One of the best spaces in your home is the kitchen. It’s where most of the time is spent with family and friends. Unfortunately, your kitchen isn’t what you’d always dreamed of. Renovating a kitchen takes a lot of time, work, and commitment. The hard work is worth it though when you see the vision of your dream kitchen come to life. Before taking the plunge and renovating your kitchen, follow these five steps:
Outline a Plan
The very first step of any renovation is formulating a plan. Take the time to think about what you want and any new features you’d like to add. Keep in mind whether you’re doing the renovation more for storage space or for more counter space. Think about all the functions the kitchen will serve. Is the kitchen just for cooking or will you be hosting dinners there as well? These details will help create an optimal plan and design. This plan should also include the cabinet styles, countertops, and appliances you’d like to add which will help you determine a budget.
Hire a Contractor
While you may be a master of DIY, kitchen renovations should be left to the professionals. The help of a contractor will give you a better chance of achieving your dream kitchen. They will take your vision and make it real. When working with a contractor they can help you stay on budget, keep to codes and regulations, stay on schedule, and get your project up and running. When choosing a contractor, you’ll want to find one you feel comfortable working with. Don’t be shy about asking for references or running a background check. Your kitchen will be in their hands so you need to be able to trust them.
Look at the Space
Before anything plans are finalized, talk with your contractor about your plans and what you see your kitchen becoming. He or she will be able to tell you what is possible with the space you have now and what would need to be taken out of the plan. The final design should factor in the budget and must have appliances or features. By the time you’ve both laid of the specific plan for the space, you should be able to see through software or blueprints what the final design of your kitchen will look like.
Start Shopping
Once you and your contractor have worked together and finalized the plan for your kitchen, it’s time to have some fun. This is the step where you can buy whatever your budget will allow. This is the time to purchase kitchen cabinets, sinks, light fixtures, countertops, colors, finishes, and new appliances. When buying these specific items, think about whether you’d like to save more money on this step or if you’d rather spend more money. Sometimes it’s better to go for the cheaper appliances and features just in case an issue arises during the renovation that will require a little extra cash.
Before the Big Day
Before you begin swinging the sledgehammer, prepare yourself for the renovations. Be sure to remove any decorations, food, dishes, or anything else from the kitchen that could possibly get broken or ruined in the renovation. Clean put everything before the remodel so everything will go smoothly. Set up a space in your home that will act as a kitchen during the renovations to make the transition a bit easier. Buy a cooler or factor in eating out into the budget. There is no such thing as being too prepared to renovating for your dream kitchen.
