Ah, the kitchen. It’s the center of the home. The kitchen is where meals are prepared, where the kids hang out after school — doing their homework or otherwise — and it’s where meals are shared. Often, when guests come to the home, it’s the kitchen they mingle in – despite how beautiful you made the living room. There is just something about the kitchen.
It’s no wonder, then, that a remodeled kitchen can do wonders for the value of your home. It can also vastly enhance the quality of life while you live in the home. So, really, it’s a win-win. Below, we offer advice on some of the best things you can do in your kitchen remodel.
1) Workspace is Key
Does your kitchen have enough counter space for the cook to prepare meals comfortably? When preparing a meal for a whole family or guests, the cook often needs several different surfaces so that he or she can be prepping different aspects of the meal simultaneously. Make sure that your counter tops are ample and that they’re laid out in the most ergonomically sound way possible.
2) Layout
Speaking of ergonomics, in addition to the countertops, how is the layout of the kitchen overall? A well-planned kitchen gives the cook easy access to the “kitchen triangle”: the sink, the refrigerator, and the stove. The sink should be accessible from all locations – counters, refrigerator, and stove.
3) Make the Best Use of the Space
If you’re thinking about installing a traditional or modern island in the kitchen, it’s important to be aware of the dimensions you’ll create by doing so. In order to maintain a good work flow in the kitchen, your island should allow for forty-two to forty-eight inches around all sides. If the kitchen is less than thirteen feet wide, an island might not be the most useful addition to it. Make sure to take measurements and to be realistic about how big the island will be and how much space there will be around it.
4) Lighting
The kitchen isn’t a space that needs just one type of lighting. Instead, you’ll want to design in several different types of lighting within the kitchen:
- Task lighting
- Accent lighting
- Overall lighting
You should also work to embrace any natural light that you can for the daytime hours. Natural light in the kitchen is a great way to make the most use of the space.
5) Budget, Budget, Budget!
The most important thing you can do when planning a kitchen remodel is to be keenly aware of your budget and to make sure that you’re making decisions that will keep you within that budget. Appliances, countertops, and other fixtures can add up. A kitchen remodel is likely within reach, but you need to be smart about how much you’re spending and what you’re spending on. The worst case scenario is to be halfway through a kitchen remodel and to run out of funds. The remodeling process is intense enough without there bring surprises involved when it comes to money.