Terri Ramsey Beavers For many of us, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. We spend about a third of our time asleep in our bedrooms, but most of the waking hours at home are spent in the kitchen.
It’s where we prepare meals, help children with homework, and spend time with our families. Because the kitchen is such a crucial part of our home, kitchen redecoration is a popular choice in remodels.
In fact, out of the overwhelming 90% of homeowners who plan to renovate at least one part of their home in the future, half are interested in renovating their kitchen.
If you’re among this percentage, the following tips can help you redecorate a kitchen like a pro! Keep reading to learn more.
1. Consider Function Before Form
The best advice on redecorating a kitchen we can give is to consider the function of your kitchen before getting started with your remodel. Now, of course, a kitchen’s primary function is to help you prepare food. But what else do you use it for?
Consider your lifestyle. Do you entertain often? Do you have children, or plan to have them in the future? Do you work or help with homework in the kitchen?
Your kitchen should be tailored to you and the specific needs of your family! For example, if you enjoy having friends over for a glass of wine or two, you might want to add a wine fridge, a glass holder, or a bar.
If you work or help with homework in the kitchen, consider creating a space for a small desk and a drawer or cabinet to organize office supplies.
A kitchen remodel is an investment, you want to get the most out of it as you can. Keeping yourself and your family in mind when designing your kitchen will help you to enjoy it as much as possible! However, creating a proper design after understanding your needs can get a bit confusing for homeowners. Therefore, it is recommended to work with professionals. You can find here more information about remodeling ideas according to your needs.
2. Plan with the Work Triangle in Mind
There’s something called the “work triangle” that professional designers use when planning any kitchen layout. This is the area between your three most used workspaces: the fridge, the oven, and the sink. The further these areas are from each other, the more difficult it is to use your kitchen effectively.
No point on this triangle should be further than about 5 feet from another point. And in between these points, there should be nothing blocking your path. The last thing you want to do is trip over or bump into something while carrying a boiling pot of water from the stove to the sink.
3. Give Yourself Plenty of Storage Space
One of the biggest mistakes you can make, whether you’re redecorating a small kitchen or a large one, is to not give yourself enough storage space. And when you’re planning your storage spaces, choose ones that most benefit you and your habits.
You might need extra deep drawers for pots and pans, a pull-out spice drawer next to the stove, or a walk-in pantry. Take your time to think about the items in your kitchen, how much space you need to store it all neatly, and the most convenient ways to do so.
If you’ll be changing the layout of your kitchen or building additional cabinetry, be sure to plan with the objects that can’t be moved in mind, such as windows and air grilles.
4. Don’t Overlook the Importance of Lighting
The fun parts of kitchen design are the layout, appliances, and materials. But it’s crucial that you make lighting a priority. After all, you’ll find your new kitchen very difficult to use if it isn’t lit well!
There are three main types of lighting to consider: general, task, and accent lighting, and each has its own purpose.
Ambient Lighting
Typically your overhead light, ambient or general lighting provides overall illumination. It’s a replacement for sunlight, allowing you to see in a room and move about the space safely. This can be a chandelier, track lights, or other sconces and is where you should start with your lighting plan.
Task Lighting
Task lighting is more specialized. Instead of providing light to the entire room, it illuminates a specific part of it, such as the stove or a favorite food prep section of the countertop. Task lighting should allow you to work without glare but be bright enough that you aren’t straining to see.
Accent Lighting
The last type of lighting is accent and is for drawing attention to a focal point of the room. It’s used for decoration, not necessarily providing light. If you have a painting or sculpture that you’d like to spotlight, an accent light is what you need!
5. Pick Your Appliances First
Before you jump into laying out your kitchen design, you need to choose your large appliances. The oven, dishwasher, and refrigerator you pick will determine how things are placed in the kitchen, as each of these appliances come at different heights, widths, and depths.
You need to have the exact measurements so you can plan accordingly. Not only will you need to leave enough space between cabinets for these appliances, but their depth can also dictate the depth of your counters.
If you want the edge of your counters to be flush with the refrigerator, for example, you’ll need to choose cabinets and countertops that match the depth of the fridge.
Use These Kitchen Redecoration Tips to Create Your Dream Kitchen
Redecorating your kitchen is an exciting, sometimes overwhelming task. It can be difficult to know where to start! By using these kitchen redecoration tips, you can create the perfect space for yourself and your family.
Remember, the most important thing is to take your time to determine the function of the space. Don’t worry too much about trends; focus on how your family uses the kitchen and build from there.
For more home design tips and tricks, take a look at our blog!