Cabinets, Kitchen and Bath Remodeling

8 Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

If you are considering a kitchen remodel you have one of the most rewarding home improvement projects to look forward to. Kitchen remodeling can be a long process and you will have a lot of big decisions to make in order to make your dream kitchen a reality.

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kitchen renovation will challenge your problem solving skills as well as test your patience at times. A kitchen redo will also be a major expense that you need to be very careful with. There are so many elements that go into a kitchen remodel and it can be difficult to know exactly where to start and what you should do.

There are some common mistakes that people make when remodeling their kitchen, and in this article we will highlight eight of the most common ones that you should do your best to avoid. By studying this article you will be able to see where others have gone wrong and take steps to avoid making these mistakes as well.

UNDER BUDGETING

Kitchen remodelers everywhere can tell you that redoing a kitchen takes a whole pile of cash. Some people are shocked when they finally get an estimate from their contractor, and have to withdraw their plans or have to make major sacrifices to their designs.

Be sure to save up enough money so that you will be able to have all of the features you desire from your kitchen. If you feel that you just can not afford what you want, remember that a kitchen remodel can add a bit of value to your home, so basically you get a big refund on the remodel if you decide to sell your home.

A good way to get some extra money for a kitchen remodel is by doing a home equity line of credit, where you can borrow some money against your equity, then you can pay for your kitchen remodel over time, rather than having to save up a huge lump sum.

TOO MANY CHANGES

You need to think long and hard about how you want your kitchen to be before you sign a deal with your contractor. That way you lock in the price of the remodel so that you can know exactly how much you will spend.

If you decide to change things once the work on the kitchen has begun, it could delay the finish of the project and will cost a lot more money. Making late changes is one of the worst mistakes you can make during a construction project, so be sure that you know what you want before any work starts.

The less changes you make to your kitchen renovate, the sooner you can actually start enjoying your kitchen. If you have all of your plans in order, you will also spend less money so that you can enjoy your kitchen even more.

BAD LIGHTING DESIGN

Be sure to speak with your interior designer about the lighting in the kitchen, it can make such a huge difference for cooking and comfort. Lighting is an often overlooked part of kitchen remodeling designs, but it can be a huge regret if you get the wrong lighting.

Hopefully you are able to incorporate a lot of natural lighting in your kitchen, but a lot of cooking happens in the night too, and you want to make sure that the light is adequate for cooking. When the lighting is off, the kitchen can look more like a dungeon than a culinary arts space, so you want to get the lighting right.

NOT MAKING SPACE FOR CHILLING

The kitchen always seems to be the place where people congregate during a dinner party, so you want to make sure that everyone can be comfortable hanging out, drinking some beers and also cooking up a fine meal.

Make sure that walkways are big enough that two people can fit through, and even consider having some sort of a seating area in the kitchen, like a bar or breakfast nook. Know that people will congregate in the kitchen, and plan to have space for everything that could happen.

TOO LITTLE COUNTER SPACE

Inadequate counter space is a huge complaint people make after remodeling their kitchen, and then people wish they could start over and make more counter space. Be sure that when you are planning you have more counter space, rather than less, no one ever complains about having too much counter space.

You want enough space that multiple people can be chopping food at the same time without bumping elbows, while having room for kitchen gadgets and decor. 

BORING BACKSPLASH

The backsplash can be a fun way to bring some interesting patterns and colors into the kitchen. A lot of people will notice the backsplash, and having something interesting to look at can be a great way to keep the space feeling fun and comfortable.

You can even put your backsplash around the entire perimeter of the kitchen, which can make a small kitchen look bigger. Play with different shades of complimentary colors and be sure to think hard about what type of tile you want to use.

SPACE WASTING

One of the most important kitchen remodeling tips is to think of the flow of your kitchen, like how you will move from your refrigerator, to your sink, to your stove a lot when preparing a meal. Work around this pattern and make every inch of your design useful.

You really do not want to end up having weird, dead spaces that have no point. Be sure your kitchen is doing as much as it can so that you will be happy using your kitchen for many years. Space can be a premium in your kitchen, and wasted space is a huge sin that you need to avoid if you can.

TOO LITTLE STORAGE

Your kitchen cabinets will almost certainly be the biggest expense in your kitchen remodel, and for good reason. Storage is a huge element of a kitchen, and if you do not have enough storage you will always be battling clutter in your kitchen.

Make sure you know what kitchen utensils you like having around and make sure that everything will have a place in your new cabinets. There is nothing worse than not having a place for all of your kitchenware.

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