Renovating a kitchen is a huge project. It’s time consuming and often expensive. That said, it’s also an extremely rewarding project, provided you do your homework beforehand!
To help kick off your project, we’ve put together a list of things you must consider before and while renovating your kitchen.
What’s Your Goal?
Although a good renovation can make a boring room beautiful, it’s not always only about aesthetics. Prior to beginning the process, you must figure out the primary motive of your renovation. If you want your kitchen to look bigger or to simply create an environment that’s easier to cook in, you will need to figure out a goal. On the flipside, if your renovation is solely about the aesthetics of your kitchen, you should consider the possibility of sacrificing the functionality of certain areas in your kitchen. The better way to plan a kitchen renovation is to consult an experienced contractor or company. They can suggest you the best design according to your requirements.
What’s Your Budget?
Kitchen renovations are notorious for the bills that they rack up. As soon as you start renovating, there’s a very good chance you’ll notice a lot of expenses popping up that you didn’t consider. Set your budget beforehand and determine exactly what you can and can’t afford. If you don’t have the finances to do a complete kitchen overhaul, you can always prioritize the renovations that are the most important and complete the rest later.
Are You Keeping Timeless Trends in Mind?
Home renovation trends seem to change every year. This means that a kitchen that looks modern and cutting edge when complete may look very dated just a few months later! To prevent this, try to choose trends that are timeless. This doesn’t mean you can’t make bold renovation choices, just that you shouldn’t give into fads without careful consideration. To figure out which trends will likely be sticking around for a while, flip through some home renovation magazines from a few years ago and identify which design aspects have stood the test of time.
Are You Designing Around Your Appliances?
Remember, even if you have a picture perfect kitchen by all interior design standards, it will be useless if the appliances aren’t functional. Don’t forget to consider accessibility when planning your renovation and most importantly, make sure you leave enough room to place your refrigerator and oven where you need them.
Are You Using Quality Materials?
Top quality materials are a no brainer when it comes to kitchen renovation. Using the highest quality materials will lead to a more efficient kitchen. For example, if you plan on replacing your drawers, stay away from those that are either stapled together or made of particleboard. Wood veneer is a good quality of cabinet doors to stick to as opposed to melamine or laminate.
Don’t Forget the Little Things
It’s easy to get lost in “the big picture” of renovating. Countertops, appliances, and cupboards take up the most space, so often they’re the only things that get focused on. That said, a good renovation is all about the tiny details that make a room look effortlessly flawless. Don’t be afraid to spend a little extra time and money picking out the perfect backsplash tiles and cupboard handles. When it all comes together, you definitely won’t regret it.
This should be considered even if cooking or using the kitchen isn’t important to you. When it comes to selling your home, there’s a good chance you’ll have a lot of trouble getting rid of it without a functional kitchen. Therefore, remember to do your research and planning before you start you renovation project!
Mark Clair is a 46 year old interior designer, decorator and planner. He is a prolific writer and enjoys putting his thoughts into words on pretty much anything around that evokes an interest in him. Happily married and the father of a new born girl, Mark is now exploring the many little joys and challenges of parenthood. For more information, follow him on twitter.