Designing a room or home is thrilling! From choosing paints to decor, there is a lot to think about. Planning your interior design budget should be on the top of your agenda. Your interior design budget may not be the most enjoyable task, but it’s one of the most important. Here are our 5 top tips to help you best plan your interior design budget.

1 | Set a realistic budget

The first step is to set a total budget for the entire project. Home design can be expensive, so this is critical. Research general costs of remodeling and study your finances closely. Then set a specific figure as your maximum budget.

Remember that you don’t have to complete everything at once. It’s better to set a budget that allows you to be comfortable, even if that means taking longer to complete the project. You could even set a monthly budget towards interior design costs.

The most important part is to be realistic. Take time and care when planning your total interior design budget. Remember the cost of labor and delivery. Don’t tell yourself it’ll be cheaper than it is, and don’t let yourself set a budget higher than you can afford. Once you find this balance, the rest is easy!

2 | Lists, lists, lists!

As with planning anything, lists are your best friend! They help you stay organized and within budget. If you’re designing an entire home, create a master list of each room and what needs to be considered for them (paint, furniture, utilities, flooring, windows, etc). Divide your total budget up room by room. Begin breaking each section up into smaller lists of what needs to be done and purchased.

Staying organized keeps your project running smoothly. Furthermore, lists are handy to track the status of your project. You can never have too many lists!

3 | Separate needs and wants

When creating your lists, separate your needs from your wants. For example, if you’re designing a bathroom, a trustworthy, efficient toilet is necessary. At this point, do your research and create an estimated mini budget of things you need. Once again, don’t forget the cost of labor and delivery! Plus, be sure to include an additional 10-15% to to cover unexpected costs. Subtract this from the total budget and decide how to invest the rest on what you want to include in the project.

4 | Be Firm

Perhaps the most difficult part of planning a budget is adhering to the limits you’ve set. However, there is nothing worse than getting halfway through a project only to realize that you can’t afford to complete it. So be firm with yourself! The process will be much smoother this way.

5 | Ask for help

Interior design is incredibly rewarding. But if you’re a full-time working professional, it can be a lot to handle. Consider investing in a professional interior designer as part of your budget. At Kelley Astore Interiors, we’ll manage the project and budget for you. We take the worry out of the process for our clients! Head to our services page to see how we can help you today.

Cabinetry is one of the main focal points in any kitchen. The wood used can make or break the whole kitchen design. Therefore, it is vital to carefully consider which wood will help you achieve the style you want. We put together some of our best tips to help you decide which wood will work best for the kitchen of your dreams!

Consider the Whole Room

The first step is to consider the rest of the room. Having an idea of the look and feel you want to achieve helps narrow down your choices. Are you going for an open and airy kitchen? Maybe you want to achieve a cozier and warmer feeling. Or perhaps you want to create a quirky and colorful look. There are no wrong choices here!

Additionally, consider other materials being used. What color and texture are the floors? The counter-tops? What about the walls? You want to choose a wood that will compliment the other tones in the room. Many stores will give you wood samples to take home. Holding these up to the other colors and materials in your kitchen will give you a better idea of what the room will look like when it’s complete.

Decide if You Want to Use Paint

Painting your kitchen cabinets is a sure way to add personality to the room. Whether you’re going for a bright kitchen with white or lighter colored cabinets, a modern grey scheme, or looking to add a bit of color to the design, decide on paint early in the process. Different wood reacts to paint differently. For example, Poplar is often chosen among woodworkers when painting cabinetry. When Poplar is sanded, primed, and painted correctly, it holds up against wear and tear and gives the paint a beautiful finish. Poplar is also relatively affordable compared to other materials. On the other hand, Oak Plywood is very porous. This makes it difficult to achieve a smooth paint finish.

Choose the best tone and texture

Once you’ve decided the overall look you want to achieve and whether to paint or not, consider tone and material. Many wood types are easy to stain or come in a variety of light and dark tones. A general rule of thumb is finding balance. If you have darker counter tops, consider a lighter tone. For example, with light marble countertops, a darker wood could be used without closing up the space.

The grain of the wood should also be considered. If you’re wanting visual uniformity, a wood like Rift Oak might suit you. It has a fine linear grain, which gives it a very consistent color. Contrarily, Knotty Alder has significant grain variation and gives a more rustic look.

The Most Popular Wood Choices

Now that you know what to look for, which woods will actually give you these results? Here’s a list of some of the most popular wood choices for kitchen cabinets!

1 | Maple

Maple is a popular wood choice among designers because it comes in a variety of tones and is relatively easy to work with. It has a fine and smooth grain, which gives a clean finish. This also means it’s easy to stain or paint. Maple can be used to achieve a variety of looks from contemporary to traditional!

2 | Walnut

Walnut is a fantastic choice if you’re looking to make a statement. It’s grain and color tend to vary significantly, giving it a beautiful, natural look. A lighter-toned Walnut will allow these elements to shine, while a darker toned Walnut will give a more subdued, classic look.

3 | Cherry

Cherry is a great choice of wood for anyone looking for darker-toned cabinets. This luxurious wood has a lush grain with the occasional knot, giving it a sophisticated, elegant look. It tends to come in red or reddish brown tones. A simple stain will give this wood a smooth finish, perfect for a timeless kitchen.

4 | Oak

There are over 600 species of oak, which makes it a versatile choice for any wood-working project. Oak has long been a popular choice for cabinetry. Strong and durable, oak can withstand wear and tear. The grain tends to be very coarse and uneven. Additionally, oak is usually lighter in tone, making it easy to stain. This wood is used to achieve a variety of styles.

5 | Alder

Alder is a softer hardwood with a straight grain. Because of this, Alder achieves a rustic or rustic-modern look. It also blends well with bolder woods like cherry or walnut. Alder is light in color when first cut, so it’s easy to stain. It’s also readily available, often making it a cost-effective choice!

Consider Working With an Expert

There is a lot to consider when choosing the best wood for your kitchen cabinets. You may not have the time or the skill to select the ideal wood for your project. If you work with a professional interior designer, you can share your preferences and let the expert narrow down the best choices for you.

At Kelley Astore Interiors, we have over 25 years of experience creating beautiful homes and custom cabinetry for our clients across Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and the Greater Washington Area. We will work with you every step of the way and do everything we can to ensure your kitchen is exactly what you dream of. Head to our services page to see how we can help you!