Kitchen design on a budget: Hacks to make your renovation more affordable

Kitchen renovations in Australia aren’t cheap. In fact, the national average spend for renovations is around $30,000 to $50,000 and more if you’re renovating a large or premium space. 

However, if you don’t have 50 grand lying around and you’d rather not top up your mortgage, it is possible to renovate your kitchen on a budget. We’re talking as little as $10,000 to $20,000. Read more to find out how. 

Change what you can

Small changes can make a big difference to your kitchen. For example, if you only have a few hundred dollars to spend you could repaint the walls with a better colour. If you’ve got a thousand-plus dollars and a little time you could repaint the cabinets too, and maybe install a new sink and mixer. If you’ve got $10,000 or more you may be able to change almost everything in your space if you’re smart. 

The point is, if you want to improve your kitchen there are changes you can make with any budget that can have a big impact. 

Choose your labourers carefully (or DIY)

Labour is the biggest cost for most renovators. So if you’re making changes, always choose your labourers carefully – go for someone with good online reviews, or a testimonial from someone you trust. Don’t automatically choose the cheapest option either, because if they do the job wrong it might cost you to fix it. 

If you’re confident and have the time, it’s also worth doing as much DIY as possible. Even if you just do the prep work and demolition yourself. Watch Youtube videos to learn and ask friends to help, but make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew (for example, electrical and plumbing work should always be left to the pros). 

Go for standard cabinetry (or paint your existing cabinets)

Customisation equals cost, so wherever possible choose standard options – especially when it comes to cabinetry. You can buy modular or flat packed kitchen cabinetry affordably at most kitchen or large hardware stores to fit your space. 

Or to save even more money, you could simply paint your existing cabinetry and perhaps change the handles. 

Find cheap, quality fittings

So much of the cost in any kitchen renovation can come from fittings and fixtures. 

You should always choose a quality option for these, as cheaper alternatives tend to quickly degrade and break. But luckily, quality doesn’t need to cost the earth. 

Abey Australia has a huge range of taps, sinks, mixers and cooktops that start at incredibly low prices. For example, this double sink is currently $109, or this Gareth Ashton mixer for just $132. 

Don’t move plumbing or gas and don’t make structural changes

As soon as you need a council permit or approval for your renovation, costs tend to increase (and the job may be delayed). The changes that require council approval also tend to be more expensive. 

So if possible, avoid moving your plumbing or gas and don’t make structural changes unless they’re absolutely necessary. 

Reuse materials, appliances, fixtures, and fittings

The more you reuse from your current kitchen, the less you’ll spend, so think about what you can repurpose. 

For example, could you keep your cabinets if you painted them and installed new handles? Could you keep your old dishwasher if you integrated it into your cabinetry? 

Consider cost-effective materials

Besides labour, the biggest cost of any kitchen reno is usually materials. Here are a few tips to save on them:

• Cork, laminate, vinyl for flooring: tiles, hardwood or polished concrete flooring may look great, but they also cost a bomb. See if you can get by using cheaper materials like cork, laminate or vinyl instead. 
• Quartz: marble benchtops are all the rage, but they don’t come cheap. Quartz is similarly durable and attractive for much less. 
• Ceramic not porcelain tiles: if you must use tiles go for ceramic ones, not porcelain. 
• Look out for second hand: occasionally people order too much flooring and tiles, or buy the wrong benchtop. Keep an eye out for deals like these near you on Facebook Marketplace as this is a great way to get premium materials for a much lower price. 

View your options in person

Ready to start planning your budget kitchen reno? The best way to kick it off is to visit your nearest Abey showroom for inspiration – you’ll see hundreds of options in person and get the chance to speak to our kitchen design experts for free.