Some say the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is where you entertain, cook, clean, and spend a lot of your time. So whether you're renovating to sell or making it perfect for your forever home, it is essential to think it over thoroughly. Getting it right the first time around is crucial for not only your timeline but also your pockets.
Renovating your kitchen is not as easy as just buying new cabinets and appliances and installing them. You have to find inspiration and figure out your configuration and layout. Additionally, you need to think about color and all the other details that may seem small but are very important to get right the first time. Here are five things to consider before remodeling your kitchen.
1. Time/Budget
What are the most important things to remember when renovating your kitchen is the time when you want it to be? Having a reasonable time frame will ensure that you and anyone else you may be working with will be satisfied with the result. It can be a week or however long you feel is necessary for this significant undertaking.
The other most important thing to remember before renovating is your budget. Make sure you have a realistic budget for this project. You never want to come up short because anything can happen. With that being said, you should always have a bit extra set aside for anything that can go wrong. And believe me, stuff does go wrong. When renovating, ensure that your budget reflects how much you've already decided to spend and how much it will cost for any necessary changes.
2. Configuration
The next thing you need to figure out before renovating your kitchen is the configuration. In other words, the layout you want the kitchen to be. It is essential to me about where you want everything to be in your newly renovated kitchen. There are some great tools online to help you with this process. There is design software online that you utilize to give you a virtual look to see different possibilities for your kitchen. You can always use pen and paper too if you aren't very good with technology.
The perfect configuration for your kitchen is not only aesthetic appeal but also functionality. So be sure to keep that in mind when planning out your new kitchen.
3. Consider Getting a Professional
With all the people you see on YouTube and other places on the Internet, it is easy to think that you can do it yourself and DIY it out. However, DIY is much harder than it looks on screen. If you can do it, then I applaud you because that is some hard stuff. If you can't do it, then that is perfectly okay. Consider getting a professional to help you out with this big project. There's a lot more that goes into renovating your kitchen than what meets the eye, such as electrical, plumbing, and permits. There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes that you don't see on the Internet. Even if you do it yourself, consider having a contractor come in and look at things to make sure you did it correctly.
4. Materials Needed
Another thing to consider would be the materials you need for this renovation, whether cabinets, appliances, or any other hardware you may need for this project.
I like to think about how the appliances and cabinets will hold value in years to come. If you ever plan on selling your house, make sure you choose the materials you use wisely. Not everything will hold its value as well as others.
Read the reviews. The number one pointer I can give you is to read the reviews on anything you plan on purchasing. It is essential when buying appliances. Well, you may want to go out and buy the most expensive refrigerator on the market. Ensure you read up on it first and see if there are any defects or quirks about it that will annoy you. Remember, this is something you will have to live with for a very long time, so even if it may seem small right now in a couple of years, it could be a huge deal.
5. Lighting
Finally, consider your lighting wisely. The last thing you want to do is cook in the dark. How do you ever know if your meat is cooked all the way if you can't see the thermometer or how pink it is? There are many unique ways to add lighting around your counter areas. For example, they have cute little hideaway lights that go directly underneath your upper cabinets. They’ll give you direct lighting on what you're doing.
Just remember these five details, and I promise you'll have a great foundation to start your renovation. Have fun with your beautiful new kitchen!
Sources:
- https://simpleathome.com/5-things-to-consider-when-remodeling-your-kitchen
- https://www.urdesignmag.com/architecture/2020/08/23/10-things-to-consider-before-renovating-your-kitchen/
- https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2019/06/11/ten-things-to-consider-when-remodeling-a-kitchen
- https://www.thespruce.com/best-kitchen-design-software-5120776