How to Save Money on Kitchen Renovation: 5 Practical Ideas

If your kitchen needs renovation but the family budget isn't ready to take the hit, don't wait until summer when repair costs traditionally rise by up to 30%. Winter renovation has its own drawbacks, for example, ventilating rooms in minus temperatures can be difficult. But if you're ready to choose economy over comfort, you can start the makeover right after New Year. We'll tell you how to select budget-friendly yet high-quality finishing materials and furniture.

1. Textured Walls

As the saying goes, the best way to save on finishing is to do without it. If a brick or concrete wall is hidden under a layer of wallpaper and plaster, it's best to expose it - it will be easy to create a vibrant, artistic interior. If the wall is not lucky, you can save money by not leveling it: just apply plaster with careless strokes and then paint it. Uneven walls are also well-suited for dense budget wallpapers made of vinyl. Keep in mind that large prints require careful matching, which means more material will be needed for kitchen decoration. From this perspective, using wallpapers with small patterns is more economical.

2. Durable Flooring

If you're planning to replace the floor, it's not worth cutting costs on screeds: poor work can cause creaking. The most budget-friendly flooring material is linoleum. Today it's made from eco-friendly and hypoallergenic materials, and its appearance is sometimes hard to distinguish from expensive parquet. Another benefit of linoleum is ease of installation and maintenance: it lies well even on uneven floors and barely suffers from aggressive kitchen environments.

3. Stylish Ceiling

The cheapest way to update the kitchen ceiling is to prime and then paint it with water-emulsion paint. Be prepared to repaint periodically - the paint isn't very resistant to moisture. This solution is especially relevant for new constructions: after a few years, once the house settles, the paint will likely crack, but you won't regret your investment in renovation. An alternative is to remove the existing coating and cover it with wallpaper. Dense felt or vinyl materials not only help save money but also allow you to create a unique kitchen interior.

4. Budget Furniture

Purchasing a kitchen suite is always an expensive part of interior updating, but there are ways to save money here too. For example, IKEA returns part of the money spent on furniture during promotions. Many large manufacturers offer discounts if you buy several pieces from the same brand. Don't overlook old furniture either: if you have a few chairs left over from different sets, arrange them around the dining table and decorate the kitchen with retro details. Often designers specifically search for vintage furniture in antique shops to create a vintage interior.

5. Patterned Apron

A kitchen apron protects the wall above the work surface from moisture and high temperatures - hence the strict requirements for the material it's made of. The most economical option is an MDF apron. However, choosing this variant, be prepared to see the protection last only a short time - bubbles may appear on the material from heating. A reasonable choice is to cover the apron area with tempered glass. Besides its low price, it's easy to install and offers a wide color palette: manufacturers can produce aprons in any shade, in one tone or with a UV-printed design.