Remodeling Your Kitchen? Consider These 3 Factors Before Getting Started
The kitchen is the heart of any home, which is why most homeowners focus the majority of their remodeling efforts and budget on this single room. If your kitchen is begging for an updated look, you may be excited to start designing your new kitchen and demoing the old one. Before you bust open any walls, however, there are certain things you should consider. Read on for the 3 biggest factors to consider for kitchen remodeling.
- Set a Budget
This may sound obvious, but you would be surprised by just how many homeowners attempt a kitchen remodel with an “idea of how much they want to spend.” An idea, as opposed to a solid number, is exactly what gets homeowners into financial trouble during home improvement projects.
When you have an “idea,” you don’t feel so bad about overspending on the cabinets, or about investing in real hardwood floors as opposed to wood-looking ceramic tile or about hiring a contractor to do the painting when you can realistically do it yourself. Over time, these small expenditures really add up, and many homeowners find that they don’t have the funds to finish the project—at least, not to their liking, anyway.
The best thing you can do when remodeling your kitchen is to set a budget. Designate parts of your budget to certain areas of the kitchen, such as cabinetry, flooring, etc. for the greatest effect.
- Identify What Can Stay
Part of staying within your budget involves repurposing existing fixtures or incorporating the old with the new. Identify areas of your kitchen you like as-is. By identifying what works, you can more easily reimagine what doesn’t and begin to visualize a kitchen in which the old and the new come together to form one cohesive look.
- Determine a Look
Next, determine the “feel” you’re going for. Do you want your kitchen to be warm and cozy or upscale and modern? Do you like light or dark colors? Do you want to entertain in your kitchen, or just cook? Know before you hire your contractors and begin selecting fixtures exactly what type of look you want to achieve.
A new kitchen can drastically improve the appearance of your home. For best results, work with a professional kitchen remodeling contractor.