7 Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid
Because you and your family spend hours in the kitchen, it is only fitting to have this area in your home undergo renovation from time to time. Broken shelves and cabinets, peeling paint, and leaking pipes and taps are things you don’t you want in your kitchen.
Leading Interior contractors say that these issues are not only unappealing but can also be harmful to your health and the physical structure of your home. They can cause you to waste money on your monthly utility bills as well.
Even if your kitchen is still in good condition, there are other reasons why you should consider having your kitchen renovated. These include improving the space and functionality of the room and giving it a more modern design.
Saving Money and Time on Your Kitchen Renovation Project
A kitchen remodeling project will always cost you money. And even if you have already set a budget for this undertaking, you can still incur additional expenses because of certain mistakes you might make.
Here are seven kitchen renovation mistakes you have to avoid if you want to save money and time on this project and get the results you are looking for:
- Not having a plan
Rushing into a kitchen renovation project can lead to a lot of production delays and unnecessary expenses. If you want to make sure your kitchen remodeling project is completed on time and without exceeding your budget, you have to work hard during the planning phase.
The more time you spend in the planning and preparation stages, the more likely the actual implementation process will go smoothly. You will also be more likely to be satisfied with the end result.
- Failing to set a budget for this project
Although you love your kitchen, you won’t want to spend thousands of dollars on improving it. Make sure your plan covers what you want to do and what features are most important for you to include in your new kitchen. All of these should be covered by your budget.
Once you have set your budget, stick to it. Don’t be tempted to go over; keep in mind that you will enjoy your kitchen a lot more if you aren’t in debt over it.
- Prioritizing appearance over function
It is important to make sure your kitchen’s new design, fittings, and appliances make sense from a functional standpoint. Construction companies say you can avoid making costly and time-consuming mistakes with your kitchen design and features you want to invest in by considering the kitchen work triangle in your plan.
The kitchen work triangle pertains to the busiest areas which are the stove, sink, and fridge. These three should be placed in a location where these are close to each other and located in a triangle design to make your work time in the kitchen more efficient. Most often, many homeowners do not think about this and find out later that their appliances are spread too far apart.
In addition, consider your lifestyle in the new layout of your kitchen and your choice of materials as well. If you plan on cooking a lot, choose spacious cabinets so you can store lots of food and equipment, and countertop materials that do not chip or burn easily.
- Deciding on minimal renovations only
Because of time and budget concerns, you may be tempted to simply update your kitchen with minimal changes. However, if you’ve always had issues with how the room is laid out, new countertops and cabinets will only bring temporary relief. It is best to think about what changes will be most crucial and productive and invest in those now. If you make a lot of changes one time, it can be easier to endure construction chaos once than to go through it repeatedly.
- Not thinking of the bigger picture
During the planning stage, consider the end result of the project or the overall look of your kitchen. This means making sure the color of your cabinets works with the backsplash, flooring and wall color. Your countertop shouldn’t look like it’s out of place, too.
It is important that you have everything all figured out before you start your selection process to avoid feeling overwhelmed and making decisions that you won’t be happy with in the end.
- Scrimping on key upgrades
There is nothing wrong with finding ways to save money on this project, but you shouldn’t do this with any new appliances you want to buy.
You can save money on your energy bills by purchasing energy-efficient appliances. Although they may require higher outlays, you will save a lot of money in the long run.
- Not knowing your limitations
Lastly, there’s essentially nothing wrong with remodeling your kitchen on your own. However, you need to know your skill/ability limits and when you need help. Although you already know what you do and don’t like, professional contractors can make sure you won’t overlook critical elements. They can also offer suggestions on new products that can give you more value.
When you make the decision of hiring a professional designer and contracting team, you reduce the chances of making costly, avoidable mistakes.
To have a shiny, newly remodeled kitchen, you will have to invest a lot of time and money. You can be sure you won’t have any regrets at the end of the project by knowing the common kitchen remodeling mistakes and taking the right steps to avoid them.
AUTHOR BIO
Rachel Hennessey works on Business Development for Hennessey LLC. She helped increase the Pools and Landscaping Division’s client base by 75% and was in charge of the Hennessey DLP handover in Jumeirah Golf Estates, Flame Tree Ridge.