A kitchen remodel can vary in costs based on how extensive of a remodel you need, and the materials you choose to use. Here is how to remodel your kitchen for under $2,000.

A backsplash is a great way to keep your walls dry and add a dramatic look to your kitchen. A full backsplash that covers between the counter and upper cabinets is a huge improvement to an aging kitchen. What you will need is about 30 pieces of ceramic tile (this is for a standard 4' x 1' backsplash), this can be purchased at Home Depot for $0.94 a tile (basic white 4 ¼ x 4 ¼ tile). Make sure your drywall is clean, if it has water damage you will need to replace it. If your drywall is in good condition, you can apply the tile directly to the drywall. Clean the wall and allow it to dry. Now apply the manufacturer's recommended adhesive with a notched trowel (trowel costs $2.79 and adhesive costs $30.00 for 4 gallons). Apply a thin layer of adhesive and lay the first tile in the center at the base of the backsplash. Use a level to make sure the tile is square and place a tile spacer on each corner of the first tile (spacers cost $2.97 for 200). Continue laying the tiles until you have completed the project, wipe of any excess adhesive. Allow the adhesive to set and you will be ready to grout the tile. Be sure to wear safety goggles and gloves when you mix and apply the grout ($12.97 for a 25 pound bag). Using a rubber float, apply the grout over the tile, being sure it gets in all the cracks (rubber float costs $6.25). Wipe off the excess grout with a damp sponge when the grout becomes firm. After the grout dries, wipe off the tiles and shine them with a clean cloth. The total cost for a new backsplash is $83.18.

New Lighting can also have a dramatic effect in your kitchen. Depending upon what type of lighting you desire, an electrician will charge you about $60.00 an hour to place under cabinet lights (lights costs $200-$400). You will need to determine the types of lights you want and talk to the electrician about how much time they will need to install the lights. The total cost for new lights will run you around $500.

New appliances are a great way to add life to your kitchen and it will also improve the energy efficiency. Depending upon the type of look you are going for, you can purchase a new dishwasher, fridge, microwave and oven from Home Depot for around $885.00 ($329 for the oven, $305 for a fridge, $199 for a dishwasher and $50 for a microwave.)

With your left-over $500, you can go ahead and sand down your existing cabinets and re-stain them to add to the new look of your kitchen. Stain can be purchased for $12.86 a gallon at the Home Depot. Don't forget to purchase a hand sander and sand paper, all for around $25.00. Now, after you have stained your existing cabinets, replace all the handles. Feel free to splurge on nice handles since you have some extra money to play around with. Handles can be purchased for $2.86 a handle for nice stainless steel ones. The total cost of this would be $57.20 for 20 new handles. To re-stain the cabinets and place new handles on the cabinets, you are looking at a cost of $95.00.
Of course all these projects are the low-end of the spectrum. You can splurge a little on the appliances if you like, but the cost should remain relatively the same for your kitchen remodel. The total cost to remodel your kitchen using the above specifications will cost $1563.18.

Here is how to improve your kitchen for under $5,000.

Many homes, especially those built in the 1940's have beautiful wood floors hidden under linoleum or carpet. If you can, rip out the linoleum yourself and refinish the floor. This is a pretty large project, so you can usually find a company to do all the hard work for around $7 a square foot. A typical kitchen sized 20 x 20 would cost around $2,800.

You can also tile your kitchen for a lower price. Tiling is fairly easy work if you have the proper tools. You can tile a 20x20 room for around $500 with all the needed tools. A professional can complete the entire job for roughly $1600. Their costs are higher because tile work requires a lot of measuring and small, detailed tile cutting.

An excellent idea is to hire a architect to help you draw up the plans for your new kitchen. Depending upon who you hire, an architect will run you around $400 for a minor kitchen remodel up to $2400. Be sure to shop around so you can find the best rate.

The layout of your kitchen will be one of the determining factors in the final product. If you are planning to move the cabinets around or build an island, you are talking about hiring a few different people. A general contractor will be needed to build the island or to move the cabinets. If your island will be including your stove, you will need to hire an electrician and a gas installer to properly wire and ventilate the area. The cost to hire an electrician can cost you anywhere from $80 up. To have the gas line run and installed, you are looking at a cost of $250. Then, you need to pay the general contractor for their work. The prices for a general contractor, but for a job like this the average cost is $2000. If you choose to build the island yourself, your total cost will be about $400.

