The kitchen is an integral part of any home, and it is one of the features that impact the market value and comfort of your home the most.
However, in most old houses, not much attention was paid to the kitchen’s decor and functional design, which is why most people look for contemporary and modern upgrades they can make to the kitchen. If you are also thinking about kitchen remodeling, and don’t know where to get started, don’t worry. We have got you covered.
Today we will tell you about eight solid tips that you need to consider before a kitchen remodel. So, keep reading to increase your chances of a successful remodel.
Consider the budget:
With any renovation, one of the most important things is your budget. You need to figure out what you can afford; if you have the budget, you could go for a complete luxury renovation, with all the bells and whistles; otherwise, you will have to figure out how much you can afford to spend on each specific upgrade and the overall renovation.
Planning the budget before you do anything else allows you to build realistic expectations and helps you make a lot of other important decisions.
Moreover, it is essential to consider your total renovation budget against the value of the property. For instance, a hefty $20,000 renovation might not be practical in a $200,000 home. Typically, you can expect around a 6% increase in home value when you renovate the kitchen; however, if the renovation costs more than 6%, to begin with, it isn’t practical.
Add new appliances to the kitchen:
Where upgrading the kitchen design and decor is important, you also need to consider upgrading the functionality and performance. So, think about what new appliances you want to add to the kitchen.
If you have a big family, how about going for a dishwasher and a multi-burner stove. Even smaller appliances can make your kitchen more comfortable to use and easy to manage. For instance, you can get a new stand mixer, or food processor, or add a showerhead faucet to the sink for washing dishes more efficiently. Check out Waterpik models for the best kitchen sink showerheads.
If you want to get the modern and luxury feel in your kitchen, how about investing in a smart refrigerator.
Create a renovation schedule and stick to it:
Since the kitchen is one of the most integral parts of any home, you can’t afford it to be out of order for a long time. Managing a home while the kitchen is being renovated can take a lot of time, be quite hectic. Therefore, you should also plan a schedule for the remodeling.
Having a schedule allows you to minimize wasted time and allows your budget to be more flexible because you don’t have to order all the materials together or waste time when you don’t have the right ones.
If you have a good schedule, you can manage the renovation more efficiently and finish it as soon as possible, with minimal downtime.
Understand modern trends and find inspiration:
Once you have got the budget sorted out, you can start looking for trendy upgrades. Interior design trends have changed a lot over the years, and knowing what’s fashionable right now, will give your home a contemporary feel and add more to its value.
According to experts, kitchens with an open floor plan connected with the dining room and living room are trendy. Moreover, almost every modern kitchen has a center island, which adds to the design and makes more working space in the kitchen. It’s not only the design that plays a part in having a modern kitchen, it’s also the accessories. For instance, having a quirky statement piece on the dining table, a spotty tablecloth, and even modernized cutlery and placemats contribute to the overall effect.
So, search online, and find some trends that you want to add to your home.
Decide on what structural changes you want to make:
If you are renovating your kitchen and want a contemporary design, you will probably have to make some structural changes. Unlike old-fashioned kitchens, most modern ones have larger windows and an open floor plan. Moreover, if you want to add a center island, the kitchen might need to be expanded.
Therefore, this is the phase where you decide on all the structural changes, determine that they fall within your budget, and come up with the renovated kitchen’s final layout.
Choose a contemporary color scheme:
The next step in the renovation is to select a color scheme. You already have an idea for the layout; now you should imagine what colors will look great in the kitchen. Light and natural colors have always been common in the kitchen, and they are quite trendy now as well; however, adding accents of darker or more vibrant tones can make the kitchen pop. You can even add printed kitchen towels to customize the space even more.
You should check out some interior design blogs and modern kitchen photos online to find a contemporary color scheme.
Decide on the materials you want to use.
There are several kinds of materials that can be used in the kitchen. It would help if you decided on which ones you want for your countertops, cabinets, backsplash, flooring, and other surfaces.
If you have the budget, stone countertops made from granite or marble are the most common in modern luxury kitchens. However, if your budget is a bit tight, faux stone or wooden countertops are also a great option.
You can also add a new vinyl wrap to your current countertops for a budget-friendly upgrade. For the backsplash, consider tiles or glass splashbacks, and a wooden floor is always in style.
This approach offers a completely customizable look while being highly functional as it is easy to maintain and clean.
Hire a qualified contractor:
Remodeling your kitchen can be treated as a DIY project. You will need a lot of different skills. Even if you can do some of the jobs yourself, hiring professionals for the others, negotiating with them, buying the materials they need, and making sure that they do a proper job can be quite a hectic and difficult task.
Therefore, hiring a contractor is the better option. But make sure that you hire one that is qualified. You should interview different contractors, ask them questions like how many kitchen remodels they have managed in the past six months, and call their references. You can hire the services of a trusted remodeling contractor like DR Design & Remodel. Click on this link: watch our video and see why they are Elk Grove’s favorite kitchen remodeling team. Only move forward with a contractor when you can completely trust them for the job.
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