Kitchens and bathrooms are the two most-used rooms in a home—so why wouldn’t you want to make them as beautiful and functional as possible? With kitchens especially, the space is not only a high-traffic area for eating and entertaining, but also a gathering place for friends, family and other guests.

When you’re ready to get started on creating the kitchen of your dreams, making the most out of your budget is key, and the best way to do that is to know when to splurge and when to pull in the (budget) reigns. Luckily, the pros at Homewerks, Inc. have been helping people throughout the Greater Chicagoland area with their kitchen remodeling needs and have learned some helpful tips and tricks along the way. Here, we share our best advice for creating a picture-perfect kitchen—without breaking the bank.

To Splurge

Whether you’re budgeting $5k or $50k for your kitchen renovation, most homeowners end up spending nearly 30% of their budgets on cabinets and hardware. After all, these are the elements that will be taking up the most real estate. Because they’re such an important part of a kitchen, we recommend spending the money to get exactly what you want.

However, instead of going all-out with a completely custom set of cabinets, finding a manufacturer that can produce cabinets with the style and finish you want can have tremendous advantages. In addition to still getting beautiful, durable cabinets, ordering from a manufacturer guarantees that you’ll get a warranty—some up to 25 years! Plus, because they’re manufactured on a large scale, the measurements, finishes and other details will be more precise and long-lasting. 

Still craving a little something extra? Adding paneled cabinet ends, or decorative panel doors, to some exposed sides of cabinets can finish off your cabinet set and make it look uniquely yours. Inexpensive and luxurious, these are a great way to get a high-end, custom look without breaking the budget!

Another key element that’s worth the money is a set of full-extension, soft-close drawer slides. These prevent damage and nicks from slammed drawers and because they’re fully-extended, they ensure that you don’t have any wasted space.

Not to Splurge

Do you really need that wine fridge? Furthermore, do you really need to pay for someone to build it into the design of your kitchen? Unless you’re a fervent wine connoisseur, trendy extras like a wine fridge shouldn’t eat up your budget.

The same goes for dramatic, pot-filling sinks and fixtures. These are very specific design elements that don’t add very much function to a typical kitchen, but can quickly add to your overall costs. If you do have extra money in the budget or have always dreamed of having things like that, go for it! But if you’re on a tight budget, think twice before adding in non-essential items.

At the end of the day, your kitchen is uniquely yours—and your friends at Homewerks want to help make it the dream space you’ve always wanted. Get in touch with us today to schedule a FREE, in-home design consultation or speak to one of our friendly representatives for more information.