6 Key Things to Think About Before Renovating Your Kitchen
This is a collaborative post.
Renovating a kitchen can add thousands of pounds to the value of your home when it’s done correctly. However, it’s not the easiest step to take in terms of house projects.
Whether you’re considering doing it because you want to put your house up for sale in the near future or you’re simply looking to refresh the look of it, there are several key things to keep in mind.
One of the key rooms in the house that you and your family love to spend time in, it’s one that you’ll want to get right from the get-go.
But how do you ensure that you do this? Well, there are 6 main considerations you should pay attention to at the start of the process. These are:
Your Ideal Budget
This might sound like an obvious one, but it’s a vital consideration that you should prioritise at the start. You don’t want to spend more on your kitchen renovation than you can afford.
So it’s worth sitting down and working out exactly how much you can payout on this endeavour.
When working this out, you’ll want to factor in the cost of all of the fixtures and fittings, along with any other accessories (e.g appliances) and the labour if you’re thinking of hiring a professional to install it for you.
New kitchens don’t come cheaply. So sit down and work if it’s a realistic step before you get yourself into any financial issues.
Thankfully, many suppliers offer payment plans that allow you to spread out your costs – making it a step that’s now more attainable than ever.
Also, if you don’t have the initial capital for the renovation, you could consider getting a loan for it – as long as you can realistically keep up with the repayments, of course.
Alternatively, if you don’t have the money for a completely new kitchen, you could try a cheaper method – such as painting the cabinets/adding stylish new tiles. These small changes can make all the difference to the space and are incredibly cost-effective.
A Realistic Timeline
Alongside your budget, you’ll also think about what your ideal timeline is. The amount of time that it takes to renovate your kitchen will depend on several factors – including the demand for materials, when the labourers can come to your house to fit it, etc.
When it comes to getting it done, you may need to be flexible with the deadline. Of course, the provider will talk you through this at the time that you enquire, but it’s still something to keep in mind at the start.
What Appliances You Purchase
Of course, if your current appliances are ok then you might not need to purchase new ones. You might instead only need to purchase spare parts to fix them if required – which you can easily purchase online (such as these fisher and paykel spare parts).
But if you want to purchase new appliances, you’ll not only want to budget in the cost of these but how they will match the kitchen’s decor.
You want appliances that complement the room beautifully – not ones that stick out like a thumb. This will help to increase their resale value down the road.
How it Fits into Your Lifestyle
One consideration that might not initially come to mind, is how your new kitchen will fit into your lifestyle. Do you want it to be an open kitchen plan so that it’s easy to move around in?
Or perhaps you want to use it as a space to entertain guests in? Before taking the leap and investing in a certain kitchen, you’ll want to think about exactly how it will function.
The layout you choose will also depend on the space that you have to play with. For example, if you have a smaller kitchen, it might not be possible to have an island – or you may need to sacrifice some of the storage space you initially wanted.
The Decor
Alongside the layout, you’ll also want to be certain on the decor in advance. From the colour/style of the cabinets and walls to the flooring, there are so many elements within it that you need to consider ahead of time.
Certain suppliers will offer a complete kitchen design with specific surfaces and cabinets, but a large portion of the time you’ll be able to customise this.
Although the decor you choose will depend on your personal preferences, there are so many beautiful styles that you can take inspiration from – from country-style farmhouse kitchens to modern, futuristic designs.
If you’re lacking in inspiration, certain sites can help with this, including Pinterest. So no matter what your style is, you’ll be able to design a kitchen that aligns with your unique preferences.
DIY Vs Hiring a Professional
At the start of the process, you might be considering taking on this renovation project yourself. And while this may seem like the most cost-effective approach at first, it comes with several risks that you can’t ignore.
For example, unless you’re experienced in this type of renovation, you may not be aware of how to install your appliances successfully or even how to fit the cabinets correctly.
This could lead to mishaps along the way that could prove to be costly and even dangerous – such as gas leaks. Therefore, you’ll want to weigh up the cost of having your kitchen professionally installed vs installing it yourself, along with the effort that it takes.
Although getting a professional to do it for you may seem very expensive, at least you’ll have the peace of mind that it will be done efficiently and successfully.
Final Thoughts
So, there you go! Those are 6 things you should consider before renovating your kitchen. Although it may feel like a daunting task, with the right preparation, you’ll have your dream kitchen in no time at all. One that you can’t wait to show off to your family and friends, it will make all the difference to your home.
For more information on other kitchen essentials when renovating your kitchen, you can check StoneFryingPans.