After the bills are paid, few of us have enough cash left to indulge in some home improvement project. But if you simply cannot delay replacing your kitchen cabinets a single extra day, all is not lost.
You won’t have to sacrifice personal taste or quality. There are ways to buy kitchen cabinets that won’t break your budget.
Buying Kitchen Cabinets Without Breaking The Bank
There are a number of factors to consider when determining the price of cabinets. Sometimes, the choice of wood can make all the difference in terms of affordability.
So can the number of drawers involved. Read on to learn the basic yet oft-neglected tips for buying cabinets with limited funds.
Install Shelves
Oddly enough, you can go all-out by abandoning cabinets entirely. How is this possible? By installing shelves.
Shelves are a simple alternative that essentially provides the same function. You could save a ton of money opting for them over new cabinetry.
They don’t feature storage per se and require frequent maintenance in the form of dusting, but the price difference is dramatic. If your kitchen is typically sparse and you really don’t have much to store, the shelf system may be best for you.
Pick an Affordable Wood Material
But if you can’t do without cabinets, start your mission by picking an affordable wood. Since the cost of the types of wood varies so wildly, you can easily save money by picking one from the lower end of the price scale.
In fact, you could even bypass wood completely and go for other construction types.
A popular plastic finish that is adhered to mid-weight fiberboard or other machined wood concoction is thermofoil. At a price certainly less than wood, it is appreciated for the ease of cleaning it facilitates. It is also quite durable.
Like thermofoil, laminate is also less expensive than its wood counterparts. It can endure for years, although it is eventually vulnerable to moisture damage.
Do you have a specific door style in mind? To provide pricing options, narrow your preferences to two or three.
Raised panel and inset door styles are among the most costly. Generally, Shaker styles are less expensive.
Slab door fronts used in European-style cabinets are a reasonable all-around option for kitchen cabinets. They are a favorite of cost-conscious folks who want a contemporary-style kitchen.
Fewer Drawers
Opt for fewer drawers! Drawer bases can run hundreds more than a standard base cabinet. Everybody enjoys the convenience of a pullout drawer, especially when it contains a waste basket.
You just pull it out, insert the trash, and close it. But is it really that necessary or efficient?
You could just as easily place the wastebasket in the pantry or other nondescript place. Similarly, you don’t need a miracle corner or Lazy Susan. Simply put, you hold on to more cash by keeping it basic.
If the image is a concern, be aware that standard blind corners and base cabinets do not appear cheap. Most visitors won’t even give them a second thought.
Consider Forgoing Kitchen Cabinet Upgrades
Don’t take upgrades for granted. Forgoing common features such as soft-close drawers or full-extension slides may save umpteen dollars. You may even choose door pulls to continue to conserve funds.
They’re great in environments where they’d suffer a lot of wear and tear, with little obvious surface damage to show for it all. Since these enhancements don’t affect basic functionality, you’ve nothing to lose, really.
Be Practical
Of course, you should be practical. Dismiss most of your ideas for customization. You can go without decorative legs, corbels, and matching panels and still have a beautiful home without them.
With a good eye, you can effectively utilize minimum customization with maximum results. Add some crown molding or other inexpensive small details, and you’ll be surprised how much it can spruce things up. You just need the basics.
A smart shopper considers all aspects of an important purchase. Buy your cabinets ready to assemble – and you’re ready to go! It goes without saying: cover your bases.
If you buy a naked product that needs stain or glazing, it will only drive your costs further up. Avoid mistakes like that. You’re in the game of saving money, and the goal is to win!
