Renovating your kitchen can be like a major surgery, only for your house. HomeAdvisor says the average kitchen remodel can cost on average, $22,226 with a typical range from $12,545 to $33,562. They also give a complete breakdown based on national averages of what each component of the remodel will cost. Of course, a lot of this is going to depend on how in-depth your transformation is and if you are acquiring new appliances to go with it. Here are some tips on how to get you the kitchen you want with a price tag you can afford.

Reuse Anything and Everything You Can

If you can get away with keeping your cabinets all while getting the look you want, then you’re in luck. This will shave tons off your transformation costs in your kitchen. On average, cabinets end up “costing 30-50% of the total budget,” according to apartment geeks. Instead of getting a new set of custom cabinets which could cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500 per linear foot, try your hand at sanding and painting your existing ones. The Home Depot has a wide range of paints starting at $30 per gallon and an amazing assortment of cabinet hardware. Changing out the hardware and putting on a fresh coat of paint can cost as little as $200 or even less when you do it yourself.

Break Out the DIY Skills

Your countertops may need to be upgraded, but you can give them a whole new look without spending $60 per square foot on that marble top. There are many ways you can do this but the easiest way to save time and money is to simply resurface your currents counters with countertop refinishing kits starting at only $125. These work by putting a layer of stone in any color or pattern you like to the current material. The best part is there is no construction needed, no need to remove the counters and no need to do extra plumbing. If your counters and not salvageable, there are still money saving options out there. If you’re a DIY junky, then check out this Pinterest board on how to build brand new countertops the way you want out of scrap wood.

Lights, Lights Baby

A great way to modernize your kitchen is to swap out your light fixtures. Like many, you are probably working with basic fluorescent lighting in your kitchen. Replacing the old fluorescent with modernized track lighting is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to give a warm and cleaner feel to your kitchen. Track lights can cost hundreds but with Amazon.com you can find deals for $100 or less! While you are at it, adding under cabinet lighting is a great additional upgrade that’s moderately easy to do as well as swapping out your light switches and outlet covers.

Rugs are your friend

 Adding an accent rug to your kitchen can add to that warm feeling and minimize your dead space in the room. As a little hack, if you can’t replace your flooring, placing a large rug can help cover up old laminate flooring or hardwood in need of replacement.

Backsplash your kitchen

According to fixr.com, “The average cost of this project ranges between $400 and $600. It is recommended to always hire a professional for tiling projects.” There are many cost-effective ways to add this simple feature, especially when you do it yourself. Adding certain styles of tile can be costly but if you shop reuse centers, you may be able to find tile for a low cost. You can also use alternatives like wallpaper or even just using any additional paint you may have left over from your last project. Reusing your materials, doing it yourself, and adding simple flairs are not only a cheaper option but can be time effective as well.

Ready to start your kitchen renovation project? A new look and feel in a home is important, but your savings account is too. If you don’t want to empty your emergency cash stash, a LendingPoint loan may be a great option.

Even if your credit score is lower than you would like it to be, you do have personal loan options. A personal loan can even help improve your credit score. By taking out one of our personal loans. you can make affordable monthly payments and build your credit story by making on-time payments each month. As you continue to make your payments on time, you build your credibility and your credit history. Apply today