There are lots of great reasons to renovate your kitchen. It could be a chance to make the space more practical, to impress guests or to even add value to your home. Of course, for a kitchen renovation to be successful, it needs to be done right. To ensure your kitchen makeover goes to plan, here are several important dos and don’ts to follow.
Do have a budget
A budget can help to control your spending. Without a budget, you’re more likely to be tempted into splashing out on luxury countertops and expensive fittings. This could get you into a lot of debt, which you may regret in the long run. By budgeting, you can avoid unnecessary debts and will be more motivated to shop around and negotiate costs.
The average kitchen remodel costs more than $50,000. However, it is possible to renovate a kitchen for as low as $20,000. If you have grand plans, consider whether saving up some more money beforehand may be advantageous.
Do hire professional help
There are lots of tasks involved in a kitchen remodel that is best carried out by professionals including fitting appliances, installing new electrics and putting up cabinets. By using professionals, you can ensure that the job is done to a professional standard and you can keep out of harm. There are companies that specialize in home remodeling that can help you design your renovation, as well as sourcing materials and contractors. Only take on DIY jobs that you know you can handle safely and proficiently.
Don’t relocate fixtures if you can help it
Relocating ovens and sinks could mean having to relocate piping. This will add to the cost. Where possible, try to keep fixtures where they are. If you have plans to replace an oven or a sink, plan to put it in the same location as the last one. The only time you should really consider moving appliances as if they’re located somewhere impractical such as having an oven inconveniently placed behind a door.
Don’t sacrifice storage or countertop space
Having lots of storage space in the kitchen can always be handy. It allows you more space to store appliances or crockery or dinnerware. Countertop space meanwhile can be useful when preparing meals – especially when cooking with family or friends. All in all, you don’t want to reduce any of this space.
Do try to keep a work triangle
The work triangle is the most practical kitchen layout. It involves being able to form a triangle between the oven, sink, and refrigerator. This allows you to easily switch between cooking, washing up and retrieving/putting away refrigerated food. Having an oven next to a sink or refrigerator next to an oven could negatively impact your workflow and may give the kitchen an off-balance appearance.
Don’t skimp on lighting
It’s important that your kitchen is well-lit so that you can see what you’re doing. Lighting could also help to make space feel brighter and happier. As a result, you should try to make sure that there’s enough room in your budget for adding lighting.
Spotlighting is a popular choice that can allow you to light up different parts of the room, however, track lighting could work out cheaper and just as practical. Recessed lighting could be necessary for keeping the countertop well-lit if you have large protruding cabinets.
Do consider imitation materials
Many people like the idea of granite worktops or mahogany cabinets. Such materials can give your kitchen a luxury feel, but you’ll pay a lot of money for them. For a similar look at half the price, imitation materials could be a good choice. This could include plastic countertops with a faux-granite finish or MDF cabinets with a mahogany veneer. To most people, they’ll look like the real thing.
Don’t buy cheap appliances
When replacing appliances such as the oven or dishwasher, don’t always settle for the cheapest appliance you can find. Mid-range appliances are more likely to be reliable and energy-efficient, making them a better investment. Besides, you don’t want to be installing a used oven in an otherwise brand new kitchen.
