When it comes to the time to remodel your kitchen, then you can make it as simple and minimalistic as you like, or go to town with all the mod-cons. Kitchen remodeling takes some planning and care.
When you consider that so much of the daily activity of a household comes through the kitchen, your remodel could either help or hinder you. There are some must-have smart appliances for kitchens, but do you really need them all?
Here below are some tips to help you remodel your kitchen smoothly, and effectively. These may be especially helpful if you are intending to do much of the work yourself.
The importance of choosing the correct materials
Selecting the proper materials for your kitchen project is one of the key elements to making it work successfully. For instance, when choosing the flooring, consider the people using the kitchen. If you have a busy kitchen and a young family, maybe you need something hard-wearing.
Understanding which tools you need for the job
If you are an experienced home improvement enthusiast or work in this area professionally, then you will no doubt own a fair selection of tools. You may have your own workshop on-site and know the difference between a jigsaw and a bandsaw.
However, if you are less experienced and you are just assisting on the project, then bone up on this area. Understanding the usage of bandsaw will mean you will know when to use this tool in your project, and when not to.
Budget correctly
This can be easy to do, and difficult to stick with. Home improvements and construction plans can often spiral out of control as problems are found, or miscalculations are made.
Sometimes prices rise, or the materials you wanted have to be replaced with alternatives that cost more. You can help your budget though by selling off anything unwanted from the kitchen.
Upgrading your washing machine? Then sell the old one. While decluttering the kitchen, why not declutter the rest of the home too and have a garage sale?
Declutter the kitchen
When undertaking any kind of decorating or DIY, the only way to make sure the end result will be outstanding is to prepare the room properly. To ensure you know how to build your dream kitchen, start by decluttering it.
Decluttering the kitchen will mean that you remove things you are no longer using, and your new kitchen will start afresh.
Prepare the kitchen for its new look
Depending on how severe your remodeling project is, you may need to remove wall cupboards, strip wallpaper, take off tiles, and even remove the windows.
Once again, you will need to understand which tools to use. Reciprocating saws are very good for taking out items such as window frames.
Plan the positioning of your kitchen appliances
While you had to remove the appliances in the step above while you were stripping the kitchen, part of your planning will revolve around where to place them after.
You might be surprised at how many people forget to plan where their essential appliances are going when sketching out new kitchen designs.
A lot of people recommend the triangle rule when positioning their appliances. This means having the cooker, fridge, and sink, triangulated so that they are easy to switch between.
Consider electrical outlets and water pipes too. When planning, don’t forget to include adequate electrical outlets. Too many are better than too few.
Try putting upcycling into your plans
One way to keep your remodeling costs down, and be a little more eco-friendly, is to re-use some parts of your existing kitchen.
While you may need a new fridge, and want a smart faucet installed, do you really need to change the countertop or the cupboards?
As Treehugger points out, upcycling means turning what you already have, into something of more value. Simple treatments, or paint techniques, could turn old kitchen cupboards into something very new.
A bonus tip, check your measurements
This probably seems as if it is something that you carry out anyway, but mistakes are easy to make. And these mistakes could be costly.
Materials for any home renovation can be expensive. If you have chosen some quality materials for your worktops, and then you cut them short, it will be frustrating, and costly.
Double-check every measurement before you get to the bandsaw and start slicing.
Summary
Preparation is key to making a kitchen remodel go smoothly. Plan and draw out your new kitchen, even model it if possible. Set your budget, and find out the costs of everything including alternative replacements before you start.
Work out what materials you require, and how to operate all the tools needed. This won’t just mean that everything goes to plan, it will also help keep you safe. According to MedExpress, most DIY accidents involve the eyes and hands, so wear safety goggles and gloves too.
Declutter the kitchen, prepare the space, and get working. Hopefully sooner rather than too much later, you will be enjoying a brand new look to your kitchen.