Renovating your kitchen is a complex and time-consuming task that involves a significant investment. Though you can update colours and accessories endlessly over time, changing fixed worktops or kitchen units can be daunting and expensive. This makes it vital to do your kitchen renovation right.
It’s always wise to get a consultation with a professional designer or renovation expert to ensure you strike a balance between functionality and aesthetics. Else, you may be so overpowered by the visual appeal that you could end up neglecting the smaller, functional things, like the worktop’s durability, cabinet’s depth, or lack of space to position a kitchen bin.
Since you won’t be renovating your kitchen every year, every micro decision is important. Here are the top seven things I wish I had known before starting my kitchen renovation project, and how such knowledge would help you plan your project differently.
Take Time To Do The Prep Work And Make Necessary Arrangements
Preparing your home for a kitchen renovation can make all the difference between smooth sailing and a hot mess. Prepping involves covering vents, protecting floors likely to be impacted by construction traffic, and tarping off rooms, for instance. Preparing the house in advance and securing areas from dust can make the job of your kitchen renovation contractors easier once they start work.
Since you won’t have your kitchen available for a long time, setting up a temporary kitchen is another vital thing to do on your prep checklist. Setting aside a space earmarked for all the boxes and packaging materials of everything from sink, cabinet hardware, appliances, and electrical supplies to plumbing materials is equally essential. Ideally, cutting the boxes immediately is wise to compress them so they occupy less space and are easier to store.
Be Realistic With Your Design
Do you love the warmth of a wooden floor in the kitchen? Even if you do, tiles could be more practical and easy to clean, which can be especially helpful if you have young children. Again, having two ovens when you rarely cook or entertain guests may fit your vision of what you want to be but isn’t practical as it’s far removed from your present lifestyle’s reality.
In case you love preparing elaborate dishes, having a spacious food prep area is essential. When looking for custom kitchen designs and shapes, having a large island or countertop that’s occupied by appliances and cabinets won’t suit your needs. The key is to consider the depth of your island or countertop, not just the length. When finalising the renovation design, you should also have charging sockets near your hob, especially if you prefer to use your phone or laptop to follow recipes and need to charge it when in use.
Choose Your Expert After Doing Adequate Research
Before you commit to a kitchen renovation expert or designer, do your research. Don’t be in a rush or you will end up making a hiring mistake. Check past projects (especially those similar to yours), industry experience, and past client reviews, and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to share your ideas and dream kitchen images, if any. Look for realists who can give you design and material options for optimum space utilisation instead of unrealistic promises and nothing more than sweet talk.
It may take time to find the right one, but since you will be working with these professionals closely to create your dream kitchen, making the right choice for smooth sailing is crucial, even if it means spilling over your budget a little bit.
Don’t Skimp And Repent Later
Did you envision a kitchen with authentic-looking wall cladding, shelves, and cabinets made of high-quality MDF and German-made high-density chipboards? Or have natural stone countertops with matching back panels? When you are in the midst of the renovation and have already gone over budget, skimping may seem ideal. But sticking to your original plan will help you get your dream kitchen instead of saving a bit now and repenting later for a long time.
When you are in the midst of it all, your original vision could seem like a lot of money. However, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not. Why curse yourself for compromising on your vision and feeling miserable when you could stick to your point and get exactly the kitchen you want?
Don’t Forget The Subfloor And Insulation
Your kitchen’s subfloor is the foundation for flooring, tables, appliances, and base cabinets. Subfloors in older houses are usually in poor shape that can’t be fixed with a few nails or by pouring levelling compound. Replacing the subfloors in such cases can save you a lot of trouble and money in the long run. It can also give your base cabinets the perfect foundation.
Reinforcing insulation behind the kitchen sink, around the stove, and under the windows is equally important, especially if your home is old and has its insulation in bad shape.
Keep Wiggle Room For Your Electrical System
An integral part of your kitchen renovation involves assessing the electrical system of your space. What’s under your kitchen surfaces is quite significant to its overall safety, functionality, and aesthetics. From getting the electrical permit to ensuring your kitchen wiring is up to code, you should get the vital elements right. However, having some wiggle room in the kitchen electrical system can help as a lot can change after your permit is approved.
From removing old cables to replacing electrical boxes nailed to studs with adjustable boxes and adding a few extra outlets, meeting your present needs while anticipating future requirements can help combine functionality and style to create the kitchen of your dreams.
Get Your Kitchen Cabinets Installed Right
Installing cabinets and drawers right isn’t an easy job. From features like concealed clip-on hinges for your kitchen cabinets to box systems, lift systems, drawer runners, cutlery inserts, and sliding and folding door systems, custom kitchen designs involve various elements that should be handled right. This is where kitchen renovation specialists can help save time, money, and effort instead of a DIY approach.
Working with seasoned professionals ensures you get the best-quality custom kitchen designs for your cabinets and drawers and enjoy precise installation to meet your functional and aesthetic needs.
Conclusion
I hope this post has given you some ideas about how to approach your kitchen renovation project and what pitfalls to avoid. Though a complete kitchen renovation is a tedious and long-drawn-out process, the end result is definitely worth it.
If you have been planning to give your kitchen a complete makeover, go for it today. However, make a wise move and bring a renovation expert on board as your partner to ensure the results align with your dreams and vision.
