Finances have been the main topic of headlines for several months and it is not surprising that many people are thinking carefully before any major outlay. This cautious attitude towards spending is due to uncertainty rather than an actual lack of money for most people, but it is causing people to assess the value and potential future value of their purchases, especially when spending money on improvements. for home.

For many people who want to improve their living environment, the alternative to moving house entirely is some type of expansion or renovation project. These can range in scale from minor makeovers like decorating a room to full-scale home extensions. Somewhere in the middle lies a host of improvement options, from installing new bathrooms to renovating the kitchen.
 
Replacing an entire bathroom, especially a kitchen, can incur significant cost, but in the case of the kitchen, much of the expense is largely unnecessary due to the fact that most kitchens don’t wear out, they just look dated. Or change taste.
 
A few years ago there was a trend for natural oak kitchens and then came the trend for whitewashed oak. People’s preferences are influenced by the many coffee table lifestyle magazines and once someone has decided that they think their kitchen looks dated, there’s not much standing in the way of changing it up.
 
But how do you achieve that new look without breaking the bank? Kitchen renovations are notoriously expensive. The cost of new units seems reasonable, but once you factor in new appliances, new countertops, new plumbing and electrical, and then repairing all the damage to nearby finishes, it quickly comes to a sum ordered.
 
Getting to the new look you want by simply replacing kitchen doors and countertops is a much more cost-effective approach. You change the areas that are visible and leave everything else intact. A specialist company will be able to provide you with everything you need to do exactly that, including any additional surface finishes you may need to match the edges of the case with the new colours. Most of the work can be done by a reasonably competent DIYer, although complicated work surfaces, especially granite varieties, are better suited to an expert.
 
So how much would this approach cost? Well here’s the good news. Depending on the size and quality of the kitchen required, a complete refit can cost between £5,000 and £30,000 for a large, high-end kitchen. Simply opting for replacement kitchen doors can cost as little as a few hundred pounds and no additional workers are required. Suppliers can make custom doors in any size, style and finish. They can also supply additional matching handles and even casings if you wish to extend the original kitchen slightly. Just carefully measure your existing units and order what you need online. Vendors offering this service will guide you through the information you need to provide, including things like measuring hinge hole locations and how much space to allow for between drawers, for example.
 
For an extra special makeover, consider a combination of new doors and drawer fronts along with granite work surfaces if you don’t already have them. Granite countertops are commonly seen in the most luxurious kitchens and homebuilders will only install them in the largest properties where they are an expected feature by buyers, but there is no reason your home shouldn’t use them. If you’re saving money elsewhere, you’re more likely to be able to afford them. The results of this combination will be amazing in terms of effect and cost. Get the look of a brand new kitchen for one-tenth the cost of a complete remodel.
 
If you really don’t feel able to do the measurement yourself and do it correctly, you can call your own local dealer to do it for you. The end result is likely to be significantly cheaper than replacing the entire kitchen.
 
So while money is tight and moving is not a comfortable option, give your home a new look by spending a little money on a new kitchen using replacement doors. A similar approach can be applied to your bedrooms and study, if you have one.