Designing the perfect kitchen on a budget

Keep your layout simple

Not only will this keep the cost down but it will prevent future problems; especially if you ever need to replace a door or a floor/wall tile. If you over complicate your kitchen it can look too busy and is often trickier to repair or replace.

Buy inexpensive carcasses

These can be purchased from big DIY stores and once they are installed you can choose whichever door fronts and drawers you wish.

Choose basic appliances

If your appliances are going to be concealed behind cupboards, they don’t really need to be the best on the market as long as they have good reviews and work well. Don't waste money on the name on the front.

Upcycle your cupboard doors

Cupboard doors can add a significant cost to your new kitchen, especially if you have a lot of them to buy! However, they are prime candidates for upcycling, which can be a big cost saver.

Why cupboard doors? Because it's easy! There is a big market for second hand doors online, and it only takes one Saturday to sand them down, re-paint them, and given them a new door handle. Do all this and they'll look as good as new.

Older doors might also fit with your desired look, especially if you're going for a rustic country style kitchen. If you're looking for a more modern style, you can always laminate an old door to make it look new, or simply paint it a dark colour to match your overall design.

Invest in a decent worktop

If you cut corners in every other areas of your kitchen, try not to cut corners on your worktop. It is used daily and needs to be able to withstand hot pans, sharp knives and any other items that are used on it.

A cheaper worktop will not last as long and will start to show age earlier, making your new(ish) kitchen look a lot older than it is.

Also, a decent worktop will also give the impression that the kitchen is worth a lot more than what you paid.