People spend a lot of money on remodeling projects, and more than half their budget goes towards renovating the epicenter of their house: the kitchen. Before you commit to any massive changes, though, it’s important to take a step back and think about exactly what you’re looking for with remodeling.
The kitchen is also the most expensive room in your home to remodel, so if you’re looking for ways to save money, start by making sure you NEED those renovations with this list of some common reasons people need a remodeled kitchen.
Common Reasons for Remodelling Your Kitchen
An older kitchen can be a great opportunity to update your space. If you’re considering a remodel and want to know more about common reasons people choose to remodel their kitchens, here’s what we found:
- The kitchen no longer meets their needs. If your kitchen is too small or doesn’t have enough storage, you may find yourself spending a lot of time in the garage or basement looking for things that are being stored in the wrong place. This can make cooking meals a frustrating experience and cause meal prep to take longer than it should.
- You want a more open floor plan or larger rooms in general. Many people want an open floor plan so they can easily move between different rooms without feeling cramped or boxed in while still focusing on each task at hand; however, if this isn’t something that fits into your budget or style, there are many other ways you can create an open feel without having to tear out walls and reconfigure rooms completely.
- Another common reason is that you have a specific design in mind for your kitchen but need someone to help you with the execution. You may want a specific look but don’t know how to get it done.
- Still another reason is that you simply want to add value to your home by giving it a facelift. Remodeling can provide an excellent return on investment, especially if you’re selling your home soon after completing the project.
5 Things to Think About Before Renovating Your Kitchen
Once you’ve made sure that you need that remodeling, there are still plans to make before you call up a contractor for the job. There’s the overall plan of your kitchen and how the furniture will be organized. There’s the lighting to think about, not to mention having plenty of shelving (and maybe a grand convection oven for convenience) in there as well.
With that said, we’re not leaving you high and dry. Here’s a list of 5 great things you should think about before remodeling your kitchen:
#1 Creating A Kitchen Layout
Before remodeling your kitchen, you have to sit down with a planner, architect, or remodeling contractor to design a layout for your kitchen. That means planning everything down to the smallest stool, so you’re not going to have any space problems once the money’s sunk into the project.
When you’re working with someone who knows what they’re doing, they’ll be able to tell you exactly what size stool will fit best in your space. Measurements and materials are the two things to keep in mind here. Your countertops, shelves, and other surfaces should be made of durable, affordable, but good-looking materials.
#2 Thinking About the Organisation
When it comes to remodeling your kitchen, you have many choices to make. The first step is to identify what you want your kitchen to look like, which will determine the finish and materials used.
It’s also necessary to think about the organization before remodeling your kitchen. Where’s the furniture going to go? Do you have enough free space to move around comfortably when cooking?
A couple of great tips you’re going to find useful are to make sure there’s enough room for all of your appliances. You want a large refrigerator, but cabinets can only be so deep. Also, make sure there’s enough space between cabinets and appliances so that they don’t bump into each other when opening doors or drawers. You should also consider how much countertop space is available for food preparation as well as storage areas under the sink or cabinets where pots and pans can be stored out of sight.
#3 Making Space for A Convection Steam Oven
It sounds like just another appliance at first glance but having a convection steam oven is an absolute necessity for a modern kitchen. You have to make sure you have enough space for one before remodeling, and that it’s easy to reach without anything being in the way.
Make sure it has plenty of room so that it can fit in with your other appliances. If you’re only going to use it once or twice per week, having space around it won’t really matter as much, but if you plan on using it daily or multiple times per day, having enough room is essential.
#4 Get That Open Shelving!
Open shelving is another necessity for a kitchen. Cupboards are great, but when you’re cooking every day, having spices, condiments, and certain ingredients close at hand makes it much less of a pain and even enjoyable! The only caveat with open shelving is that you need to make sure that what you’re storing on it is easy to get to. If your spices are at the back of a shelf and it takes ages for them to come out, then it’s not worth it.
#5 Your Kitchen Lighting Should Be Soft but Bright
You’ve got to think about kitchen lighting before remodeling. It should be soft enough to not glare in anybody’s face but also not leave any corners dark and gloomy. The best way to achieve this is by installing recessed lights above the cabinets and under-cabinet lights for task areas such as the sink and stove.
If you’re doing an extensive remodel of your kitchen, consider painting the walls a lighter color so that they don’t distract from your beautiful new countertops and cabinets.
The Takeaway
Ultimately, the decision to go ahead with a kitchen reno will depend on many factors. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with uncertainty, consider talking it through with an experienced renovator or contractor—but never forget that you are the person who will have to live with the final result. Happy renovating!
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