Despite The Cost Savings, You May Regret This Budget Kitchen Cabinet Trend

With interest rates remaining high, chances are good you aren't looking to sell and/or buy a new house right now. This might leave you wondering if a house renovation is a better option in order to get more out of your current space. While good in theory, it's worth noting that home improvement project prices are up. Everything from floor and window coverings to drywall to lumber, the building materials necessary for most home renovation projects have all experienced price jumps since the pandemic. Worst of all, it looks like these price increases are largely here to stay. So, while a full kitchen renovation might sound like a dream come true, budgetary concerns could leave you only able to make small changes for now (plus, it is important to think about the potential ROI of certain home improvement projects if you're thinking about eventually selling in the future).

With that in mind you could find yourself looking into cheaper alternatives when it comes to a kitchen redesign. Depending on the exact kinds of renovations you're looking to install, there are some particularly popular (and cheaper-to-install) trends that might even look especially enticing. This leads us to one particularly affordable and trendy design feature you've probably seen in newly remodeled kitchens: open shelves. While this kitchen trend has maintained its popularity over the last several years, it isn't necessarily the best choice for everyone or every kitchen. Let's dive into some of the important considerations to keep in mind before deciding to move forward with open shelves in your kitchen.

In addition to the increased affordability of installing open shelves instead of cabinets, many people are also drawn to the space flexibility and added style that open shelves can provide. Clint Johnson, principal at Newberry Architecture, told Southern Living, "[Open shelves] allows you to bring more colors and patterns into the space. It makes what you are trying to store more accessible, and it allows you to break up the monotony of the cabinets." However, despite the images of beautiful curated kitchens that you've probably seen that feature perfectly spaced items on open floating shelves, the reality of living with open shelves (instead of, say, cabinets that close) can be much more complicated than you think.

As Carolina Buia, a Sotheby's real estate agent, explained to Realtor.com, "Once things are on an exposed shelf for a few months, they get dusty. Try dusting your martini glasses every time you want a cocktail or cleaning out the salad bowl for a meal." The additional cleaning requirements for using open shelves can be a significant downside that many people don't think about pre-renovation. Plus, items on upper shelves that might be less easy to get to, or simply items you don't use all that frequently could require much more regular cleaning and shelf maintenance in order to keep your kitchen looking pristine. It's also worth noting that open shelves tend to provide more limited storage space than cabinets do, which could be a dealbreaker for those who have smaller kitchens.

Along with the potential downsides of open shelves, there are many other trendy kitchen renovation ideas that might similarly be a bad fit for your lifestyle and/or space. In addition to the potential loss of money on upgrades like kitchen backsplashes, some kitchen trends might ultimately fall outside of your budget, leaving you with more debt than the item is really worth. This can be especially true for name-brand appliances and even trendy hardware (i.e., a gold kitchen facet). As appealing as it might be to have the newest or most expensive fixtures, sticking to your budget and finding more practical alternatives can be the smarter move long term.

It is also worth remembering that certain kinds of kitchen upgrades or remodeling projects can rack up a much higher price tag than others. For instance, deciding to move where your sink is currently located, or change where your large appliances (and their corresponding outlets) are can lead to a significantly more expensive bill than simply trading out for newer fixtures. This is because moving these items requires experts to move your sewage and electrical lines, which is a fundamentally more intensive (and invasive) process than simply buying a new sink or fridge. "If you're on a budget, work on the movable and flexible design elements instead of touching the permanent fixtures, like the kitchen sink," said Robert Johnson, marketing director of California's Coast Appliances, to Realtor.com. "The labor cost alone can be a burden on the pocket."