How to Cheaply Design Your Kitchen

Even the handiest DIY homeowners sometimes need a contractor's help for bigger projects.

After planning the most effective layout for your kitchen, next comes deciding on the aesthetics of it. Cheaply designing a kitchen is not always about the initial installation price of major elements. Other things to consider are your lifestyle habits, time available for maintenance and upkeep as well as how much overall value is added to your home in the process. Reusing existing items that are in good shape not only reduces the cost and time of a remodeling project, it is a standard practice in green design.

Things You'll Need

• Current material costs
• Contractor quotes

Instructions

1. Paint or stain existing cabinets rather than ripping them out and buying new ones. For new construction, purchase used cabinets to refurbish from others' remodels or home demolitions to save money on material costs.

2. Look into appliances with the Energy Star label for long-term savings before buying the cheapest. The U.S. Department of Energy states that "every appliance has two price tags: what you pay to purchase it, and what you pay for the energy and water it uses."

3. Choose the sink before picking out your countertops, if at all possible. Though most materials can accommodate many styles of sink, special considerations need to be taken for options such as the seamless or undermount types.

4. Consider the maintenance that different countertop and flooring materials require, as well as the cost of having to replace it more frequently. For example, laminate may be the cheapest per square foot, but shows nicks and scratches a lot more easily than heavier-duty stone material.

5. Plan for all of the small details when making out a budget. For example, hardware on cabinets may seem like a small thing, but can add up greatly depending on the style that you want and the number of drawers and doors that you have.

6. Allow funds in your design for unforeseen obstacles. For example, if the contractor opens the wall behind the sink and finds rot from moisture, you may be looking at more costs for materials and labor.

7. Take the time to shop around for items such as lighting, backsplash tile and other finishing design elements. For example, a pot holder over the stove that also contains lights can make things cheaper, or a tile shop might be selling out leftover inventory that is comparable to an in-stock style at a large home improvement store .

References

• Ask the Builder; Kitchen Design; Tim Carter
• U.S. Department of Energy; Guide to Kitchen Appliances; October 2010
• Consumer Reports; How to Choose Countertops; January 2008