Are you planning to renovate your kitchen? A lot of homeowners tend to choose the kitchen as the first part of the house to renovate. It may be because they like cooking, enjoying meals, and hosting get-togethers. But whether you’re one of them or just need to renovate your kitchen after so many years, there are a lot of things you should consider before you get started.
Kitchen renovations can be overwhelming at first, but just doing baby steps is fine. Think of it as one of the necessities of your home. If you constantly reschedule it, you might end up not doing it at all which can spark a problem in the overall health of your home.
Since kitchen renovations tend to be one of the hardest home improvement projects, there can be a lot of mistakes to make. So if you want to avoid making mistakes, here are some things you should avoid while renovating your kitchen!
1. You skip the planning process
The biggest mistake a homeowner could ever make is needing a plan for the kitchen renovation. Since it’s not an easy project, there should be a planning stage to attain the goal. Without it, you can’t achieve your dream kitchen.
So first, put all your goal into writing. It doesn’t have to be organised right away. As long as you can list the changes you like for your kitchen, you can form a complete plan later on.
Planning kitchen renovations doesn’t mean you need to create a visual design. If you’re not an expert, hiring a kitchen designer may be the best option for you. Aside from organising your thoughts can also suggest how things can be functional.
2. You do it yourself
Doing things your way is fine. However, in some cases like renovating a kitchen, it’s best to just hire the right people.
Why should you hire a professional? First, it’ll be a lot cheaper since there’s a possibility that they don’t get things wrong. Second, they can accomplish something faster than you can. And lastly, it’s not going to be as stressful as you thought it’ll be since you’ll have to wait for their update.
Furthermore, hiring experts for your kitchen renovation isn’t a luxury but a necessity. So what if you can’t execute your plan? In the end, you’ll ask for professional help, so just call them in the first place.
3. You choose cheaper materials
If you’re ready to renovate your kitchen, it means you already have enough money to make it look better. And one of the things that can make it look better is to buy high-quality materials that will last long.
After all, if you buy cheap materials, you might end up buying again which makes you spend even more. But if you don’t know which is cheap and which isn’t, this is why you need to hire the builders. Aside from the actual work, they also know where to acquire the best materials.
They say it’s cheaper if you let the builders acquire the materials since they transact regularly. But it still depends on the materials. If they’re of high quality and you’re given discounts, that’s a great deal. However, if the materials are straight-up cheap, your builders may not be as trustworthy as you think.
4. You don’t set a budget
During the planning process, don’t forget to include the budgeting. You may come up with the best design and materials, but it’s also essential to be on the budget. Once you come up with the budget, stick with it.
Track all the transactions and payments you’ve made, and see if it fits your budget. However, at some point, you can spend more or less due to other factors as long as it’s not more than 20% of your target price.
Aside from that, why do you think setting a budget is important? Well, there may be other things you need to buy after the renovation. So instead of splurging solely on it, just spend the money on other important things.
5. You’re not considering the storage space
Kitchen renovations can also be a way to declutter, but it doesn’t mean you don’t need storage space. When planning for the design, make sure that there is enough storage for your essentials. That way, you can properly store your food supplies and other home needs.
Storage space doesn’t always have to be huge. For instance, you can add cabinets on top, below the sink, and under the kitchen island. Additionally, you can try the open shelves for decorative purposes.
Now that you know the most common mistakes homeowners make when having kitchen renovations, you should try better once it’s your turn. If you know of any other common mistakes related to this, share them by leaving a comment below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Aliana Baraquio is a web content writer working for Waratah Kitchens, a family-owned company that specialises in the design, supply, and installation of custom kitchens in Sydney since 1994. As a writer, she is passionate about providing good quality articles that will help readers in making the right choice.
