Nearly every kitchen budget will be under pressure at some point. The trick is focusing on parts you’ll still be living with happily in ten years and downgrading those that no one really notices once the renovation is completed.
Summary
Spend money on things that are hidden or cannot be easily changed such as plumbing, wiring and installation. Also spend on hard-wearing work surfaces and good storage. To keep costs down consider saving on kitchen cupboard cabinets (carcasses) as budget and bespoke cabinets look much the same from the inside of the cabinet. Also consider replacing the doors of your existing cabinets, if they are sound, instead of replacing the whole cabinet. Keeping the tiling simple and using LED strip lighting under wall-mounted cabinets can also keep costs down without looking cheap.
Worth the Money
Focus on spending on anything hidden or hard to redo. Plumbing, wiring and installation should come first, because a leak behind a run of units or a dodgy circuit will cost you far more than any original saving. Worktops deserve a major focus, too. Cheaper laminate and softwood mark quickly, while porcelain or quartz handles heat, wine and daily chopping.
Clever storage earns its keep as well: pull-out baskets, a proper pantry section, turntables in that awkward corner. Independent testing such as tap and appliance reviews is useful here, particularly if you’re considering a boiling water tap that’ll get used twenty times a day.
Easy Places to Trim
Carcasses are the first saving. Inside a cupboard, a budget unit and a bespoke one look pretty much the same, so spend on what you see. That’s why replacement kitchen cabinet doors are such a sensible option if the units themselves are sound, and firms including //www.happy-doors.co.uk/ cut fronts to fit existing units, rather than starting from scratch.
Tiling is another potential saving. Plain white tiles laid in a herringbone pattern look far more expensive than they are, and you can stop after three or four rows and use wipeable emulsion above. Lighting needn’t be lavish either, since LED strips under the wall units do much of the practical work.
FAQs
Do I need a qualified tradesperson for kitchen gas and electrics?
Yes. By law, any gas work has to be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Any new electrical circuits should be done by a registered electrician, or signed off under the building regulations.
What should I measure before ordering replacement doors?
When ordering new cupboard fronts, measure up the individual doors and drawer fronts rather than the cabinets, noting where the hinges are and what type they are. Suppliers will usually need exact sizes, plus the position of the hinges in relation to the holes in the existing units.
Is a quartz worktop completely heatproof?
While quartz worktops are okay for everyday use in the kitchen, we recommend using a trivet when placing hot pans straight from the hob on to your worktop. The resin in the stone can mark under very high, direct heat.
Can I keep my old appliances?
Many older kitchen appliances can be reused, which is a useful saving. Make sure you check the dimensions of any built-in appliances that you wish to retain before finalising a new layout, and allow for new housings or slightly different gaps, which can mean they no longer fit. See our ideas for simple kitchen improvements if you are after smaller changes and do not wish to undertake a full kitchen refurbishment.