There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to allocating your kitchen renovation budget, but we’ve got some tips and tricks that will help you get the most bang for your buck.
The kitchen truly is the heart of the home and is often one of the most hotly debated spaces when it comes to home renovations. Few other improvements add the same level of functionality, equity and enjoyment as a kitchen renovation. That said, these spaces can be one of the most costly to update, so it’s essential to plan your kitchen renovation carefully.
With so many design decisions to make, choosing from the thousands of fittings and fixtures on offer can be quite overwhelming. Before diving into choices about tiles or countertops, we recommend taking a step back and evaluating your needs. “I always encourage clients to think about functionality first. Assess your lifestyle and how you use the space before picking a colour scheme,” advises Michael, Managing Director of Select-a-Kitchen.
It’s easy to get caught up in the world of kitchen inspiration (we’re looking at you, Pinterest), but the spaces you see online or in glossy brochures are unlikely to suit your individual needs. “No two kitchens should be the same because no two homeowners are the same,” says Michael.
“Many people browse through magazines and Pinterest and want to recreate the ideas they see, but most of these features are unlikely to be of much benefit unless your lifestyle matches that of the homeowner whose kitchen is featured,” he adds.
Perhaps you’re an entertainer who hosts regular parties. Maybe you create gourmet meals for your family each evening. Or you could be obsessed with organisation. Whether it’s a long kitchen island, professional-grade range cooker or convenient pull-out cabinet organisers, these factors will all influence how you spend your money in your kitchen.
To help keep your budget on track, we’ve outlined the places where it’s most worthwhile to splurge and those where you can definitely save to make the most of your kitchen renovation budget.
3 areas you should splurge on your kitchen renovation
Image: Lauren Miller
1. Countertops
Counters are one of the most hardworking items in any kitchen. A standout feature in the space and the place where you prep your meals, they perform a double duty. It’s no surprise then that a survey from Houzz found them to be the most commonly updated feature in kitchen renovations.
Worktops are a great place to splurge. Being a major element of the kitchen’s visual design, a high-end finish – like granite, marble or engineered stone – can give your space a super luxe feel. For larger kitchens, consider a stone-topped kitchen island if cladding every surface doesn’t suit the budget.
Image: Blackbird Style
2. Hardware
When it comes to hardware, every cent spent has a visible return. Increasing the proportion of your allocated hardware budget by just a small percentage can give you a big bump up in the style and quality of hardware you have to choose from – essential for items that need to stand up to daily wear and tear.
Sleek, stylish hardware will also elevate the look of your whole kitchen and give your space that ‘something special’. Think long, streamlined handles in black for a modern look, or brushed brass buttercup handles for a more classic country-style kitchen. Whatever you choose, be sure to use a maximum of three finishes to keep your style consistent.
Image: Bria Hammel Interiors
3. Lighting
Home renovators often underestimate the effect of great lighting and how well-designed lighting can transform a space. Think about statement pendants that create a dramatic focal point at the kitchen island or butler sink. Or the utilitarian task lighting that illuminates the interior of your cutlery drawer when you need a spoon for some late-night ice cream.
Beautiful dangling fixtures make a big impression and draw attention as soon as you enter a room – especially at night – but they’re not the only option. Strip lights installed on the underside of upper cabinets to shed extra light on your prep area, or to create a mood when the rest of the overhead lights are turned off.
3 places to save on your kitchen renovation
Image: Hillary Taylor Interiors
1. Cabinets
Seeing as they take up the most visual space in a kitchen, it might seem counterintuitive to save on doors and drawers. We don’t advise going for ’90s style flat-panel, square-edged Melamine, though. There are plenty of luxe-looking custom-built options that won’t cost you an arm and a leg; for example, wrap doors come in a variety of profiles and colours, and can look just as good as more pricey spray finishes.
At the same time, it’s essential that you install custom-made cabinets. This will prevent you from running into issues where there are ‘non-standard’ or irregular spaces in your floor plan. High-quality materials are another non-negotiable to ensure your cupboards last for years with minimal upkeep.
Image: Wt & Delight
2. Backsplash
Backsplashes that extend from your counter might be all the rage, but the materials used in the application is usually quite expensive. And covering a large area like the one between your countertops and upper cabinets is best left for luxury kitchen renovations. With almost innumerable options, it’s usually relatively easy to find something that suits your tastes and falls within budget.
This is the perfect place to make use of Pinterest for design inspiration. Aside from the usual subway tiles, you could choose a moroccan-style tile, mosaics or even paint a mural on the plaster and cover it with a glass or plexi-glass sheet for a one-of-a-kind design.
Image: Driven by Decor
3. Appliances
While they might be lovely to look at, it’s not necessary to splurge on appliances with designer names like Smeg or Miele. Most appliance manufacturers offer commercial-style appliances that have more functions that you can dream of and will last you a lifetime. And sometimes you already own those items.
There’s also the matter of purchasing or replacing only those appliances that you use regularly. For example, if you aren’t a java enthusiast, a built-in coffee maker is unlikely to be worth the thousands it could set you back. Once again, you’ll need to evaluate your particular needs and make a decision from there.
Whether you’re a big budgeter or savvy saver, we can help you create the kitchen of your dreams. Contact us today to get started on your kitchen renovation with an obligation-free consultation.
