Your kitchen remodel should be based on your family’s needs and how you use your kitchen. It should also keep resale value in mind, opting for timeless aesthetics rather than trends that might fade quickly.
Choosing what appliances you want early on will help ensure they fit and affect the layout. Newer appliances often have smart features that can make your kitchen more efficient and convenient to work in.
Think About Storage
If there’s one thing that can derail the most well-planned kitchen remodel, it needs more storage. Cluttered countertops and cabinets can quickly overwhelm any kitchen, causing the space to feel unkempt and dysfunctional.
Consider the different zones of your kitchen to determine what specific types of storage you will need. For example, your cooking zone will require a dedicated area for pots and pans. You should include a pantry in your design or use a pull-out pan rack to make storing these items more efficient.
You can also find innovative ways to fit more storage into your kitchen without removing walls or changing floor plans. For instance, you might place a lazy Susan turntable in a cabinet to store smaller items that would otherwise be difficult to access.
Think About Lighting
The right lighting can make all the difference in your kitchen remodel Tacoma. It can enhance aesthetics, improve functionality, and even save energy. By using different types of lights, considering the color temperature, and incorporating dimmer switches, you can create the perfect kitchen for your needs.
Accent lighting is also a great way to highlight certain features in your kitchen, such as artwork or unique architectural elements. This can be done using various options, such as spotlights or directional track lighting.
When choosing lighting, it is important to consider both resale value and your family’s specific needs. For example, bright overhead lights can be too harsh for a family meal. A chandelier over the dining area or pendant lighting would be more suitable.
Think About the Layout
When it comes to kitchen remodels, the layout of your new space can be a huge deciding factor in whether or not your project is a success. Think about how you use your kitchen and your goals for the space, then create a floor plan to accomplish those objectives.
Make sure that your work zones are set up properly to maximize efficiency. Please don’t place the refrigerator too far away from the stove, for example, as that will make it harder to prepare food or get drinks from one to the other.
Also, consider the layout of your corner cabinets, ensuring they have enough clearance to open without banging into each other or obstructing the primary path through your kitchen. Low-profile cabinet hardware and appliance handles can also make tight corners more functional.
Think About the Appliances
If you have many appliances or plan on adding any new ones, it’s important to think about them early on in your kitchen remodel. This is because they can eat up a lot of space and affect the layout of your cabinetry, electrical, and plumbing systems.
You also want to consider your cooking and entertaining habits. For example, if you like to cook a lot and use a variety of pots, pans, and appliances, a professional-grade model might be worth the investment.
You also want to make sure your appliances match the design style you’re going for. For example, if you’re leaning toward a more modern or transitional design, you’ll want to choose appliances that fit this aesthetic. The old carpentry adage “measure twice, cut once” also applies here.
Think About the Countertops
If you don’t take the time to consider how you use your kitchen and how you plan on using it in the future, your remodel is likely to have some major “oh no” moments. This is especially true when it comes to the countertops.
Choose a durable countertop material that matches your cabinets and coordinates with other elements in the room. Having some flexibility in color options is also helpful. For example, if you plan on using your kitchen for lots of chopping, butcher block may be a better choice than marble.
Kitchen remodeling can be a fun and rewarding project. However, it’s important to remember that the more you include in your design, the bigger the budget and the longer the process will be.
