The kitchen is often considered to be the heart of the home. Because we spend so much time in this one room, it needs to fit your family’s needs. If this space doesn’t currently tick all your boxes, it might be time to consider a kitchen remodel. After all, homeowners renovate more than 10.2 million kitchens each year. But before you delve into this home remodeling project, you’ll want to take care to avoid a few key missteps. Below, you’ll find some major mistakes to be aware of during any kitchen remodel.
MISTAKE: Picking Appliances Last
If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, you might already be excited to pick out the fresh elements like tile, cabinets, and countertops. While these are important parts of the design, that doesn’t mean that other features can be an after-thought. Contrary to popular belief, you should actually pick your appliances — like the refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher — early on. That way, you can accurately plan out how much room you have to play with. If you don’t make these decisions from the start, you might end up with cabinets and countertops that won’t leave you enough room for the appliances you really want and need. To avoid rushed decisions or compromises you didn’t intend to make, prioritize your appliances.
MISTAKE: Underestimating Storage Needs
One of the many reasons homeowners want a new kitchen is to address their need for more storage. For most people, there’s no such thing as “too much storage space.” Not only should you ensure that storage is prioritized in every area, but you should take steps to maximize whatever storage you’re able to include. Pull-out drawers, tray dividers, hidden compartments, and lazy Susans can all allow you to make the most of the space you have and make your kitchen a lot more functional overall. If you’re worried about not having enough space to store your kitchen items, chances are that you may not have enough storage built into the design.
MISTAKE: Trying to DIY
Do-it-yourself home improvement trends have been becoming more popular in recent years, but there are some jobs you should hire the professionals to do. You might need permits for some of this work, for one thing. And unless you’re a plumber or electrician, it’s not a good idea to handle these tasks on your own. You may end up spending a lot more sourcing the necessary materials yourself and dealing with delays (mainly due to a lack of knowledge and labor) than if you had just hired kitchen remodeling contractors in the first place. Save yourself the headache and opt to work with the professionals from the get-go.
A kitchen remodel can add an impressive amount of value to your home and allow you to really enjoy the space. But before you get started, make sure to avoid these pitfalls and have a plan that will ensure your needs are being met.