Home Makeover: How to Budget for Your Kitchen Renovation
A kitchen renovation can do wonders for your home and lifestyle. It can completely transform how you cook, entertain guests, and create long-lasting memories with your family. Of course, something as transformative does come with a significant cost.
But don’t worry. With proper budgeting, you should be able to achieve your dream kitchen. Remember, your home’s value will also increase with a kitchen renovation. Without further ado, let’s dive into all the budget considerations when remodelling a kitchen.
Why Renovate Your Kitchen
Renovating your kitchen comes with numerous advantages. Here are just a few.
Increasing Home Value
While most homeowners have short-term goals on top of mind when renovating a kitchen, you shouldn’t forget about the long-term. Sure, this move will make your daily life much easier. But it will also significantly increase your home’s value, which will be helpful if you ever decide to sell.
Enhancing Lifestyle and Efficiency
Household members usually spend quite a lot of time in the kitchen, especially those who do the cooking. Naturally, you’ll want this space to be as organised and efficient as possible. A kitchen renovation will make this happen. For instance, adding a quartz benchtop could significantly increase your cooking space, enhancing your overall cooking experience.
Modernising Outdated Styles
Sometimes, a home makeover is purely aesthetical, and that’s perfectly fine. If you tire of looking at those honey oak cabinets from the turn of the century or dated backsplash tiles, it’s time for a change.
Budgeting Basics
Many factors will influence the total cost of your kitchen renovation project. Some have to do with the current state of your kitchen, such as its size or appliances. But others concern what you plan to do during the renovation. This process can involve repairing or replacing the following kitchen elements:
- Cabinetry
- Countertops
- Appliances
- Flooring
- Plumbing
- Electrical work
- Lighting
Throw labour into the mix, and the costs can pile up quickly. On average, a budget kitchen makeover costs around $10,000. Of course, the cost will increase if you want to change your kitchen dramatically or add luxurious elements.
Since costs can quickly rise, setting a budget beforehand is crucial. This budget should be two things – realistic and flexible. With the first box checked off, you won’t be forced to pause the project midway due to a lack of funds. As for the second, you’ll be prepared if something doesn’t go according to plan (an unexpected leak, structural issues, etc.)
Cost Breakdown
While many factors dictate the final cost, the following are standard for most kitchen renovation projects.
Cabinetry and Hardware
A slight change (like changing the cabinet doors) will cost between $100 and $500. On the other hand, a complete cabinetry makeover can cost up to $5,000, depending on your kitchen’s size.
Appliances and Fixtures
Depending on which appliances you need to upgrade, you can expect to pay between $3,000 and $6,000. As for the fixtures, plumbing and lighting should only set you back a little. Plumbing should cost around $500, while lighting ranges from $50 to $150 per fixture.
Labour Costs
If you aren’t DIY-savvy, you’ll have to account for labour costs for your kitchen renovation project. Expect to pay around $60 per hour to your contractor.
Choosing Your Countertop
There are dozens of countertop materials, but natural stone and quartz countertops reign supreme. Their functionality and aesthetic appeal are simply unmatched.
Of course, your perfect countertop will depend on your personal preferences, frequency of use, and budget. Here’s an overview of what you can expect from different materials in terms of the last factor:
- Wood: $300 to $1,200 per square foot
- Stainless steel: $1,000 per square foot
- Granite: $600-$2,000
- Engineered quartz: $800-$2,000
- Marble: $800-$2,200
The Value and Benefits of Quartz Stone Countertops
Although a natural stone or quartz benchtop costs slightly more than other benchtop materials, your investment will be well worth it.
Quartz benchtops, in particular, stand out for their incredible durability and resistance to most of the common enemies of kitchen benchtops. These benchtops are also a breeze to maintain and come in a nearly unlimited selection of colours, which makes purchasing them a no-brainer.
Looking at all these fantastic characteristics, it becomes clear why choosing this material maximises your ROI.
Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Renovation
If the figures in our guide spin your head, don’t worry. There are numerous ways to save money on your kitchen renovation project.
- DIY whatever task you can.
- Paint your existing cabinets instead of replacing them.
- Purchase stock cabinets instead of custom ones.
- Avoid changing the existing footprint.
- Look for materials at speciality and local resale shops.
- Shop around before committing to a purchase.
- Use high-end products where it matters and low-end where it doesn’t.
A Dream Kitchen on a Budget
With careful planning and budgeting, nothing stands between you and your dream kitchen. But even if you’re on a tight budget, knowing where to invest more can make all the difference. Investing in a high-quality quartz benchtop might cost more upfront but will save you money on repairs, maintenance, and replacement in the long run.
Check out our incredible selection of quartz benchtops and kick off your kitchen renovation with a bang.
