materials and the installation.
High-End Remodeling Projects – What You Can Do
Remodels on a budget of $30,000 or more give you a lot more room to get exactly what you want. You can choose high-end cabinetry and countertops, purchase all new appliances, install a new sink and faucet, add new flooring, and paint the room. You can also change the layout of the kitchen or, depending on how high your budget actually is, move a wall to make your kitchen bigger. A budget for a high-end remodeling project may still require you to carefully consider the costs for everything you want, but you’ll have more room to play with how much you want to spend on each part to make sure you get exactly what you want.
Money-Saving Tips for a Kitchen Remodel
No matter what your budget is, saving money can help you in the long run. Spending less in one area can give you the chance to spend more somewhere else to make sure you get what you want. Some of the ways to save money are to avoid custom cabinets, do parts of the renovation on your own, or to only update what’s necessary. If your older appliances are working fine, for instance, keep them and upgrade later when you have more money saved.
Unexpected Issues and Budgeting
Unexpected issues will always show up during a remodeling project. You might take out older cabinets to find water damage in the flooring underneath them or realize that the cabinets you wanted to refinish are actually damaged in some areas and will need to be replaced. Set aside around 20% of your budget to handle these issues so you can contact a professional as needed for any issues that arise.
Costs of a kitchen remodel vary based on what you want to do and what you need help doing. Plan out your budget carefully to ensure you don’t overspend on your kitchen remodel and to make sure you can get everything you want. Once you have the budget set, you can start looking at your options and design a kitchen you’ll love using every day.
