Remodeling the kitchen is priority number one on most homeowner's list of desired home improvements. But with all the money, time and temporary inconvenience that a kitchen renovation or kitchen remodeling project entails, it’s very important that you be happy with the finished product for years to come. Here are some tips to ensure that you’ll love your new kitchen:
Some homeowners discover once everything is installed that some parts of their kitchen are partially blocked or cramped, making it hard to get around, use and repair kitchen elements, and possibly causing damage to cabinets or appliances.
One common mistake is not leaving enough room to open your refrigerator doors, dishwasher door or oven door without bumping into your island or another cabinet. Sometimes, the door will open, but there is not quite enough space for people to walk around when the door is open.
Best practices according to the NKBA are to leave at least 42” clearance for a single cook and 48” for multiple people trying to move around in the kitchen. Another similar design mistake is placing the kitchen faucet too far back. Faucets that have handles that rotate forward and back may end up getting blocked by the backsplash.
Try before you buy
If you are considering adding an island or peninsula in your kitchen, set up a temporary one roughly the size and placement of the permanent one you think you’d like. You can construct it from plywood, cardboard or an old cabinet or table.
See if it is in the right place for your workflow and if it would be more useful bigger or smaller. You may discover that it makes food prep and serving much easier, or that it’s just in the way.
You can also take sample cabinet doors (you have to return them after you look at them), tile (sometimes you can buy a piece or two and other times the company will lend you a sample that you need to return) and paint (get a sample at big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes and try it out on the wall) to see how they look in your kitchen.
Design around the way you use your kitchen
Sure, the pictures in the kitchen magazines may be gorgeous, but remember, a kitchen is the most practical room in the house. It needs to not only look good, but also work functionally for you and your lifestyle.
For example, if you have a large family or entertain frequently, you will need lots of counter space and seating. Love to cook? Then maybe you should splurge on a professional grade oven and cooktop, consider an additional prep sink and have knives, small appliances and other tools within easy reach.
If you have small children, you might want to consider tougher thermo foil doors rather than wood that can easily scratch when run into with a tricycle. Also, make sure that stove knobs are towards the back, out of reach of little hands.
With colors and styles, be true to yourself. Choose the colors and styles that make you happy, and don’t be a slave to kitchen magazines or other people’s idea of what is trendy. After all, you’re the one who will be using and living with the kitchen for years, not the kitchen designer, cabinet manufacturer or well-meaning neighbor.
Bring in the light
The kitchen should be the room with the brightest light so you can see what you are cutting and cooking. If you have a cramped, dark kitchen, look for a wall that can be cut down to let in light from another room, or a window or skylight that can be added.
Other ways of adding light include LED under-counter lighting strips, recessed or pendant lighting fixtures and light-colored cabinets, flooring, countertops and walls to reflect the existing light in the room.
A place for everything and everything in its place
Clutter is a big source of stress for most people. Try to design your kitchen so as many things as possible are tucked away out of sight. Counters without a lot of clutter are not only easier on the eyes, but also are easier to keep clean.
Consider an appliance garage and lots of drawers for easy access to things you’d otherwise need to keep on the counter like prep knives, spatulas and other cooking tools. You can also keep your coffee maker, toaster and other frequently used small appliances in an appliance garage, a covered area on your countertop.
Keep these guidelines in mind when planning your kitchen. But if you really want to ensure that you will avoid these and other DIY mistakes and get the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of, talk to kitchen professionals, who can give you the benefit of his or her experience and tailor it to your specific kitchen. We make it easy: click here to upgrade to our Plan Right™ Premier Kitchen Toolkit and get connected with up to three kitchen professionals inyour area.
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