Kitchen Remodel Cost 101: Where You’ll End Up Spending Your Money During a Kitchen Reno

Donna Garlough, author of “Your Home, Your Style” and owner of Boston boutique Monroe Home & Style, agrees, noting, “Unless you're a plumber, carpenter, or have a library of power tools, it's easy to get overwhelmed and was stuck without a functioning kitchen for an indefinite period of time,” she says. “If in doubt, you should hire a professional.”

Of course, there are certain DIY tasks that might be fun to tackle—but be patient with yourself. Garlough says cosmetic improvements, like painting furniture and installing tile backsplashes, might be a good place to start for crafty people.

What are the biggest challenges when remodeling a kitchen?

The way we live has changed significantly in the last few decades. The older the house, the more the kitchen layout needs to be rethought, says Pallrand. “Traditional kitchens, even those from homes built in the 1960s or 1970s, used the model of the kitchen as a utility space in which food is prepared and served in another room,” Pallrand explains. “Today the kitchen is much more [of] a living room where you can chat, check email, or do homework.” Converting a kitchen into a public space often requires expanding and realigning the rest of the house, and that's an expensive undertaking. And the older the house, the more the systems have to be adapted to today's regulations for safety reasons. Fortunately, kitchen upgrades have a positive impact on the value of your home and provide a return on investment that you're likely to recoup when you sell, regardless of the size of the kitchen.

What factors influence kitchen remodeling costs?

When renovating a kitchen—even though it may start small—“you kind of do it all,” says Mazzarini. He describes kitchens as being like sweaters because “sometimes when you're pulling the strings, you end up with a much bigger project than you bargained for.” Since kitchens include appliances, plumbing fixtures, millwork, hard surfaces and lighting it is one of the most technical rooms in a house. The combination of additional costs and many small details affect the price of your kitchen renovation. Another of the most expensive undertakings is upgrading the floor space by enlarging your kitchen or realigning the floor plan. If you want to cut costs, Pallrand recommends spending money on better equipment that promises to last a long time and cause fewer problems. Another important factor to consider, according to Mazzarini, is where you live, as labor and access to materials depend on location.

How to save money when remodeling a kitchen?

Maintaining the existing floor plan is a great way to save money, says Garlough, who notes that a cosmetic upgrade will always be cheaper than a complete remodel. From blowing out walls and adding more cabinets to moving electrical and plumbing fixtures, extensive changes will increase the overall cost of the kitchen remodel.

A surefire way to keep renovation costs down, Garlough says, is to avoid the latest trends, since you're unlikely to want to undertake an invasive project like a kitchen renovation again in five years if you regret your style choice. “Check in regularly to make sure you stay focused on what you originally wanted: things like upgraded appliances, a better work triangle, well-made cabinets, smart storage, and the like,” says Garlough. “And as your budget skyrockets, be sure to prioritize these elements over the zellige tiles, faucet, or hand-blown pendants you discovered midway through the process.”

To save on kitchen renovation costs, Pallrand also recommends avoiding the latest trends, as a traditional kitchen will still look appropriate in 10 or 100 years. “If you stick with what works, you’ll save on remodeling costs,” he says.