Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re planning to renovate your kitchen some time soon. Home renovation projects are a great way to breathe some new life into your living space while keeping busy.

On that note, your kitchen is one of the most important parts of your home – it’s where you nourish your family and entertain guests. Therefore, taking the time to plan out your improvements ensures that your new kitchen will be a spot everyone wants to hang out in for years to come!

To make your remodeling as seamless as possible, below are some top mistakes you should avoid as much as possible.

Not setting a budget

A kitchen remodel is a sizeable investment, and keeping a budget is wise to ensure you’re not overspending or getting into debt. To give you an idea of how much it’ll cost, Marcus’ guide to kitchen renovation costs points out how the median cost, which includes the cost of materials and labor. This is no small investment, but it’s one that’s worth considering given how you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Setting a budget also helps you determine a timeframe for your renovation, and allows you to see if there are any smaller projects you can start sooner.

Assuming you’ll need professional help

There are definitely projects that you’ll need professional help for, especially when it comes to a project as big as remodeling your kitchen. But don’t sell yourself short, as there are definitely projects you can start right away. Painting your kitchen is an obvious project that anyone can start, but TODAY’s article on financially planning for a renovation maintains that installing light switch covers and mounting fans are easy enough to pick up on your own. If you’re looking to fill up your time with something to do, consider digging around for DIY kitchen projects you’re comfortable to try on your own.

Neglecting storage space

Speaking of projects you can start right away, why not try optimizing your storage space? Storage is one of the key components of any functional kitchen, and therefore needs to be factored into your renovations. Creating storage spaces doesn’t have to be boring; in fact, it’s the perfect opportunity to think outside the box and get a little creative. Interior designer Jenny Wolf recommends opting for open shelves to make things like dishes and glasses much easier to access. Optimizing your storage could even mean something as simple as buying bins to organize your fridge — the possibilities are endless.

Forgetting to map out flow

We mentioned the need to cater to guests in the beginning of the article, which goes to show just how important the concept of “flow” is to any kitchen. From prepping dishes to cleaning tableware, you’re bound to be moving around when you’re in your kitchen. Accounting for such movement when planning out your renovation will help make your kitchen as accommodating as possible. For instance, those who want to add an island should think about including ample aisle space on all sides. Having a sink on one side of the island and storage space on the other also helps balance things out and ensures that people aren’t crammed to one side.

There are a lot of factors to consider when planning out a kitchen renovation, but these four tips are a great start and will give you a working foundation to create the kitchen of your dreams.

About The Author: Radlee Jaycee is an aspiring interior designer at the very beginning of her career. When she isn’t dreaming about helping clients build their dream homes, she’s busy brushing up on her painting skills or teaching herself how to take great photos.

Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash