Are you planning to renovate your kitchen? If yes, you probably want it to be perfect – or as close to the image in your head as possible. I bet you already have thought about colours, maybe new cupboards or even appliances, you have browsed through catalogues looking for decor inspirations and you imagine your everyday life in these new surroundings. In order to help and inspire you on your journey to your perfect kitchen, here are some tips for a successful kitchen remodel:
- Plan your budget
It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a new house, renovating a kitchen, looking for a car or landscaping your garden – you should always start with planning your budget. Be realistic and a little cautious – always plan to spend a little bit more in order to avoid problems when facing unexpected expenses. It’s reasonable to add 10%-20% more to your budget.
- Start with appliances
It is so much easier to choose your appliances first and then to start decorating around them – much easier than the other way around as appliances have to be, above all, useful and practical. Plus, you may really be surprised by the effect of decorating your kitchen around, for example, a fridge that you liked. So start with a refrigerator and a dishwasher, check out https://www.plumbingforce.co.uk/heating/gas-safe-engineers/ to find Gas Safe engineers to safely install you a stove and then get to the looks of your kitchen!
- Re-use your cabinets
If you have good-quality cupboards and cabinets and you simply got bored with their colour and style, don’t throw them away; don’t even sell them. Cabinet frames can easily become the most costly thing in your kitchen, but there is a simple way to reduce it significantly – re-use what you already have. In most cases, it’s enough to change doors and drawer fronts or paint or re-laminate your old cabinets to get a fresh look that will completely satisfy your need for something new.
- Don’t put price over quality
There’s no point in skimping on materials while renovating your home, especially in the case of the kitchen, because you will soon discover that lower price very often means a shorter time of usability. It’s not about buying the best things, but about researching the best affordable materials. You don’t want to be forced to renovate once again in several months, or even a few years. If you choose the right cabinets and appliances, you will be able to use them for as long as you want – until you move out or decide to remodel because it’s boring. It’s a good idea to check the market for any used materials – that’s how you can obtain high-quality items that you normally wouldn’t be able to afford.
- Plan your space
It’s best to hire a professional to lay everything out so that your kitchen is 100% safe, but you need to cooperate when it comes to convenience. It’s you who will spend time in there and it’s you who needs to feel comfortable. It’s good to remember some general rules; for example, make enough space for food preparation (36 inches is recommended), at least 24 inches on one side of the sink – if you can afford more, do it. You will thank yourself later. Make sure you can easily open all doors of cabinets and appliances while still having some space to walk in front of them, and take note of the direction of swinging doors so that they can open all the way. Finally, remember about traffic flow – you don’t want to constantly bump into each other in the kitchen.
- Choose matching appliances
You already know that it’s best to start with choosing your appliances; now it’s important to remember that they should match. It’s better to get everything from the same brand to make sure that nothing stands out too much. Luckily, it’s not hard at all – most manufacturers started to make appliances in matching, good-looking sets. Thanks to it, you will start your kitchen remodel with a designer look.
- Don’t touch plumbing
Even if you want to replace your sink or a dishwasher, you should put the new one in the old place. It can be extremely costly to move water and gas lines, especially in older homes. It’s not impossible, but you will probably prefer to spend that money on something else or save it for later.
Now you know some basic rules and things to keep in mind while renovating, but it still may be a good idea to ask a contractor or a designer to help you with planning your perfect kitchen. This will help you confirm which ones of your dreams and ideas can actually work without obstructing your everyday life. Don’t let anyone talk you into things you don’t like, don’t follow trends blindly and try to stick to your budget.
