5 Ways to Strike Happy Compromises in Your Family’s Kitchen Remodel Budget

Renovating or remodeling a home is expensive. That’s a cold, hard fact. And whenever large sums of money are involved in household decisions, it can often add stress and conflict to even the most tight-knit families. Compromise isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary. Especially for a kitchen remodel, it helps to focus on certain areas in order to maximize your budget.

What can you do to make sure everyone’s expectations are met? Never fear. Here are some thoughts on where and how to compromise to minimize conflict for a happy home.

Think realistically about how you currently use your kitchen. Is your existing layout efficient or large enough to suit your needs? If you cook or bake often, consider setting aside more funds toward upgrading your range or cooktop. Do you have room for that large island you always wanted? Could you give up room for a table by adding extra seating to an island instead? Target your maximum capacity and plan your design around that.

The key takeaway here is to prioritize your kitchen remodel wish list according to your style, and to set specific (i.e., realistic) budget goals. Another important consideration is whether or not you’ll be staying put or selling soon.

Decide whether splurging for top-shelf luxury items is worth it, or if it’s best for you to save your money. Ask yourself some deep questions: Will high-end choices make your life easier or simply exist to impress your guests? Will an item solve a problem? Will a luxury feature increase your home’s value? If you enjoy hand-washing pots and pans while gazing out your kitchen window and watching the birds at your feeder, go for a cheaper dishwasher. Go for a top-of-the-line dishwasher if scrubbing dishes is a chore you loathe and think birds are, well, for the birds.

If more storage solutions and a bigger variety of quality cabinets tops your list, shift your budget toward that and away from high-end appliances or countertops.

This one really comes down to personal choice. Aesthetics are the awe-inspiring finishes and customized details that give your kitchen that proverbial “wow factor.” Your lifestyle factors into this as well, and on what matters most to you — the functionality or the high-end decor.

Also, consider much of what we’ve already mentioned when choosing between aesthetics or functionality. An island with a second sink might be important to you, so allocate more of your budget toward plumbing and renovation to make that happen. When the granite countertops you wished for just aren’t in the budget, install laminate instead. If you’re in your forever home, you can get those granite countertops later when finances allow it.

Take a brutally honest look at your finances. This isn’t so much a compromise situation as it is a reality check. Almost all homeowners have a vision of the perfect kitchen with an ideal layout and room for everything they need. You may dream of that commercial-grade range, flat-top grill, massive exhaust hood, Titanic-sized double-sink island and beverage cooler. But if you don’t have the space or the budget, it just won’t become a reality.

A kitchen remodel is a process that nearly always requires compromises. It’s a balancing act between designing the perfect dream kitchen and creating one that fits within your budget.

Delays and unexpected roadblocks can crop up anytime, so you may have to deal with remodeling a section at a time. Can you tolerate an extended construction period to wait for the items you want? If not, you may have to settle for alternatives to get the job done sooner.

Your cabinets just arrived and are ready to install, but the custom ceramic and glass backsplash tiles you wanted won’t be available for another month or two. Do you forgo the backsplash for now or switch to an alternative you don’t like as much? If you’re planning to stay in your home for a while, it makes sense to wait to do the backsplash later. No big deal, you’ve budgeted for it.

A kitchen remodel project, and setting up the budget as well, can seem daunting. You’re spending a big chunk of money to alter the heart of your home. But with proper planning up front, honest discussions, compromises and realistic expectations, a successful kitchen remodel is within your reach.

It helps to have a team of professionals on your side. That’s why the CliqStudios Design Team is a valuable asset. Providing free design services is part of our goal to make kitchen remodels easier for you. We believe everyone should have the best layout possible in their new space. We also believe your time is valuable, so our designers help you plan your project on your time, from anywhere. Through email, phone calls and screen sharing our designers make dream kitchens a reality.