Terri Ramsey Beavers The average kitchen renovation costs more than $25,000 in the United States.
This may seem like too high of a number, however, when you consider cabinets, floors, and kitchenware, it quickly adds up.
If you are wanting to renovate your kitchen, there are a couple of things to can do to lower your costs.
Continue reading to discover the best tips from Zen Renovations in Silver Spring, MD for successful kitchen renovations that can save you time and money!
1. Know What You Want
The first step in successful kitchen renovations is defining what you want out of your new kitchen.
Take a look at the kitchen, do you feel that it looks cluttered and want it to be opened up? Maybe you don’t like the storage space and want to create more. Knowing what you want to do with the kitchen is crucial and will guide you throughout the process.
Don’t be afraid to change your plans along the way. Just remember that re-doing your work will cost more and require extra energy. If you don’t have too many specifications, you can look online for inspiration and use a design tool to determine the kitchen layout.
2. Prepare Yourself
Before beginning your kitchen renovations, it is always a good idea to prepare yourself.
To be fully prepared, you should consider where you will be cooking in the meantime. Often, when people do a kitchen renovation, the kitchen is unusable. Whether you set up a temporary kitchen or plan to use your neighbors, you should have a plan.
Renovations typically take longer than expected and it can be a pain when a two-day project turns into two weeks. Instead of leaving yourself without a spot to do the dishes or cook, think ahead.
You can use the grill and move the microwave to another room for use. Try to be as prepared as possible. If you don’t have much space to work with, in the first place, you can do section by section of the kitchen instead.
3. Take Measurements
One of the most important things to do when renovating your new kitchen is to take measurements.
Take measurements of the room, windows, and cabinetry. You should know how big of a fridge and microwave can fit in the cabinet cutouts. Neglecting to take measurements can put you in unfortunate and costly situations.
Many fridges require 32 to 36-inch wide openings. You should take these measurements with you when you go shopping. You will require all of these dimensions when filling in the room with decor and carpentry details.
Most people recommend taking measurements twice. This will help ensure that you have the correct lengths and widths so that you don’t make a costly mistake later on.
4. Consider Storage
Updating kitchens can be fun, but when you don’t have much space to work with, it can also be frustrating.
To make the most of your space, you must consider storage while renovating. Many people are beginning to install under-cabinet racks that hold items such as spices and knives.
You can also install lazy Susans and drawers inside of your cabinets to create more space. Take the time to think about the items you have for the kitchen and if you have enough space. There are many ways that you can transform dead space into something useful.
5. Use the Wall
Depending on the layout of your kitchen, you can do a lot with wall space.
Many people recommend hanging utensils and knives on the walls (in a safe place, of course). You can also hang pots and pans from the walls to create a unique look that is also useful.
One of the biggest trends right now is coffee nooks. People are designing sections of their kitchen for coffee and hanging beautiful mugs on the walls. When dealing with limited space it is always a good idea to decorate with items you already have.
Make sure that whatever you hang on the wall is secure and won’t fall off when people close the door.
6. Be Safe
When working in the kitchen, you should take precautions so that you don’t hurt yourself or anyone around you.
If you are planning to work on the plumbing or electricity in the room, make sure you turn them off completely. Otherwise, you can easily electrocute yourself or soak the kitchen floors.
You may also want to take other precautions such as dressing for the job. If you are using chemicals or cutting something, gloves and goggles are recommended. Wearing steel-toe boots is also a good idea in case you drop something on your toes.
Even if you think you will be okay, take extra precautions so that you won’t gain medical expenses during the project. It’s better to be safe rather than sorry!
7. Look for Gaps
A common problem that arises during kitchen remodels is that gaps appear when cabinets and flooring are updated.
Make sure that if you replace to floor or cabinets, that there are no gaps between them. Depending on the size of the gap, there are a couple of ways to cover it up.
Some people cover these gaps with paint or caulk. This is only recommended if the gap is small. For larger gaps, it is easiest to install new moldings. Installing moldings underneath the counters can make the kitchen look neater and cover up all of those gaps.
You Can Do Successful Kitchen Renovations
Have you recently moved into a new home that needs a kitchen update?
By utilizing the guide above, you can renovate your kitchen promptly and even save on expenses. At the beginning of the renovation, you must consider what type of kitchen you want and take all of the measurements.
Many issues can arise while renovating. To avoid these issues, do as much planning as you can and take accurate measurements.
Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about successful kitchen renovations and do-it-yourself projects!