Are you planning a kitchen you’ll live in for the next decade but can’t afford certain materials you want today?
Custom kitchen cabinets are the most important part of kitchen renovation and also the area where the art of “saving and splurging” is most evident. Design smarter and spend wisely is the key to creating cabinets that are both beautiful and practical.
Here are 7 practical tips to help you to strike the right balance between smart savings and meaningful splurges.
1 Save on appliances
Kitchen appliances are rapidly updated and there are way too much choices in recent years.
With careful research,you can find affordable refrigerators,stove,dishwashers, and ranges that meet your needs without compromising on quality. Many budget-friendly options now offer features that were once exclusive to premium models.
In addition,please don’t forget selecting your appliances in advance and inform your cabinet maker so that appliances can better fit when customizing cabinets. It will avoid unnecessary costs to make changes after the cabinets are completed.
2.Choose Quartz as alternatives to Marble countertops
Countertops are among the most visible and functionally important elements in your kitchen. It has direct contact with food, withstands cutting,chopping and high temperature. Its wear resistance, stain resistance, and scratch resistance are of critical importance.
Natural stone countertop will add beauty and value to your renovation,but it costs many times more than quartz countertop and it’s easily stained and requires regular sealing maintenance.
The recommended material for countertop is quartz. It’s made of 95% natural quartz chips mixed with 5% resins and color pigments. It come with high hardness (Mohs hardness of approx. 7, resistant to daily scratches),superior stain resistance (almost impervious to oil stains), and heat resistance. It perfectly mimic the beauty of marble while offering advantages in terms of durability, stain resistance,low-maintenance cost and price.
Here is an example of popular calacatta marble and its alternative quartz.Similar appearance with 5 times price difference.Please contact us for more quartz options and countertop inspirations.
3.Choose Plywood Carcass for durability,cost-efficiency and versatility
Cabinet carcass is the framework or structure of your cabinet – the base unit where doors and drawers are attached. It’s essentially the “skeleton” of the cabinet, providing the basic framework,shape and main storage spaces.
Plywood carcass with laminated finish is the material of choice due to its superior moisture-proof perfermance,affordability and durability.What’s more,it come with 200+ wood grain and colored options that give same effect as solid wood and wood veneer.
Be sure to choose plywood carcass with 18mm thickness and it will ensure more than 28-year longevity.
Below is an ultimate cabinet carcass guide you might be interested in:
4.Choose high-quality hardware
Hardware are the “joints” of cabinets and are used most frequently. Doors and drawers are opened and closed dozens of times every day and poor-quality hardware can easily get damaged within a year or two, result in loose door panels and stuck drawers.
Choose high-quality soft-closing hardware for an exceptional user experience, smooth and silent operation and durability.
5.Spend on pull-out drawer system and functional tall cabinet
Functional system like built-in appliance tall cabinet,pull-out drawers,dish&spice baskets are much higher price than normal shelves but you don’t have to bend as much and they’ll be comfortable to use for years.
It greatly improve kitchen storage efficiency and ease of use, ensuring that everything has its place and is easy to access.
6. Spend on Kitchen Lighting
Lighting is often mistakenly considered as “save-smart” category. But in reality, high-quality, layered lighting is a splurge-worthy element—essential for both functionality and ambiance in a well-designed kitchen remodel.
Pendant lights and under-cabinet lighting elevate the space, adding warmth and sophistication.
7.Order extra spare decorative panels
The decorative panel in front of the apron sink is frequently exposed to water and is more prone to damage.
In addition,some decorative end panels would change color with direct sunlight.
Reordering these panels from your original cabinet maker is very time-consuming and costly especially if it’s custom made overseas Also,it’s more likely to result in color differences if DIY or get it done by local supplier. It’s suggested to order an extra piece as a spare when placing your order at the very beginning.
It’s better to spend money up front on backup decorative panels. Repairs and replacements will end up costing more in the long run.
TBM(Top Building Material Co.,Ltd) is trusted custom cabinet maker with endless options regarding material,color and size.Work with us to get affordable custom cabinets without sacrificing quality.Saving you time & money!
