8 Tips for Pulling Off a Successful Kitchen Remodel
It’s a well-known fact that the kitchen is the heart of a home. Not just a place for whipping up meals for yourself or your household, the kitchen’s also a place to gather with friends and family, entertain and swap stories over a glass of wine or a hot cup of cocoa. If your kitchen is looking a bit old, stuffy and in need of a spruce-up, it could feel like your home’s heartbeat is fading fast. If that’s the case, a kitchen remodel will make all the difference to the feel of your property. If you want to learn how to pull off a great kitchen remodel, check out our 8 tips that’ll get your home’s heart beating again.
1. Do Your Research
Our first tip sounds like a no-brainer, but make sure you do plenty of research before you go into a kitchen redo. Think about what you need in a kitchen — do you make a homecooked meal every evening, or is it more of an entertaining space?
If you’re a heavy-duty kitchen user, you may want to invest in a hardwearing countertop in marble or steel. And if you’re going for an ultra-stylish room, make sure you pick out your paint colors and tile patterns well in advance, so you know what you’re getting.
2. Pick a Good Contractor
When remodeling a kitchen, the first investment you’ll need to make is in finding a contractor you can trust. Your contractor will be executing your design ideas, and will be able to advise you on what will best suit your kitchen style and layout.
If you’re on a tight budget, your contractor may also be able to help you source quality materials at lower, wholesale prices. Make sure you check out their portfolio and credentials, so you can be sure they’ll do the best job possible.
3. Embrace Your Layout
Kitchen remodeling is reliant on the layout of the room you’re setting up in. To utilize the best design possible, you’ll need to embrace and work with the geography of your kitchen.
Ask your contractor or kitchen specialist to show you a mockup of what your finished remodel will look like. Clever use of 3D imaging and computer-aided design will help you see exactly what your future kitchen will look like before it’s even in.
4. Use Every Inch of Space
Dead space is the bane of any kitchen, especially when storage solutions are difficult to install after the fact. Instead, make the best use of every inch available when remodeling a kitchen.
That dead space in the corner? Why not add a carousel that’ll pull out from the cupboard, and add space that’s otherwise almost impossible to access. And narrow or low spaces can be used to neatly tuck away loose baking trays or utensils.
5. Consider the Direction of Your Kitchen
When choosing the best colors or shades for your kitchen and cabinets, you’d be wise to bear in mind the position of your room. Take out your cell phone and open up the compass app. Which direction does your kitchen face?
The quality of light coming into your room will be affected by the direction the kitchen faces. North-facing rooms can be dingy, and do well with dark, bold shades, while south-facing kitchens are light and bright, and allow a more varied color palette.
6. Invoke the Golden Triangle
For the most usable working kitchen, you need to implement the golden triangle. What’s the golden triangle, you ask? The golden triangle theory is that the 3 main elements of a kitchen — the sink, the refrigerator, and the stove — should form a triangle.
The working triangle theory was developed in the early 20th century and is still considered the ideal element working today. Position these 3 main elements correctly, and you’ll have the most user-friendly kitchen possible.
7. Splash Out on Some Kitchen Comforts
Related to tip #4, some of the more premium kitchen features will help take your kitchen redo to the next level. Soft-close hinges add an extra layer of quality to your kitchen finish. You can make use of hidden spaces like the expanse behind trims and plinths, to include additional drawers and storage.
Skinny spaces between cabinets can be used to store spices, containers or wine. And with some clever creative design, a whole secret workbench can be built around a drawer unit and pulled out to create extra workspace.
8. Stick to Your Budget
Our last tip on how to renovate a kitchen is easier said than done, which is why it’s an important one — you need to stick to your budget. It’s easy to get carried away when designing your dream kitchen, and premium finishes quickly add up to premium prices.
So, when implementing your kitchen remodel, make sure you keep your feet firmly in reality. Don’t spend more than you can afford, and if you do decide to splash out on extras that weren’t in your original plan, make sure you work out beforehand how you’ll be able to pay for them.
To be able to create a remodel that suits your budget, make sure you speak to a reputable retailer. They’ll be able to help you find high-quality units within your specific price range, and point you in the direction of a contemporary kitchen at a truly affordable price.
How to Pull Off a Great Kitchen Remodel
To give your home back its heart, a kitchen remodel is just the ticket. When thinking about how to remodel a kitchen, the first thing you’ll need to do is pick a good contractor who you can work well with, and who you trust.
Do your research beforehand, and get to grips with your kitchen layout. Make sure the positioning of your sink and appliances is in the perfect golden triangle, and see if you can splurge a little on the wee luxuries that’ll take your kitchen redo to the next level.
Are you ready to take the plunge and renovate your kitchen? Then why not contact us and see how we can help.
