A kitchen remodel one is of the most frequent projects homeowners undertake as this is where families usually spend the most time in. For that reason, its layout and functionality influence the family’s efficiency, which undoubtedly means any investment is well worth the effort. A kitchen remodel requires careful planning. While while you gather information, inspiration, ideas, and browse through samples, you need to look at the bigger picture. Don’t forget that any home improvement project can quickly get out of hand in terms of size, timing and cost. Simply put, you need to set the ground rules and consider the things listed below.
Set your budget
As exciting as it can be to plan your kitchen remodel, you mustn’t forget how important it is to have an exact budget planned. Unforeseen things happen while you renovate, and you can quickly end up in debt. It would help if you started by weighing up your project’s costs even before you start. It’s recommended you hire an expert realtor for advice choosing the plan that will add value to your home. Look for budgeting hints on your favorite remodeling websites and consider home equity loans and available financing options. Finally, think about how you can save money by doing some of the work yourself or opting for smaller, more functional changes.
Find inspiration
It can often be challenging to find ideas and inspiration for remodeling projects, mainly if you’re working with a smaller budget. For instance, updating the kitchen backsplash is one of the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways of refreshing your kitchen. This is typically the most used and abused area of the kitchen and the spot that draws the eye of anyone who comes in.
When you decide to change your backsplash, you should consider new materials, colors, and designs, but you also need to be skillful to do it well. As YouTube tutorials have become more popular than ever lately, you won’t have trouble finding tutorials that offer inspiration, insights, and advice on selecting materials and doing the job well. These videos provide a wealth of knowledge and are a real gift for DIY enthusiasts with detailed instructions for anything from tiny repairs to major home improvement projects.
Upgrade to your family’s needs
The kitchen is the hub of your home and you love spending time there together preparing meals and chatting. In this case, a closed-off kitchen can feel very limiting and inconvenient. If you can, tear down the walls that aren’t load-bearing and create an open, free-flowing plan that will bring together your living and dining space. In case this this sounds too difficult, you can opt for adding a breakfast bar. The only condition necessary is that you have enough space and intelligent design that can maximize the available space.
Opt for energy-efficient appliances
A kitchen renovation isn’t something you do every day, so it’s the perfect opportunity to switch your old appliances to more energy-efficient equivalents. Fridges, freezers, dishwashers, and electric ranges top the lists of the costliest home appliances. Finding adequate energy star-rated models as replacements would help your reduced power bills and a lower environmental impact.
Light the place up
Every room in the house needs to have adequate lighting, and the kitchen is no exception. Low lighting will make your cooking difficult; it will strain your eyes and may even lead to injury when handling sharp objects. On the other hand, a well-lit kitchen instantly looks brighter, bigger, and cleaner.
Overhead lights are often not sufficient and you might consider adding built-in task lights to illuminate your workspace. In general, designers advise using layers of lights, which means you can combine several sources. A few good examples are recessed lighting, pendant fixtures, under-cabinet LED lighting, mini-spotlights inside glass cabinets and a central chandelier for the final dramatic effect.
In conclusion
With the addition of dimmer switches, you can easily control the amount of light throughout the entire day. Planning a kitchen remodel shouldn’t be a quick project, but one done with careful preparation and budgeting. It may seem overwhelming at the start, but in the end, it’ll be worth it. When you get to enjoy a renovated kitchen that is beautiful, more functional and more family-friendly.