If you’re looking to change the look of your kitchen or update your cabinetry, but you aren’t sure where to start, there are some things you should consider before signing on with any contractor.
Even though your contractor will tell you everything you need to know, it pays to understand how the process works, what pitfalls to avoid, and what can be done within your budget.
Here are some quick tips on kitchen remodeling that will make the remodeling process easier and help you save money along the way.
Choose Your Style
If you don’t know what style you want to remodel your kitchen with, look around at your home and think about what type of kitchen would make things easier.
Would a peninsula work well with your daily life? What about an island? It may be helpful to think outside of what’s traditional and try something new like a butcher block countertop or a marble backsplash.
Letting go of your preconceived notions of how kitchens are supposed to look can give you more options and help you decide which direction is best for you.
Get Estimates from Contractors
Getting estimates from contractors will give you a good idea of how much a project will cost. You can also get a sense of what work you’ll be paying for and whether it’s something you want to tackle yourself.
Ideally, once you have three or four contractors bidding on your job, you’ll have a better sense of how much money you’ll need to save up in order to cover these costs.
If that’s not an option, take photos or videos during your initial estimate appointments so that when it comes time to choose a contractor later, you have some information from other homeowners’ projects to base your decision on.
Choose Your Materials
Choosing materials for your kitchen is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
They say form follows function, and when it comes to your kitchen, that’s certainly true. But there are other factors to consider as well, including cost, aesthetics, and durability.
The latter is especially important if you’re planning to sell your home in a few years. Materials like granite can increase resale value and add beauty over time – and save you money in maintenance costs down the road too.
Even if you’re planning to stick around in your current home forever (or just for a long time), budget-friendly solutions like laminate can add value without breaking your bank account.
Design Your Floorplan
Before embarking on any remodel, decide what your priorities are.
A top-of-the-line granite countertop can be wonderful, but if you’re tight on money or need to maximize your space by cutting into walls, that might not be feasible.
Before anything else, write down what you have to work with in terms of time and money so you have a good idea of what you’re aiming for.
You may even want to design multiple scenarios so that when it comes time to remodel, you’ll already have an idea of how much it will cost depending on whether or not you want to add a few bells and whistles.
Final Words
There are many different ways to approach designing your kitchen, and you may find that you can do most of it yourself.
However, if you lack design skills or simply don’t have time to remodel your kitchen, consider working with a professional designer who can help you execute your ideas effectively.
Make sure to communicate what kind of look and feel you want so they can present you with different options.