Magazine-Worthy Kitchens Designed to Your Budget

Renovating your kitchen? Here are 10 ways to stay within budget.

The kitchen is the hub of every modern home, so it makes sense that it’s high on many home renovators’ to-do lists. But without careful planning, a kitchen
renovation could quickly eat up your budget.

If you’re keen to create a magazine-worthy kitchen without breaking the bank there are ways to stay within budget without compromising on style, thanks to
PlaceMakers Kitchens.

1. Inspiration

Done well, a new kitchen is both functional and beautiful so take your time in the planning stage. A good place to find inspiration is the PlaceMakers Kitchen Range. There you will find a huge array of beautiful kitchen design ideas to get you inspired and lists exactly what is used in each, making it easier for you to create your own kitchen on a budget.

2. Layout

Kitchen layout depends on how much room you’ve got and how big your cabinetry budget is. U- and L-shaped kitchens provide good connection with the rest of the living area, and islands and breakfast bars accentuate the feeling of togetherness. PlaceMakers offer a free kitchen consultation service in-store where their knowledgeable kitchen consultants can work with you to achieve the layout, colour and style to suit your individual taste and lifestyle.

3. Cabinetry

Great kitchen cabinetry will make or break a kitchen. When designing your kitchen, think about things like matte versus gloss finishes and handles versus push-to-open technology. If you’re only doing a small kitchen renovation or replacing all of your cabinetry is too pricey, give your existing units a good scrub and replace the handles instead.

4. Benchtops

Your benchtop will be the most hard-working part of your new kitchen so it pays to invest in it. High-pressure laminate benchtops are more affordable but engineered stone or stainless steel perform better and look smarter.

5. Sinks and tapware

There’s nothing more annoying than a sink that doesn’t fit your dirty frying pan, so select the size of your sink carefully. Tapware should be hardwearing and versatile; think about a pull-out kitchen tap kit so you can get to those hard-to-reach places. PlaceMakers Kitchen Tapware Catalogue includes a variety of tapware styles and finishes to suit your space and budget.

6. Storage

Before finalising your design, plan where you’ll put everything. Do you want your appliances to be on show or hidden away in a cupboard? Concealed storage under the sink or in the top of deep drawers is a great way to add more functional space without having to add more cabinetry. 

7. Maximise space

To make the most of a small kitchen, extend the benchtop slightly, pop a couple of stools underneath and create a breakfast bar. If you’re big on entertaining, a butler’s pantry might be worth the investment. Book a consultation in-store with one of PlaceMakers knowledgeable kitchen consultants and they can help come up with clever solutions to suit your requirements, so that you can have the very best kitchen to fit your budget.

8. Colour schemes

White will never date but don’t be afraid to add some colour into your design, especially if you’re not renovating to sell. Adding some personality to your kitchen could be as simple as using coloured or patterned tiles in your splashback or painting a feature wall.

9. Avoid council

Knocking down walls, moving plumbing and making exterior changes to your home might require council consent – which doesn’t come cheap. Try to stay within the existing footprint of your kitchen so you have more money to spend on more exciting things.

10. Talk to the experts

If you’re new to renovating and need some advice, book a free consultation and visit the PlaceMakers team in-store for a bespoke one-on-one planning session. We design, deliver and can install customised kitchens that tick your style and functionality boxes. Our comprehensive range of high-quality, European-designed, on-trend kitchens make renovating smooth sailing from design to installation.