Now We’re Cooking: 10 Tips for Your Kitchen Remodel

There has been some chatter about American kitchens getting “Ubered out of existence” in the coming years. The thought is that the majority of Americans might start ordering their meals almost every day as opposed to using their kitchens to prepare them.

This might sound absurd at first. But consider this: About 90 percent of Americans admit that they don’t enjoy cooking. That could go a long way towards contributing to the downfall of the kitchen.

For now, though, Americans still want and need kitchens. And if you don’t like yours, it’s well worth it to do a kitchen remodel in your home. Kitchen remodels can increase the value of your home and make your entire house more functional when they’re designed the right way.

Here are 10 tips to keep in mind before tackling a kitchen remodel project.

1. Create a Budget

Before you commit to doing a kitchen remodel, it’s important to crunch the numbers and come up with a budget to see how much you can afford to spend on it.

On average, Americans spend just over $23,000 remodeling their kitchens. But you could spend well over $50,000 on a kitchen without blinking. It’s why creating a budget is so essential.

Once your budget is in place, you can proceed to plan out your remodeling project. But until then, you shouldn’t fall in love with any ideas you might have for your new kitchen space.

2. Think About What You Want

After you’ve come up with a budget for your kitchen remodel, the next order of business will be to generate a list of the things you want in your new kitchen. Your list might look something like this:

• New white cabinets
• New granite countertops
• New hardwood flooring
• New lighting
• New sink
• New appliances
• New kitchen island

Do what you can to maintain some semblance of control over your remodeling job by painting a clear picture of what you want. It’ll help things stay on track once you get started.

3. Choose the Best Layout

The layout of your new kitchen is going to be the most important part of it. The layout will, if everything goes according to plan, make your kitchen more functional for you and your family.

There are lots of different kitchen layout options. They include:

• One-wall
• Galley
• L-shape
• Horseshoe
• Peninsula
• And more

Which of these layouts is going to work best for your specific home? Think long and hard about it before settling on your favorite.

4. Hire the Right Kitchen Remodeler

If you work in the construction industry, you might be able to remodel your kitchen on your own to save a little money. But if you don’t, you’ll want to call on a professional kitchen remodeler for assistance.

Look for someone who has plenty of experience in the industry. They should offer the services you need as well as fair and affordable prices. You should also hire someone who comes highly recommended by others.

With the right kitchen remodeler in your corner, you’ll be able to bring your kitchen dreams to life and avoid blowing your budget. This page can tell you more about how valuable hiring a reputable remodeler can be.

5. Pick the Ideal Time

There is almost no time that’s right for a kitchen remodel. You’re going to be inconvenienced by it in some way.

But if you have a summer home that you go to a lot during June, July, and August or a winter vacation that you take every February, those might be the best times for your kitchen remodel to take place.

You’re obviously not going to be able to use your kitchen when it’s being remodeled. So attempt to find a time that will limit the inconvenience to you.

6. Make Cabinets and Countertops a Priority

You might not be able to afford all the high-end features you want for your kitchen. But if possible, you should always make your cabinets and your countertops a priority.

Even if you can’t afford to spend a fortune in other areas of the kitchen, put some money into buying and installing high-quality cabinets and countertops. They’ll give you the most bang for your buck and make the biggest impact on the appearance of your new kitchen.

7. Pay Close Attention to Lighting

After you put a bunch of money into doing a kitchen remodel, you’re going to want to show it off to all your guests! Make sure they can see the work you’ve done by installing the best possible lighting in the space.

From pendant lighting to recessed lighting, there are great lighting options available that’ll put a spotlight on your kitchen’s new features.

8. Give Yourself Space

Do you have a kitchen that’s on the smaller side? Try to increase the square footage in it if you can.

There are some simple steps you can take to maximize space in a small kitchen and make it feel larger.

9. Prepare for Problems

No matter how carefully you plan your kitchen remodeling project, there are going to be bumps in the road along the way. Your contractor will discover something that needs to be fixed that you weren’t expecting or a different countertop than the one you ordered will end up at your home.

Prepare to roll with the punches. Remodeling and renovation jobs almost always take a little longer than people think they will.

10. Avoid Adding Anything Too Crazy

One of your main goals when remodeling your kitchen should be to increase your home’s value. But you’re not going to do this if you choose crazy cabinets or countertops that have too much personality.

Stick with the basics when it comes to picking out things for your kitchen. You’ll get a much better return on your investment this way.

Start Your Kitchen Remodel Today

Doing a kitchen remodel will make your home look and feel different than it does now. You’ll be surprised by how it’ll change the way that everything functions.

You’ll also be surprised by how much value it adds to your home. You could see your property value skyrocket once your remodeling project is finished.

Check out our blog to see some of the other renovations that can be done to bring your home’s value up.

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