subject: Finding Your New Kitchen Online For Under 5,000 - Is It Possible? [print this page] People are paying thousands of dollars in DIY projects for their home each and every year, with the most popular DIY time being in Spring. Due to the popularity of these projects and the fact that many people are first trying to undertake renovations on their own before opting and paying for professional assistance, The Sun decided to compare some of the major players in DIY, and searched online to find how easy these larger companies make it, for the average homeowner to design and order the materials needed for a DIY project focussing on an important area of the house, the kitchen.
Some of the major players that were challenged to come up with a functional kitchen design online for less that 5,000 pounds included ikea.com, mfi.co.uk, diy.com, and magnet.co.uk and they were each ranked out of 5 according to specific features such as what they offered, the best and worst bits, whether there were any technical problems and if there were any significant improvements that each of these companies could possibly make.
The great idea giants, Ikea, came out on top with a score of 5, and yes they succeeded in providing a modern and functional looking kitchen for a low 4,690 pounds. You may find it hard to believe, but this price also included some snazzy new appliances as well. Although you aren't able to purchase the materials online, the ikea site allows you to plan everything out and you will get a very good idea of how everything will look once it is installed.
Diy.com received a ranking of 3, which was the lowest of the 4 companies put up to the challenge. The old fashioned feel of the site and the lack of up to date technology really let them down on the point score, even through their site is efficient and easy to use. Unlike Ikea, it is more difficult to get a good idea of what the kitchen will look like when it is complete.
Each DIY retailer could supply a full kitchen for under 5,000 pounds, so this was a very pleasing experiment.
