Any home remodel can get expensive, which often leads homeowners to cut corners to save money. But when it comes to kitchen remodeling, choosing where to splurge and where to save can make or break your final results—and your budget in the long run.
While every homeowner’s priorities are different, we are here to help guide you in making smart choices. Kitchen remodels are exciting, but quick fixes and budget shortcuts in the wrong places can turn into costly headaches later.
What Is Worth The Extra Money When Remodeling Your Kitchen?
There are certain parts of a kitchen remodel that are worth investing in from the start. These elements affect how your kitchen functions and holds up over time—so skimping now may mean paying more later. Here are the areas we recommend you don’t cut corners on during your kitchen remodel.
- Solid wood cabinets are worth it: You want to try to avoid particle board for your kitchen remodel. Wood cabinets last longer, handle wear and tear better, and offer superior durability.
- Spend extra on cabinets with dovetail drawer construction: Dovetail joints are interlocking cuts that hold drawers together more securely than staples or glue, so your drawers don’t fall apart simply due to use on an everyday basis.
- Choose cabinetry made with thicker materials: Thicker materials support weight better and hold up to years of use. You also want to make sure that your cabinets will be thick enough to support the weight of your countertop, as neglecting this can lead to costly damage and replacement later on.
- Remodel your kitchen with functional hardware: Soft-close drawers, full-extension slides, and high-quality hinges improve daily usability and extend cabinet life.
- Don’t skip plumbing and electrical work when remodeling your kitchen: Leave this to licensed professionals to avoid code violations or future repairs, or the possibility of unnecessary fire and flooding risks. Some aspects are okay to DIY; this is not usually one of them.
- Don’t forget design and layout planning: A well-planned layout of your kitchen remodel saves time, money, and frustration from skipping certain steps or processes. It is much easier to make changes to your kitchen’s design before everything is installed.
Where You Can Save Money During Your Kitchen Remodel
There are areas that are okay to cut corners in your kitchen remodel. Here are areas where budget-friendly options work just fine, and are a great way to save time and money:
- You can find cheaper options for countertops: Countertops don’t need to be made of fancy materials or have expensive designs. The important thing is to make sure to get countertops that are thick enough to avoid breaking from heavy use. A countertop is relatively easy to upgrade and replace later on, but cabinets are not as easy.
- Avoid glass cabinet doors in your kitchen remodel: If you are looking to save money, avoid buying kitchen cabinets with glass doors. Glass is expensive and will increase initially cost and require more upkeep. Plus, having glass in your cabinets just creates another breaking hazard.
- Skip mixed-depth or specialty cabinets: Custom cabinet sizes are pricey. Stick to standard sizes unless there’s a specific need, or you are really looking for a unique look in your new kitchen.
- You can keep backsplashes and lighting simple in your kitchen remodel: LED strips or peel-and-stick tiles can make a huge difference in the look of your kitchen. There is nothing wrong with being a little cheap in this area.
- Buy discounted or gently used appliances and materials: Take your time and keep an eye out for sales, especially around the holidays, to save money on your kitchen remodel. You can even repurpose materials from previous remodels or other areas of your kitchen.
- Do some work yourself: DIY what you can (like painting or installing hardware) if you’re confident in your skills. There are many resources available online to help you get started or learn new skills.
Common Remodeling Mistakes That Can Cost You More
For any kind of remodel or renovation, here are a few important considerations that will help you avoid surprise costs.
- Don’t try to DIY complex projects without experience: Understand what your strengths are, and make sure that you are comfortable with the tasks you are doing. Don’t create unneeded safety hazards or damages with improper work.
- Budget for hidden costs: Always plan for delivery fees, labor, and unexpected circumstances. This will help create a financial cushion for if things don’t go just as expected in your remodel. As a rule, almost all home improvement projects run into unexpected costs like hidden damage that needs to be repaired or elements you’d like to add as you see the end product take shape. Planning for this will make the process less stressful.
- Choose materials that last: While you don’t have to select the fanciest materials or choose ones with added features, you will want to make sure that you have strong materials that won’t damage or break from the normal everyday wear and tear it experiences. After all, that “great price” on a total remodel won’t look so great if you end up needing to finance another total remodel in 5 years instead of 25.
MRD Lumber Can Help You Find the Right Balance With Your Kitchen Remodel
At MRD Lumber, we understand that homeowners want to save money during kitchen remodels. Our staff can help you understand product durability, material differences, layout tips, and so much more. We have a large selection of kitchen remodeling products, bathroom construction materials, flooring, windows and doors, and so much more for whatever your home needs. Our experienced staff would love to sit down with you, and help you develop a plan for your next kitchen remodeling project. We can even cost engineer plans you have from another source to help you save money in some areas while keeping the quality materials and special elements that matter most to you.
If you are ready to get the ball rolling on your kitchen remodel, contact MRD Lumber today, or visit us at our locations in the Lehigh Valley and in Bethel, PA. We hope to see you soon!