Avoid These Common Kitchen Remodel Mistakes!
You’ve decided to undergo a kitchen remodel, but where do you even start? Thankfully, you can learn from other people’s mistakes in order to avoid running into certain problems during your project. Avoid these common kitchen remodeling mistakes by reading our tips below.
Failing to Plan
One of the biggest overall mistakes homeowners make when remodeling their kitchen is failing to plan. Not creating a plan means that you don’t have guidelines to reference, steps to follow, or a well-thought-out idea of what you’re going to do. Creating a detailed plan will help you avoid mistakes every step of the way, and it also gives you a path forward so that way the entire process can run more smoothly.
To help you get started, here are a few items your kitchen remodel plan should include:
- Cabinetry: Are you repainting your cabinets, replacing the doors, or replacing your cabinets entirely? There are a variety of options to choose from that depend on your budget and the condition of your existing cabinets. If you’re installing new cabinetry, decide on door style, material, and hardware.
- Countertops: Are you replacing your countertops or keeping the same ones? If you’re replacing your kitchen countertops, consider a material that not only matches your design style but also meets the needs of your space. For example, quartz is a highly durable product that’s available in a variety of colors and patterns.
- Appliances: Consider which appliances you’re upgrading, which ones you use most often, and what layout would be most efficient for you.
- Layout: Will you be changing your kitchen layout or keeping it the same?
- Lighting: Determine if you’re keeping the same lighting or if you’ll be adding more lighting. Options include pendant lights, spotlighting, and under-cabinet lighting.
- Labor: Determine which labor you’re doing yourself and what needs to be outsourced to a contractor.
Not Making a Budget
To avoid making this second common kitchen remodel mistake, make sure you create a budget and stick to it throughout the entire process. Knowing what amount of money you can spend on your entire kitchen remodel will give you a great place to start. Then you can take your budget and allocate it to the areas of your kitchen that are most important to you.
For example, you might want to spend more money on changing the layout of your kitchen and less money on flooring. How you allocate your budget throughout the remodel is entirely up to you, your budget, and your kitchen’s needs.
Your kitchen remodel budget should be used in tandem with your renovation plans. Your budget should then be referenced at every stage of the remodel to make sure that you’re spending your money according to the right items in your kitchen. For example, if you overspend on the cabinetry, it might leave less money for hardware or lighting.
Forgetting About Storage
Storage is one of the most important factors in determining the functionality of your kitchen. When planning out your remodel, you want to make sure that you have enough storage for your most-used items. You wouldn’t want to undergo this entire remodel only to realize at the end of it that you can’t fit your pots, pans, and small appliances into your cabinets.
Avoid this common kitchen remodel mistake by taking inventory of the items in your kitchen, determining which ones are most important, and planning for enough storage space to house all of these items. This can include measuring the tallest items to make sure the cabinets and shelf spaces are tall and wide enough to fit bigger items.
Installing Floors Before Cabinets
Professionals recommend that you install cabinetry first and then the flooring afterward. This is because flooring needs room to expand and contract with temperature changes. If cabinetry is installed on top of flooring, it limits the floor’s ability to adjust, which can lead to cupping. It also means that if you want to replace your flooring in the future, you would be unable to do so without either damaging the cabinets or ripping them out completely. Avoid this kitchen remodel mistake by installing your flooring after you install your cabinets.
Not Considering Lighting
Lighting is commonly forgotten when undergoing a kitchen remodel. Don’t make the mistake of forgetting about lighting when you’re making your kitchen remodel plan! Lighting is one of the major factors in setting the tone and mood of your space. This can include providing more ambient lighting that makes your house feel warmer and more inviting. Also, consider adding spotlights that will shine on important work areas of the kitchen, like the stove and countertop.
Lastly, decorative lighting, like pendants, can help you showcase your unique design style and personality. Whether you opt for undercabinet lighting or overhead lighting on your island, how you light your space will play an important role in its overall tone.
Not Partnering with a Trustworthy Supplier
Last on our list of common kitchen remodel mistakes is not partnering with a trusted local supplier. Sometimes undergoing a kitchen remodel alone is the biggest mistake of all. Those DIY tasks can end up costing you more time and money in the long run than if you had partnered with a trusted professional to get the job done.
Especially if you’re replacing cabinets, changing your kitchen layout, or moving plumbing, it’s best to partner with an experienced contractor who can get the job done quickly, professionally, and correctly. This will give you peace of mind and help ensure a smooth kitchen remodel.
Kitchen Remodel Materials at Elevations by Zeeland Standard
The best way to avoid common kitchen remodel mistakes is to talk to an experienced kitchen designer at Elevations by Zeeland Standard! Browse one of our showroom locations to gain design inspiration, speak to a friendly kitchen designer, and find the right materials for your kitchen. Contact us to get started.