How much does it cost to remodel a small kitchen?

What’s stopping you from renovating your kitchen? If your answer is the cost, you’re one of too many people who continue to put up with wonky cupboards, ill-fitting storage and tired appliances because they’re deterred by the eye-watering prices they see in TV adverts. 

The fact is that with some smart budgeting and an idea of what you can do yourself without getting the experts in, turning your kitchen into an ideal cooking space is more within reach than you might think. Remodelling a small kitchen isn’t about hacking your existing units to pieces, throwing everything out and starting again - success lies in using a creative eye to make the most of the space - and the fittings - that you’ve already got. 

Our guide to renovating a small kitchen on a budget will help to ensure that you only spend what you need to - and not what a smartly-dressed showroom salesman tells you that you should be spending. By knowing the most expensive parts of a small kitchen remodelling, and knowing when to rely on your own skills (and when not to) you’ll keep your kitchen dreams firmly in the realm of the achievable. 
 

How to budget for your small kitchen renovation

When you’re planning your kitchen remodelling project, it’s easy to get caught up in the aesthetics, the colours and even the eye-catchingly futuristic appliances. After all, who wouldn’t want a fridge that can do your online shopping for you?

But focusing on a proper budgeting process will help you to know exactly what you can expect from the finished product - every step of the way.

• Land on a budget figure, and stick to it. Knowing how much you can reasonably spend from day one should inform every decision you make on the project. If something more expensive catches your eye halfway down the line, be prepared to cut back on another element. Buy the fancy fridge, but keep the old dishwasher.
• Compare costs to save cash. There are so many competitive companies scrabbling to sell you their kitchens that it can be easy to get swept away - make sure you know what all your options are before you commit to each fitting or unit. 
• Consider removing the old kitchen yourself. It’s often not worth getting rid of the entire kitchen and starting again, but if yours is truly beyond repair (or you’re planning to sell it on) then you don’t always need a tradesperson to come in and take the fittings out. But steer clear of any gas appliances - these are strictly for the pros.
• Don’t forget about the floors. It might be the least glamorous part of a refit, but your kitchen floor is going to deal with a lot over the years - spillages, breakages, you name it - so look for something durable that doesn’t cost the earth. 
• Factor in the plumbing. Maybe you’d love to do the washing up at the window, but relocating the sink is going to mean expensive refits of the room’s whole plumbing infrastructure. Don’t move things that you don’t need to. 
• Hire local tradespeople. Reputable local kitchen fitters will often do a great job at a lower price than those supplied by the big kitchen companies, so it’s worth doing your homework when choosing who you want to put your dream kitchen in place.

What are the most expensive parts of a kitchen remodel?

Depending on what you go for, new appliances can be eye-wateringly expensive. A top-of-the-range fridge freezer will set you back well over £2,000. That’s why it’s always worth keeping in mind that an appliance might be easier to fix than you think. Taking it to the dump and ordering in a new one is rarely the best option - and if you order the relevant part online and carefully follow the instructions -  you might be able to fix it yourself. 

But appliances are the obvious expense. After all, they’re big, shiny and some of them can do all sorts of impressive tricks. There are hidden costs to refitting a kitchen, too - and one of these is worktops.

These are often the most expensive element of a kitchen renovation because of the materials like granite, wood or concrete that they can require. Doing your research and finding budget-friendly alternative materials can make a big difference. 
 

How to prioritise when remodelling a small kitchen

Successfully prioritising when remodelling a small kitchen might mean reining in your ambitions just a little bit. That’s why you’re creating a remodelled kitchen rather than an entirely new one - but you’re also doing more than redecorating a small space on the cheap.

So if you’re thinking about having new lighting put in, see what difference changing the colour of your cupboards and units to something lighter makes first. You might find that natural light is bounced around the room in a way that transforms the space.

And if you’re in the market for new appliances, don’t just focus on the obvious - think about ideas that will really make a difference to your day-to-day life. 

For example, you’ll wonder how you ever waited for the kettle to boil when you’ve got hot water at the touch of a button with an instant boiling water tap. 

And a food waste disposer will remove the need for a smelly food recycling caddy in the corner, by grinding down food waste that you tip down the sink, flushing it straight into your waste water system.
 

Money-saving tips for remodelling a small kitchen

It’s all very well being careful how you budget when you’re planning the kitchen of your wild-ish dreams, but translating those ideas into savings is another thing altogether. 

Here are a few ways to save your hard-earned cash…
 

Reuse and recycle 

Take a look around the house at furniture that you’re not using - even broken furniture could be repurposed into something that will work in the kitchen. For example, an old curtain rail could make the perfect hanging rack for your pots and pans - not only giving the kitchen a cosy, old-school vibe but saving you precious shelf space lower down.

Take a look around the house at furniture that you’re not using - even broken furniture could be repurposed into something that will work in the kitchen. For example, an old curtain rail could make the perfect hanging rack for your pots and pans - not only giving the kitchen a cosy, old-school vibe but saving you precious shelf space lower down.

Recycling can also mean putting new doors on the cupboards rather than replacing them altogether - or even just changing the handles on your drawers - it’s amazing how touches like this can give your kitchen a whole new lease of life. 
 

Do some of the work yourself

It’s easier than ever to hire people online to do DIY jobs for you. So easy, in fact, that you’d think it was enormously complicated or wildly dangerous to put a few shelves up in your kitchen. 

But with the right set of tools and the help of a few YouTube tutorials you’ll be surprised by how much you can do without calling in assistance. Don’t do any of the heavy lifting - so to speak - when it comes to installing plumbing and appliances, but do think about putting in units and work surfaces yourself. 

Keeping the layout of your old kitchen can make this process a lot easier by allowing you to map where everything’s going to be, and work one square metre at a time. 
 

Choose budget-friendly materials

Stone worktops? Hardwood flooring? Save those ideas for next time. Opting for cheaper materials doesn’t mean compromising on quality. You can achieve the same effect for less by opting for materials like laminate flooring and ceramic tiles instead, and in many cases nobody will notice the difference. 

You can also opt for things like RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets which are the kitchen equivalent of flat-pack furniture and are generally cheaper to buy - while saving you labour costs too by coming with clear instructions on how to assemble them yourself.