Remodeling your kitchen is the project of dreams for many homeowners. But in reality, these dream-like renovations can quickly become an overwhelming nightmare if you aren’t prepared.
Your kitchen is the heart of your home and being without a functional one during a remodel only heightens the stress of the project itself. Plus, DoorDash is only fun (and affordable) at every meal for so long!
So before you go blindly into a major remodel of your kitchen, be sure you’ve done your research and are prepared for the realities of creating your ideal kitchen space.
Here are the top 5 things you need to know before remodeling your kitchen:
1. Your budget.
It’s no secret that kitchen remodels are expensive. Cabinets, flooring, appliances, countertops… the list goes on and on (and that’s before you even factor in the design or labor required). Also, many of these elements are big-ticket items when it comes to your budget, so being aware of how much you have to put into your remodel is crucial.
If you’re on a tight budget for remodeling your kitchen, consider cost-saving measures like painting or refinishing your current cabinets. Or consider leaving the overall layout or footprint of your kitchen as it is now. Moving plumbing, electrical, and the like adds up fast!
To get your budget on the right track, snag my Interactive Kitchen Remodel Budget Planner Trello Board here.
2. Know what you need from your kitchen space (and what isn’t working for you now).
Before you can plan for your perfect kitchen, you need to have a clear handle on what isn’t working in your current kitchen, and what you need instead.
Is it impossible to unload the dishes because the dishwasher door blocks crucial cabinet access when it’s open? Is the layout too tight for multiple people to cook together? Do you need more counter space for meal prep?
Create two lists: one detailing the parts of your kitchen that aren’t serving you and your family well, and another list of how you’d love for your kitchen to function instead. But stay realistic… If you don’t love cooking, don’t feel pressured to add a double oven to the wish list. If you love hosting, make sure there’s plenty of space for guests to gather around.
3. Do you have a team you trust to do the work?
Everyone seems to have a story of being burned by a bad contracting team, so before you dive in on remodeling your kitchen, be sure to identify a team you trust to do the work in your home.
The last thing you want is to get half-way through a renovation and have a team stop showing up or put you in a position of needing to let them go before the remodel is complete.
Do your homework before hiring and get recommendations from people you trust.
4. You get what you pay for. (Don’t skimp on the items you use every single day!)
If you use the stove to make breakfast every morning or you run the dishwasher every night, make sure you’re choosing appliances that will serve you well for a long time.
It’s tempting to cut the budget where you can, but you get what you pay for in most cases and it’s important to allocate enough money for the areas and items that get daily use in your home. Your kitchen is a crucial part of your day, so equip it well.
5. The unseen elements are often the most important.
It may not be fun or sexy to spend your budget on elements like outlets, ventilation, and plumbing, but these are extremely important to make your dream kitchen a functional one. Again, make sure you hire a team you trust to do the work of your remodel, so they can steer you in the right direction for these unseen items that will help make your kitchen a dreamy space for years to come.
Are you ready to get moving on remodeling your kitchen or your next home renovation project?
Book a free 30 minute 1:1 call with the Style 1519 Team now to start your journey to your dream kitchen renovation!
Great Post. Thanks for Sharing.
If the contractor does not leave room in the budget, you could end up way over budget or going without a major appliance for a while.
Hi there, I just remodeled my home and wanted to emphasize how important it is to have a team you trust. The project manager suggested doing cabinet refacing instead of completely removing my cabinets. Not only did this save me money but it was a lot faster of a process than if we would have had to remove them. I highly recommend it to anyone that is building. Thanks for sharing the handy tips.
Its helpful when you mentioned to have a clear idea on what isn’t working in your current kitchen, and what you need instead. I want to get my kitchen remodeled as I just bought a new house. I would need to speak to a professional who can help me find a good kitchen remodeling service near my area. Thanks for the article!
My husband is dying to remodel our kitchen since he’s the chef and he hates the layout. It’s good to know that you should create lists of what’s not working and how to fix it. I’m sure he could give me detailed lists about what would work better for him!
Thank you for these great ideas. I want to remodel my kitchen by following your tips.
Yup, you said it best – we must have a thorough financial plan before committing to any kind of remodeling project to avoid any unnecessary repercussions in the end. My sister and her husband are considering redoing their kitchen this fall since she’s getting pregnant with their third child already. I’ll share this information with them so they can decide what’s bets for them later.
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My mother and father-in-law are hoping to renovate their kitchen this summer. I appreciate what you said about asking people you trust for recommendations of renovation professionals. I will share this tip with my in-laws so they can start asking around and quickly find a good contractor to hire.
I appreciate how you pointed out that you should know what isn’t working in your kitchen space and what you’ll need before you remodel it. I’ve been wondering where we should be starting with our kitchen remodel. I’ll be sure to talk this over with my husband so we can get the best results from all of this.
I’m trying to get a kitchen remodel very soon. This was so helpful, especially when trying to make decisions on the cabinet painting I’ll be getting. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
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You write a good post but I want to add one more important thing that is design, first of sketch a design on a page and than implement it on your project.
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These are some great tips! I can’t stress enough how great it is to have a team you trust. I’d also add a tip that goes along with #4, don’t be afraid to use professionals! We renovated our kitchen this summer and had plans to take all the old cabinets and stuff to the dump ourselves. We quickly learned that it was going to be a massive pain, so we ripped off the bandaid and got a dumpster rental. It was worth every penny! It’s great saving money, but you’ll save a lot of stress and time by hiring a professional, so don’t be afraid to get one if you don’t know how to repaint or put in cabinets or whatever it is!
These are some great tips! I can’t stress enough how great it is to have a team you trust. I’d also add a tip that goes along with #4, don’t be afraid to use professionals! We renovated our kitchen this summer and had plans to take all the old cabinets and stuff to the dump ourselves. We quickly learned that it was going to be a massive pain, so we ripped off the bandaid and got a dumpster rental. It was worth every penny! It’s great saving money, but you’ll save a lot of stress and time by hiring a professional, so don’t be afraid to get one if you don’t know how to repaint or put in cabinets or whatever it may be!
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