4 Kitchen Upgrades to Do During Construction (and 4 You can DIY)

Designing your dream kitchen is one of the most exciting parts of buying a new-build home. You want it to look perfect: it’s where you’ll drink your morning cup of coffee, prepare all your meals, and host family gatherings throughout the year.

When you’re faced with a catalogue of builder upgrades during pre-construction, it’s tempting to tick every box. But is it worth it – or should you wait under after move-in day for some DIY projects?

Here’s a closer look at which builder upgrades are worth the investment – and which you can manage on your own. This hybrid approach can make a big difference for your budget, timelines, and the final result.

4 Builder Upgrades Worth the Investment

Builder upgrades span cabinetry, premium countertops, designer backsplashes, and higher-end appliances – all rolled into your mortgage so you don’t have to pay out of pocket.

We picked these upgrades because they’re convenient. Opting for these gets fundamental kitchen work out of the way so you won’t be living in dust, noise, and renovation chaos (with takeout dinners, to boot).

Think: structural elements or fixes that would be costly, invasive or impractical to change later.

These are upgrades that should be installed by professionals and designed to fit your bespoke floorplan. Because of this, they’re worth the markup for the heavy-lifting and expert touch.

1. Layout and height of your cabinets

Changing your kitchen cabinets’ façade is easy, but if you wanted to shift around the configuration, or build them taller or with deeper drawers, that’ll be harder to do post-move-in.

You’re better off finalizing the blueprint for your cabinets’ layout during construction and letting your builder to bring it to life.

2. Island size and placement

The kitchen island is often the focal point of the room, where you’ll be eating, prepping meals, even catching up with your kids after school. This is another part of the kitchen that’s best to decide on upfront and leave its fitting to the pros.

Modifying its size, shape, or plumbing location post-construction is a major job.

3. Gas and electrical wiring

There’s a lot of technical craft that goes into building your custom kitchen. You’ll want pre-wiring for under-cabinet or island lighting and outlets hidden in drawers for a clean look without exposed cords and wires.

Then there’s fitting the water line for the fridge if you want an ice maker or filtered water dispenser. Maybe you don’t want a gas stove now, but you’d prefer to have a gas line available to the kitchen.

These all require pre-planning and careful wiring, another step that’s best done during the build phase and in experts’ hands. If you decide on these later, you could be cutting into drywall and woodwork in your brand-new kitchen.

4. Upgraded cabinet moulding and countertop materials

If your kitchen has high ceilings, extending the upper cabinets or designing crown moulding can create a polished look. You’re better off doing this to start rather than retrofitting.

The same goes for upgraded countertop materials. Changing these later requires disconnecting plumbing and electrical, and ripping out old countertop materials – messy, expensive, and a project that can disrupt the entire kitchen if you’re not careful.

4 DIY Upgrades You Can Do After Moving In

On the flipside, some upgrades are completely manageable on your own, even if you aren’t a handyman.

DIY upgrades offer you more options for personalization, especially if builder catalogues don’t have the design or finish that you want. They also provide flexibility – you can shop around to compare prices, then take your time to save up for the upgrade. It also gives you time to live in the kitchen to decide if you need that upgrade or not.

The catch: you’ll need the cash or separate financing after move-in, plus you’ll do the legwork, whether that’s hiring contractors, comparing quotes, or carrying out the labor.

1. Backsplash tile

Whether you want to save money or the builder’s tile choices aren’t quite right, you can install your own backsplash when you’re ready. Choices are endless – subway, herringbone, mosaic.

The project can as simple as buying peel and stick backsplash tiles. Or, if you know your way around mortar, trowels, and tile spacers, you can kick it up a notch and tackle it as a weekend tiling project.

2. Cabinet hardware

You can save the upgrade fees for swapping out basic knobs and pulls by doing it yourself. Most hardware stores have a wide range to choose from and it’s as simple as screwing off the baseline hardware and screwing on your custom choice to get your desired look.

3. Pendant lighting

Upgrading light fixtures on your own gives you time to match your décor and pick out pieces you truly love. Don’t feel pressure to decide on these upgrades during the build phase – as long as your builder has pre-wired electrical boxes, you can swap out fixtures later with ease.

4. Custom paint or wallpaper

This is another upgrade you can sort out on your own. Personalize your kitchen with wallpaper, accent walls, a backsplash – any custom features you’d like on your own time. This is another initiative that’s DIY-friendly for all homeowners.

Ultimately, your dream kitchen doesn’t have to be built in a day – or before move-in. Going for a mix of builder upgrades and DIY gives you a balance that’s great for your budget, time constraints, and getting to know your space and how you’d like to make it your own.