Remodeling a kitchen is one of the most intense and time-consuming things you’ll do to your house. It’s also one of the costliest things you’ll do, so the last thing you want is for mistakes to be made that require you to spend even more money. Here are some common kitchen remodeling mistakes that people make and how to avoid them.
Overlooking the ‘work triangle’
The three busiest areas of a kitchen – where most of the actual work is done – are the stove, sink, and refrigerator. It’s important that these are laid out efficiently. This means they should all be fairly close to each other, cutting down on the number of steps required to get between them. Sometimes, when people get caught up in more fancy ideas, this can be overlooked. However, it should be one of the first things on your list.
Underutilizing space
There’s a fine balance between avoiding a cluttered look, and not making use of the space available to you. However, you will find that there are often unused parts of your kitchen that can make for handy storage units. For example, you may have space underneath cabinet doors. Why not add a toe-kick drawer? This gives you an extra, and somewhat hidden, storage space. It can be used for items that aren’t used on a daily basis, or for non-kitchen items that need storing somewhere.
Trying to DIY everything
While it may be tempting to do the whole thing alone, the chances are there’ll be several elements that you aren’t an expert in. There’s nothing wrong with this, and your best option is to get a professional. Without their expertise, you run the risk of the entire project being derailed, and it could cost you more than you originally intended. The best practice is to get a professional’s advice before you even start anything. They will be able to review your model plan and offer some ideas which you may not have thought of.
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Choosing appliances last
It’s far easier to choose cabinets and countertops to match your appliances, like the refrigerator and dishwasher, than the other way around. Try and have an idea of the style and color of the appliances you want – this will make things much easier in the long-run. Never forget the bigger picture when buying things – everything needs to tie in together.
Oversizing islands
People who are planning a spacious kitchen sometimes decide to have one big island. But this is a mistake, as it creates an unnecessarily large space for people to walk around. Anything more than 10 feet is too big. Instead, consider creating two decent sized islands. At the same time, make sure they’re not too deep and overloaded with too many items. This will create an overly messy look and make it difficult for people to reach the middle.
Impulse buying
Never commit to anything until you’ve properly looked at it in the space you’re remodeling. This is especially important for things such as countertop materials and flooring. It doesn’t matter how beautiful things look in the showroom, how good the deal is, or how persuasive the salesperson is being. Always bring home samples to test. You should also consider testing the samples under a similar light to what you’re planning to use in your new kitchen.
While there’s a lot to take in when remodeling your kitchen, if done properly, it can be a source of huge pride and satisfaction. Avoid these 6 kitchen remodeling mistakes to improve the appearance, functionality, and comfort of your home, and even help increase its overall value.