Remodeling your kitchen on your own is a great way to save money. Some simple things you can change in your kitchen include the backsplash, lighting and appliances. A backsplash is a quick and easy way to change to look of your kitchen. The cost to install a tile backsplash yourself will be around $83.

No kitchen remodel is complete without the addition of new appliances. Be sure to shop around when you are looking for new appliances, as you can find deals after holidays or in packages. The low-end appliances will run about $885 for a new oven, dishwasher, microwave and refrigerator.

To create a brighter, cleaner look in your kitchen, you need to consider replacing the lighting. An electrician can come and install new lighting for about $60-$80, plus labor. The style of lighting you choose should match your new design. Several kitchen remodels have been switching to cabinet lights. Cabinet lights can be purchased for $200-$400 from The Home Depot. To have an electrician install cabinet lights and run the wiring, you are looking at a cost of $500.

Depending upon which services you select, you are looking at a total cost of $4998. This will include the lighting, appliances, backsplash, island (with you as the builder) and wood floors. Of course you can choose to hire the architect and then tile the floor yourself and decide on other features. To reduce costs to purchase higher-end appliances, you can remove the island or the wood floor and opt for a cheaper alternative like the tile flooring or installing the wood floor yourself.


How to improve your kitchen for under $10,000

Here is how to improve your kitchen for under $10,000. Begin with your cabinets. Most kitchen cabinets need a nice make-over. For about $5,000 a cabinet re-facing company can replace your dingy looking cabinets with new a new cherry or maple finish. This cost includes labor as well. Re-facing your cabinets will save you about 50% of the cost of buying new cabinets. The time to have a cabinet re-facing job done is around 2-3 days. You can also opt to replace your cabinets entirely. A complete cabinet replacement, installed and everything will cost about $8000 from the Home Depot.

A kitchen remodel will require a new paint job. Select a paint color that will match the new look of your kitchen. The countertops and flooring need to be taken into consideration when you are remodeling your kitchen. You can paint the kitchen yourself for about $200 or you can hire the services of a professional painter for about $400. One thing to consider when painting your kitchen is the use of 2 different colors. The Feng Shui method is to paint one wall a different color from the rest of the walls. This methodology is quite popular in kitchen remodels. Select a color that will match the new look of your kitchen. Red has been quite popular when you install black appliances. Select the wall where the cabinets are installed, so it doesn't overwhelm you if it is a darker color.

The kitchen countertops are one of the biggest areas that "dates" your kitchen. Take a good look at your countertops and decide what style you would like. You can tile your countertops for about $300. Many people are replacing old countertops with new granite countertops. The cost of a granite countertop can vary depending upon the size of your kitchen and how extensive the job is. A low-end granite countertop will run about $5000.

An area in your kitchen remodel that may be overlooked is the sink. The color of your sink should match your appliances. If you are planning to sell your home in a few years, stick with basic colors like white or black. It is best not to make the kitchen custom to your wants and desires as a potential buyer may not consider the home due to the custom remodel. A new sink can be installed from the Home Depot for $400. Of course you can purchase the sink and install it yourself for about $150. Be sure you understand how to remove the old sink and connect the water lines to the new sink. Don't forget to attach the garbage disposal to the new sink as well.

Lighting can greatly improve the look and feel of a kitchen remodel. Select lighting that is cohesive to the new style you are creating. Embedding lighting and countertop lighting are a popular trend in kitchen remodels and can be professionally installed for about $500.

New appliances can also improve the look of your new kitchen remodel. Select appliances that will fit into your kitchen, and choose colors that match. An all-black or all-white kitchen can leave quite the impression upon a potential buyer. You can find new appliances on the low-end for about $885 for a complete set.

The total cost to replace your appliances, lighting, sink, countertops, paint and cabinets will cost about $9885, with tile countertops. Don't forget to take a good look at your flooring. You may decide that tile countertops would like nice with a new tile floor. You can easily install a new tile floor in your kitchen yourself for $500.