Kitchen renovations aren’t cheap.

But if you can get your ideas in order and you’re a bit flexible, staying on budget is achievable.

Appliances:

If your renovation requires new appliances, there is not a lot you can do to get around up-front costs. But by choosing high-efficiency machines you can save money in the long run. For example an Energy Star dishwasher can save up to over 1200 gallons of water over its lifetime.

Countertops:

There are alternate options to quartz and granite counter tops if you want to keep costs low. Tile and laminate are good alternatives with a similar look and allows you to insert some creativity by working with patterns, accents and trim. Laminates can mimic the look of granite without the hefty price tag.

Flooring:

Again you can achieve a similar look of wood and tile with alternatives such as laminate and vinyl.

Vinyl comes in different levels of gloss – high, medium, or low,  and is easy enough for anyone to install and maintain. Retailers offer flooring that looks like stone, ceramic and wood and are very reasonably priced.

Cabinets:

Cabinets make up a large portion of the average kitchen remodel budget according to National Kitchen and Bath Association.

A way to trim costs on cabinetry is to avoid custom cabinetry and instead choose standard cabinets with preset colors, dimensions and materials. A combination of custom and standard work best and opting for single-height wall cabinets without trim molding can save on funds as well.

Limits:

Choosing not to make structural changes to the kitchen space can also keep the budget down.  Avoiding removing walls and moving doors will keep expenses down, as well as reducing the need for extra plumbing and electrical work.