Dream Kitchen: Where to Save Money and Where to Spend

A kitchen cabinet is a significant expense in a renovation budget. Of course, everyone wants to save money, but often reducing the budget turns the dream of a perfect kitchen into a nightmare. Yes, there are things you can save money on without compromising quality, but there are also items you should still invest in. Today, Letto Interior experts will tell you what to pay attention to when purchasing.

Where not to cut costs: Materials

High-quality materials are the key to the durability of a kitchen cabinet. With careful use, the lifespan of a kitchen can exceed ten years, whereas a low-budget option may not even last three. Choose Laminated Particle Board (LDP) and Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) for cabinets and doors from well-known brands, and when purchasing, ask specialists for information about moisture-resistant and impact-resistant properties of the material.

Design: Svetlana Pyrkh, Design-story

Finish

The choice of finish usually depends on the project's complexity and required technical characteristics and should not fall under cost-saving. If a material that can be restored after scratches is needed, consider glass laminate. For projects with wood textures, consider natural or engineered veneer, film finishes, or LDP with wood imitation.

And if the cabinet doors have a complex color scheme requiring color matching, we prefer enamel finishes that bring any project to life with quality and longevity.

Countertop

A quality countertop, whether natural or artificial stone, wood slabs, or HPL plastic, can take up to 60% of the total budget for a kitchen cabinet, and it’s not advisable to cut costs here either. Higher-quality materials help avoid possible joints, maintain texture uniformity, and fully realize the design project: integrate a sink, complex edging, etc.

Design: Natalia Kupreychuk

Plumbing fixtures

A mixer and sink are another items in the “don’t save here” category. Cheap mixers break down quickly, leading to daily inconvenience, and budget sinks get dirty fast and make noise during use. We recommend choosing well-known brands with clear functionality and quality materials, and avoid ordering mixers with thermostats and touch switches from China.

Design project

Of course, we couldn’t skip this point and truly believe that it’s not worth saving money on the design project. Proper planning of your kitchen is a key to success. Discuss with a specialist the placement of sockets and appliances, convenient work triangle, and various “wishes.” A well-planned project helps avoid the need to reconfigure walls for kitchen installation, relocate sockets, and thus additional costs.

Design: Anastasia Kalistova

Hardware

Generally hidden from view but an essential part of a kitchen cabinet that directly affects its functionality and longevity. Poor-quality hinges and guides can spoil your day and significantly reduce the lifespan of furniture.

Therefore, all accessories should come from well-known European brands and meet their quality standards: dampers shouldn’t fail even after several years of use, and drawers should slide silently and smoothly even when loaded with heavy pots.

Now let’s move to the more pleasant and interesting list — where you can actually save:

Backsplash

If the goal is to reduce the budget when buying, choose tiles for this zone. Both European and domestic manufacturers offer a wide range of interesting and affordable options without sacrificing design.

Design: Natalia Balashova

Interior Fill

A simpler cabinet configuration will significantly reduce the cost of the project. A basic dish-drying rack with a tray, plastic cutlery trays that fit the drawer size, and LDP shelves instead of glass — and the kitchen cost is now reduced by over 30%.

Lighting

Decorative lighting that makes the interior more stylish and complete also allows for savings. Today, there are many modern options with affordable prices even on a tight budget that won’t ruin the appearance of the kitchen but will become an essential accent.

Design: Malika Boranbaeva

Simple Sockets

Hidden in the socket, kitchen appliance sockets aren’t visible and thus can be designed very simply without expensive designer frames from Europe. A small detail, but with many appliances, it’s a pleasant saving.

Front Hardware

Don’t rush to buy handles from Italy or England, as the domestic market is full of similar options at more attractive prices. For minimalist kitchens in modern style, you can also consider push-to-open doors, profile or integrated handles — another way to reduce the overall cabinet budget or redistribute spending to a more relevant purchase.

Design: Alexandra Khasanova

Dining Set

A dining table and chairs are another point where the overall budget can be reduced pleasantly. Consider options directly from manufacturers or look for seasonal sales from large furniture stores — a great opportunity to buy affordable and stylish furniture made of natural materials.

In summary, we emphasize that a quality kitchen cabinet is still an expensive pleasure, and to make this purchase more comfortable and filled with only positive emotions, use the experts’ tips from Letto Interior.

On the cover: Letto Interior design