When renovating your kitchen, new cabinets will usually be the biggest expense. While this makes sense given the vital role they play, it’s reasonable to consider how to bring this price down.
If you’ve done your research, you’ve probably noticed that professional installation can be quite costly. As a result, you’ve probably also considered doing the installation yourself. But is this a realistic option? And is it actually cheaper?
Is it possible to make your own kitchen cabinets?
Building kitchen cabinets from scratch is a complicated process that requires specialised knowledge and skill. As such, unless you are an experienced cabinet maker or manufacturer, this is probably not a realistic option.
However, if you’re reasonably handy, you may be able to install a flatpack kitchen. These take some of the guesswork out of the process, providing you have all of the pieces pre-cut. As such, they require less serious woodworking skills.
That being said, while they are marketed as a ‘do it yourself’ product, they are not for everyone. At the very least, you need to be comfortable and confident using a hammer, a drill, and a jigsaw. You also need to have the time and patience to do the job correctly and fix any unexpected issues.
Is it actually cheaper to do it myself?
As a general rule, talking in purely monetary terms, flatpack kitchens are usually cheaper. This is largely because they are made from standardised components, making them cheaper to produce. Flatpack kitchens that are ready assembled, like those we manufacture at Kitchen Shack, are similar in price to unassembled ones and in fact, when you take assembly costs into account, they are actually cheaper.
Also, a lot of a custom kitchen’s price comes from the installation, which you usually don’t have with a flatpack.
However, when you consider all of the factors, obvious which is the better option.
Unless you have a lot of experience with flatpack kitchens, installing one will take time. Chances are it will take you much longer than if you called in a professional. This means more time living without a kitchen and more time dealing with the mess of renovation works.
You also need to consider how much your time is worth. If you’re busy with work and family, do you really want to spend your weekend installing cabinets? What will you need to miss out on to make time for fitting your new kitchen?
There’s also the question of quality. While there are now high-quality flatpack options available, incorrect installation can cause them to wear quite quickly. It’s also easy to damage both the cabinetry and your property (and yourself!) during the installation process.
With all of this in mind, while installing your kitchen cabinets yourself may save you money, it could cost you in other ways. As such, if you are short on time or unsure of your abilities, professional installation can be a good investment.
What else can I do to keep the cost down?
If you are trying to keep the cost of your renovation down, DIYing is the way to go. However, there are much easier things to do yourself than making your own cabinets. From measuring the space to removing your old kitchen, there are plenty of ways to get involved and save money.
As mentioned in this article, we recommend choosing fully assembled cabinets to make your renovation easier. At Kitchen Shack, all of our cabinets arrive pre-made, significantly cutting down the effort required to install them. Whether you choose to do this yourself or arrange a professional, this will save you time and money.
Also, consider getting professional advice on the design of your new kitchen. At Kitchen Shack, we offer a free design service and can help you get the most for your money. As part of this, we will work with you to develop a design that suits your style, requirements, and budget.
