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Original poster

Is there such thing as a cheap kitchen?

23 replies

BananaHammock23 · 30/12/2023 19:02

We moved at the beginning of the year into a house that on the surface didn't need much work doing. Now we're in it, we're noticing that it's been done so cheaply and poorly that there are a hell of a lot of problems. The kitchen is probably the biggest one. It's falling apart.

We don't see this as a longterm house. We don't really like the location - moved in a hurry because we had a great over-asking offer on our previous house and had a few months before our pre-crash mortgage offer expired! We'll probably be here for another 2/3 years and would like to add some value without doing any major work (extension, moving kitchen into a bigger room etc)

It's essentially a galley kitchen, longer than it is wide, approx 5m long by 3.5m wide. We'd like something simple and most importantly cheap (but that doesn't look too cheap when we sell it!). Any tips? IKEA seems competitive. Has anyone got a kitchen from there? What were the prices like?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

OP posts:
Original poster
BananaHammock23 · 30/12/2023 19:03

I should add that we're still paying off the Wren kitchen in the property we moved out of! So finance not an option. I love the thought of doing it for under 5k!

OP posts:
Lollygaggle · 30/12/2023 19:07

Second hand kitchen. Normally see ads on Facebook marketplace. Change handles etc . Often see quality kitchens at very good prices.
Ex display kitchens also can be good value

Original poster
BananaHammock23 · 30/12/2023 19:12

@Lollygaggle thanks! I've been keeping an eye on FB but haven't seen anything right yet. Also worry about getting them to fit but I'm sure a good carpenter could work it out!

OP posts:
wineymummy · 30/12/2023 19:19

You'll save the most money by doing it yourself. Don't let yourself believe you're not capable. Get a drill and a set of screwdriver sets and learn. Sounds like a new IKEA kitchen for under £5k is achievable.

peachgreen · 30/12/2023 19:20

B&Q were cheaper than IKEA by a mile when I was doing a similar project. Worth trying Wickes too.

Tootytoot78 · 30/12/2023 19:28

Lollygaggle · 30/12/2023 19:07

Second hand kitchen. Normally see ads on Facebook marketplace. Change handles etc . Often see quality kitchens at very good prices.
Ex display kitchens also can be good value

This! My niece bought a second hand kitchen for £400 which was absolutely immaculate. My DH is brilliant at diy, and he fitted it for her. Five years on and it still looks great, visitors always comment on how nice her kitchen is.

Seaside3 · 30/12/2023 19:30

My ikea kitchen was 2.5k, excluding appliances and fitting.

It's been finished since this picture, with end panels and so on. To the left of the pic there is a peninsula, with cupboard on back. Off the pic, to the right is a tall oven cupboard.

I love it.

Is there such thing as a cheap kitchen?
Original poster
BananaHammock23 · 30/12/2023 19:51

@Seaside3 wow this is exactly the sort of thing I'm after. What model is this? Did it include worktops? We have all appliances bar oven and hob (getting rid of a range).I've booked a remote planning appointment with ikea on Tuesday to see what they can offer:

OP posts:
SkaneTos · 30/12/2023 22:22

I agree with previous posters about IKEA being a good option.

A second hand kitchen might also be a good idea. I have relatives who installed a second hand kitchen for a very cheap price, and it looks really good!

Good luck!

stealthninjamum · 30/12/2023 22:25

How good are the units? I didn’t like my utility room’s doors but the units were in good shape so I got a handyman to replace the doors. That was about fifteen years ago but was meant to be temporary!

Original poster
BananaHammock23 · 30/12/2023 22:34

@stealthninjamum unfortunately no good. I reckon they're about 30 years old and the people before us tried to patch up and paint the doors to sell the house (which worked!), but now we're in we see it's falling apart.

OP posts:
Fizzadora · 30/12/2023 22:44

Have a look at your local builders merchants we got one for a fixer upper that we were going to flip (somehow son and his family are now living there and only paying half market rent🙄). Ours supplies symphony kitchens used in most new builds. Salesman came and measured up, it was a straightforward layout but he suggested a couple of tweaks to improve it. We went for the second level which is decent quality and upgraded the worktops. The cabinets came ready assembled and me and DH fitted it. The only thing I would change really is the sink. It's really basic and you can tell. It worked out about £2500.

peachgreen · 31/12/2023 00:08

My B&Q kitchen was less than £2.5k including appliances (fridge freezer, dishwasher and oven/convection hob). And it was one of their more expensive designs.

Ostagazuzulum · 31/12/2023 14:14

I have ikea kitchen. I utterly love it. It's storage heaven. You get more space than uk cabinets I think? The cable go underneath so the cupboards go all the way back! I'd buy an ikea kitchen again.

TeddyBeans · 31/12/2023 14:19

We did our kitchen for about £1700. IKEA units, B&Q worktops and sink, fitted it ourselves. Took about a week to strip, fit and finish

DrCoconut · 31/12/2023 15:16

I got mine for £150 on Facebook

Seaitoverthere · 31/12/2023 22:51

We have one going in currently which is bits of 2 separate kitchens from Facebook. There’s a Belfast sink, taps, integrated dishwasher with wooden worktop, some granite worktops, a breakfast cupboard, big larder unit and other units. £1300 plus delivery. Loads left over so can fit out the garage for storage .

Mumaway · 31/12/2023 22:53

IKEA kitchens are great and easy to fit yourself and modify for awkward spaces to save money.

user1471530109 · 31/12/2023 23:02

I also have an IKEA kitchen and still love it 6 years on. It's held up really well. Spent less than 2k on it. I helped put all the units together (quite straight forward once got hand of it) and he fitted it. Fancy double butler sink, wooden worktops. 12 units, including a full wall unit. It's not the style you're after. More shaker style as I'm rural. I've had no issues with any cupboards etc. unlike the v expensive magnet kitchen I put in in the previous house.

It's the fitting that will bump up the price. If you can do that or as much as possible, you will save. I reckon the base units, I'd have been able to have a v good go. Not so sure I'd have tackled the wall units or worktops though.

housethatbuiltme · 01/01/2024 12:32

We are using DIY kitchens... they have great reviews and are heavily recommended on youtube etc... by professional builders and renovators.

Ours is also a galley kitchen too and for all the stuff for ours (7x cabinets, 3x worktop, all handles and finishing pieces etc...) its £1,537 including VAT.

Going rip out the old and to try and do most the fitting ourselves.

MaryLennoxsScowl · 01/01/2024 12:37

I definitely think you could manage that budget if you can install yourself, and ikea ones are the easiest to install as they have proper instructions. Do you need any changes to the layout? If you have to move plumbing it gets more complicated.

Thisisthedawningoftheageofaquarius · 01/01/2024 14:28

My SIL has an IKEA kitchen which looks great and is holding up well after 5 yrs.
we have a b&q kitchen (already installed in the house we bought) and it hasn’t lasted well; is pretty poor quality unfortunately

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