A DIY Kitchen Renovation Guide
Renovating a kitchen can seem daunting, but with the right plan, tools, and some elbow grease, you can achieve a stunning transformation, without breaking the bank. This guide will walk you through the essentials of a DIY kitchen renovation, from planning to tips on when to call a professional and how to dispose of brick and concrete waste.
Overview
Planning your DIY kitchen renovation
Budget hacks for DIY kitchen renovations
Kitchen DIY Step-by-step guide
What makes a DIY kitchen great?
Popular kitchen features
Planning your DIY kitchen renovation
Before you pick up a hammer, it’s important to have a solid plan. Start by assessing your current kitchen layout and determining what changes you want to make. Sketch out your new layout, considering factors like workflow, storage, and aesthetics. Make a list of the materials and fixtures you need, and decide what you can do yourself and where you might need professional help.
A clear budget will keep your renovation on track. At the start of your project, list all potential expenses, including materials, tools, new appliances and rubbish disposal.
Allocate funds for professional help, for example, electrical rewiring or moving any plumbing – these are two jobs where you will need the professionals.
Do I need approval from Plan SA?
If you are planning on undertaking any kind of renovation, you may need council approval. If you live in South Australia you can use the Plan SA wizard to check before you start.
Creating a design and layout
Consider the triangle rule for efficient kitchen design, which places the sink, stove, and refrigerator in a triangular layout to optimise movement. Consider important usability aspects, for example, you will want your dishwasher as close as practical to your sink.
Look online for inspiration: you might try online tools or kitchen design software to visualise your new kitchen. Here are the five best DIY home renovation YouTube channels to help you upskill and formulate a plan.
Visit the homes of friends who have previously renovated and ask for advice, or pick up some home renovation magazines for inspiration. Pinterest also has a plethora of layout and design ideas for you.
You may not need to come up with a completely original design chances are someone has updated a kitchen just like yours.
Sourcing DIY kitchen materials
Consider looking for cost-effective cabinetry second-hand. Sites like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace often have second-hand kitchen items that can be repurposed. Measure carefully to ensure they fit your space. What you save by buying second-hand could enable you to hire a joiner and plumber to install it for you.
There are also many perfectly good kitchen appliances available second-hand which can save you a fortune.
Budget hacks for DIY kitchen renovations
If you are happy with your kitchen layout and are simply looking to give your kitchen a facelift, then refacing or repainting your existing cabinets can give your kitchen a fresh look without the cost of new cabinetry.
New kitchen hardware is another simple way to update your kitchen, by changing out knobs and handles you can make a big impact with minimal work. One way to add instant class and contemporary style to your kitchen is to choose matching hardware – or for a more retro look, you might source unique door and drawer handles and give them a second life.
Kitchen DIY step-by-step guide
If your kitchen cannot be saved and a cosmetic facelift simply won’t cut it, then this guide to complete DIY kitchen renovation is for you:
1. Design and plan
A DIY kitchen starts with a carefully planned design. Get any replacement cabinetry, tiling, or appliances before you begin, measure and fit everything on paper before you start taking apart your existing kitchen. This will help to minimise how long you live without a kitchen and streamline the DIY process.
2. Demolition
Remove old cabinets, countertops, and appliances. If you are reinstalling any of the existing cabinetry, label it as you remove it – you will thank yourself later.
Be careful to shut off water and power to avoid accidents. Store anything you plan to reuse well to avoid water damage.
You will need a rubbish solution for anything you are not reusing. Hire a skip to dispose of construction waste and keep the job neat and tidy.
3. Flooring
Update old tiled floors and consider cost-effective options like laminate or vinyl, which are durable and easy to install. If you have floorboards, lucky you, this is a great time to sand them while everything is out of the way.
For a modern and sleek look without the pricetag try ‘self-levelling’ the polished concrete lookalike, this is a job for two; one person mixing and one person pouring.
4. Electrical and plumbing
While some tasks are DIY-friendly, it’s best to hire professionals for major electrical and plumbing work to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.
5. Installing cabinets and countertops
Once the groundwork is done, you can start installing your cabinets, countertops and shelving. Keep a level handy!
6. Painting
Painting is an easy project to do at home for the DIY-er, a fresh coat of paint can transform a space. Choose colours that make the room feel larger and brighter.
What makes a DIY kitchen great?
Lighting makes a big difference to the overall look of your kitchen. Update your lighting fixtures for better functionality and aesthetics. Consider under-cabinet lighting and add a low-hanging pendant light over the kitchen bench.
When entertaining, you can switch off the big light, and leave on the ambient lighting for a more intimate atmosphere.
A tiled backsplash is another fantastic feature in a kitchen where you can let your creative vision flow, why not try a pop of colour? If your tiles are fine, try regrouting without removing old tiles, this will make a big difference to how they appear – good as new!
Popular kitchen features
Some extras that are worth considering in your DIY kitchen renovation include:
- Kitchen hanging utensil/pot rack
- Butcher block
- Narrow pull-out drawer
- Built-in wine storage or wine fridge
- Coffee bar
- Deep drawers
- Under bench spice drawer
- Storage for bulky appliances (eg. SodaStream, food processor, rice cooker)
Start your kitchen DIY by organising waste management
Whether you’re clearing out the garden shed or undertaking a full home renovation we have the skip bin for you. We deliver to most areas around Adelaide, check our skip bin sizes or contact us – we are happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to renovate a kitchen yourself?
Yes, you can, as long as you have a plan, the tools, and the know-how for the job. It makes sense to get professionals in for the tricky parts, but you can do plenty of things yourself when renovating a kitchen.
How to renovate a kitchen cheaply?
For a low-cost kitchen renovation consider looking for a second-hand kitchen, many people sell whole kitchens on Gumtree and Facebook marketplace. Just check the measurements and orientation to make sure it will work in your allocated space.
What is the biggest expense in a kitchen remodel?
The cost of materials and labour for cabinets, electrical and plumbing are the most expensive facets of a kitchen remodel. It is best to leave electrical to the experts but if you are keen to keep costs down why not give the other parts a go yourself? – if it doesn’t work out you can still call the experts to finish the job.
