The kitchen is often described as being the heart of the home – it’s where we lovingly prepare meals, feed our friends and families, begin our day and unwind after a day at work– so, it’s no surprise that it’s the hub of all our home activities.
A homely, spacious kitchen is at the top of many homeowners wishlists, but when the culinary area falls short, many often want to renovate this area of their home first. Renovating your kitchen is no easy task (there’s a lot to consider which we will explain later), and you should always enlist the help of an experienced professional. We’ve all watched DIY SOS and seen the homemade disasters that DIYers have had!
So, here are the key areas you will want to consider before you begin your kitchen redesign.
Will it add value to your home?
It’s the rather boring consideration you will have to make – but you will want to ensure that you aren’t spending more money on your kitchen, than the value it will add to your home. Of course, this only really applies if you are planning on selling your home in the future.
It’s estimated that a new kitchen can add around 6% to the value of your home – therefore you should try not to exceed this when looking at your budget.
What will it look like?
You need to envision what your kitchen will look like before you book the builders in and allow them to begin their works. Gather inspiration from fellow homeowners, magazines and Pinterest – the more research you do; the better your result will be.
Take the time to visit kitchen showrooms, test out the cupboards and kitchen amenities. Don’t rush into a decision – it’s alot of money to spend if you end up disliking it.
Don’t fall for trends
Kitchen islands are often seen as a status symbol, but a recent article aimed to dispel the truth that they are truly necessary for every home. While many still see the need for them, the point is you shouldn’t just follow trends because everyone else is. Everything in your kitchen should have a purpose – if it doesn’t, it’ll just end up as useless clutter.
Your kitchen needs to be one of the most functional rooms in your home, so if you fill it with gimmicks, it’ll end up becoming outdated very quickly. A new kitchen is a big investment into your home, so ensure that it’s something you will want to live with for years to come.
Consider the space
We’ve just mentioned that your kitchen needs to be functional, so if you’re planning more than a facelift and are going for a full redesign of your kitchen then take the time to consider how the space is used. Your kitchen’s biggest areas are the sink, oven and refrigeration – so you’ll want to avoid putting these close to one another.
Also consider the movement between each area of your kitchen. When you put the kettle on, are the cups in easy reach? Is the bin nearby to dispose of the tea bag? Are your food cupboards near to where you will prepare food? If you pay attention to the smallest of details now, the less of an issue they will become later on.
Is it in keeping with the rest of your home?
You may also want to think about how the kitchen fits in with the design in the rest of your home, especially if your rooms are open plan. If you have a country home, then an ultra-modern kitchen is likely to look out of place.
After you’ve picked your cupboards and work surfaces, you will want to consider the kinds of appliances, wall colour and decorative accessories that you want to include in the space. Try to think of the bigger picture and how your finished kitchen will look like, rather than just the individual elements.
Discuss your renovation with your contractor
If you’ve never had any area of your home redesigned or renovated before then you are going to be clueless as to what to expect during the works. Therefore it’s essential that you discuss with your contractor what to expect throughout the whole process.
Ask how long the works are expected to take, the times they will be beginning and finishing the works each day – basically, ask anything you can think of! The majority of trusted tradesmen will explain their processes and anything else they think you will need to know when you meet them anyway.
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