Due to consistent grease from all the cooking, your kitchen cabinets can wear out pretty quickly. Thinking of redoing your kitchen cabinets but have a tight budget to start with? In this guide, we will deep dive into understanding the top 7 ways to save money on kitchen cabinets, without compromising on the aesthetics or the functionality. Let’s jump right in.
1. Go For Longer Drawers to Capitalise on the Space and Minimise Wastage
One of the best ways to save money on kitchen cabinets is to opt for longer drawers (be it in width as shown above or in height). This way, you’ll be able to capitalise on the most space available and won’t have to spend extra money on too many drawers and shelves.
2. Opt For More Cabinet Doors and Fewer Drawers to Maximise Space
Another hack that really comes in handy is to go for cabinet doors, as shown here. Though this design is traditional and has been in use for years, it’s the most-effective strategy if you are wanting to save on kitchen cabinet costs. Plus, the use of long panelled door cabinets allows you to get plenty of space inside for you to store your pans, dishes, and other sorts of kitchen equipment that generally take up a lot of space.
Remember to compare at least two to three styles of door cabinets before you zero in on a choice. Generally speaking, raised panel and inset door styles should be costing you more, so be cautious when selecting the right kind of door style. Instead, go for slab door fronts which are more cost-effective and can give you that contemporary kitchen look.
3. Don’t Go Overboard with Customisation
Everyone likes to have customised drawers, shelves, and cabinets. But these can easily drive up your costs. Instead of spending extra money on kitchen cabinets, we suggest going with the existing layout and selecting prefabricated units instead of going for customised ones. If you don’t have too much kitchen stuff to store, we suggest going for open shelf cabinets instead of wall-mounted ones to help save on kitchen costs.
4. Don’t Go for Fancy Pull Out Drawers, which will Drive Up Your Bill
Kitchen pullouts can be an extremely convenient option–it can double up as a garbage bin, a miracle corner, or as a sliding shelf (as shown above). In the image above, you’ve got solid oak wood cutlery drawer inserts which are functional but can easily drive up the bill. Instead of going for these kinds of fancier choices, opt for standard blind corners and base cabinets. Your bank balance will thank you.
5. Say Goodbye to Full Extension Slides
You don’t need those soft-close drawers or full extension slides as shown above. By compromising on these kinds of common upgrades, you can save on kitchen costs. While these additions may seem necessary to drive up functionality or aesthetic goodness, they’re not. To ensure durability of your kitchen drawers, we suggest going for door pulls which can preserve the integrity of your kitchen cabinets.
6. Choose an Affordable Wood Material such as Oak
Selecting an affordable wood species for your kitchen cabinet can make a huge difference in the overall bill. For instance, oak kitchen cabinets, as shown above, are more affordable than hickory, cherry, or maple wood kitchen cabinets. So, make sure to speak to your cabinet manufacturer about the wood species available and their associated costs. Additionally, in terms of the finish, instead of going for an all-plywood construction, go for laminate, which is a budget-friendly option.
7. Keep the Design and Layout of the Cabinets Simple
At the risk of repeating ourselves, the most surefooted way of saving up on kitchen cabinets is to keep it simple. The less you customise, the higher your savings will be. If you add up upgrades such as decorative legs, corbels, glass door fronts, matching end panels, and crown moulding, your costs will shoot up. If you want to add a decorative touch, as most of us like to do, do so strategically. For instance, if you are adding decorative legs, then pull back on the pull-out drawers.
With a little bit of effort and strategy, you can save a lot on redoing your kitchen cabinets. Take a cue from the tips outlined above and transform your kitchen within your budget and to your satisfaction. For more handy tips on how to spruce up your kitchen cabinets, come on over to HomeLane’s repository of blogs. Get yourself a nice cup of tea and find your topic of interest. Happy reading!
