How Can I Update My Kitchen For Less?

Q

My partner and I are looking to update our old kitchen units to tie in with the new modern extension it now sits within. Our budget is limited however. How can we give our kitchen a refresh on a budget? Lesley Howles

A

jason orme says: If you want to minimise your expenditure, it helps to start with an expectation as to what the average prices are. For a typical set of new units, sink, taps, worktops and appliances for a 16m2 kitchen, with cupboards across two walls, a midrange price would be £10,000-£20,000. Look for budget suppliers on the internet who should be able to provide the same for around £5,000-£10,000.

Concentrate on the most visible elements, such as door fronts and worktops. You might be able to reuse the existing carcasses too, and replace hinges and drawer-opening mechanisms if they are worn or faulty. Solid worktops can be expensive. You could save the better part of £1,000-£2,000 by replacing them with veneered tops or adding a new veneer on top of the existing surfaces. But beware — they aren’t usually resistant to burns or as durable as solid worktops.

You could also save on costs by installing the kitchen yourself but you’ll need to be confident that the quality of your work will be as high as the professionals, who will charge around £1,000-£2,000 for installation. It’s possible to get kitchen units delivered already made up, rather than in flatpack form, saving time if you DIY.