Managing Your Kitchen Renovation Budget
The decision to commit to a kitchen renovation is an exciting one. Knowing that pain points and wishlist items you’ve been mulling over will finally be addressed is all the motivation you need!
After deciding to actually go ahead with your kitchen renovation, you’ll need to decide on an equally important factor – your renovation budget. While it’s easy enough to determine an initial number, it’s important to spend some time up front crunching the numbers to avoid headaches down the track.
So, how do you come up with this number – and just as importantly, how do you stick to it? Having worked on countless Sydney kitchen renovations in our fifty years of experience, we share our tips to manage your project budget.
Decide which type of kitchen renovation you want
Not all renovations are created equally, and understanding more about what you want to update will help to narrow down your budget much more quickly.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of renovations:
- Cosmetic: If your kitchen just needs a refresh, but it’s structurally adequate, you may only need to invest in some new cabinet doors, upgraded appliances and materials (like benchtops and tiling). This type of project is typically cheaper, as you’re not creating new cabinets or amending the foundational layout of your space.
- Full renovation: More typical for older homes or as part of a wider home extension, a full kitchen renovation involves structural changes like new walls, custom joinery, additions (such as an island bench or butler’s pantry) along with the design and aesthetic elements touched on above. While this project will cost more, you’re also able to completely customise every element of your new space without being limited by its current layout.
Once you know which type of renovation you’re looking to complete, you can set a rough price range for your project.
Break down your total figure
Armed with an initial figure for your renovation, it’s time to flesh out the scope of your project a little further. This will not only help you to identify any gaps in your planning, but also to check your total budget against what you’re wanting to achieve.
Here are a few elements you’ll want to account for:
-Design fees
Unless you’re an experienced renovator or tradesperson, it’s recommended to work with a kitchen designer for your project. While this does add a cost to your project, their services do also buy a peace of mind that your renovation will be completed to the standard, timeline and budget that you expect.
A designer can also help you to shape the rest of your budget, including recommendations on where to splurge and where to save, along with taking care of the installation and trades component of the project for you.
-Custom joinery
The cost of your cabinetry will vary depending on the number and size of cupboards, the door profile and opening mechanism you opt for, along with any custom features such as pull-out racks or swivel shelves for corner units. Include concealed/integrated appliances under this line item, too.
For inspiration and advice on how to plan your renovation, download our 2022 kitchen design trends eBook.
-Benchtops
There are more bench materials on offer than ever, meaning that you can generally achieve the look you want on any budget.
Don’t forget that your choice of material may have hidden costs – stone benchtops, for example, can require structural reinforcement in the flooring underneath due to their weight.
-Tiling
Whether you’re tiling your splashback or opting for tiles throughout your kitchen, both the size and pattern you choose for tiles will impact the overall cost.
Mosaic, herringbone and chevron tiling will all cost more than subway tiles for example, as they require additional labour to install.
-Appliances
If your kitchen is a little older, you may wish to upgrade to a new suite of appliances as part of your kitchen renovation. Research online or visit a kitchen showroom to get an idea of the models you like, and budget for them accordingly.
Have a buffer
One of the most common mistakes we see homeowners make is accounting for every last dollar of their budget – only to find that they have no flexibility to deal with unforeseen challenges throughout the project.
Building a buffer into your project means you can address any issues with product availability, delays, structural surprises or anything else that arises during your project, and not have to compromise elsewhere to do so.
Need some help with your kitchen renovation budget? Speaking to one of our experienced designers will give you the confidence to get started with your project – book a consultation with us here.
