You’ve decided to give your kitchen a complete makeover – good for you! But now what? Many homeowners don’t know where to begin, and they usually end up changing their minds 10 times before selecting a color for their cabinets. First, you must assess the space you have available. That kitchen island you saw on a blog looks great, but if it doesn’t fit in your kitchen, you can forget about it. Sometimes less is more in home décor; here are some essential tips for remodeling a kitchen.
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Layout matters the most
More than any other room in your home, the kitchen has to be functional and practical. Use the space you have available in the smartest way possible. First, deal with the work triangle – refrigerator, sink and stove. They have to be close to each other. If you can arrange the sink close to a window, that’s even better. If you want to add a kitchen island, make sure there’s plenty of space left for you to move around. You can always invest in a wheeled cart to help keep your things organized.
Get help from professionals
It’s impossible for beginners to remodel a complete kitchen by themselves. It’s ok to go down the DIY route, but at some point you will need help with plumbing and installation of electrical appliances. Visit cabinet showrooms and big-box stores first before purchasing things from the web. Also, if you’re hiring a professional, make sure he’s trusted. Get referrals from family and friends, choose a contractor that knows what he’s doing.
As far as DIY projects are concerned, there are lots of ingenious ideas to try out. Don’t throw away your old cabinets; remove the doors, repaint them and you’ve got yourself an open cabinet. Use a woodchopper to trim the doors and transform them into shelves. Place them above the sink and decorate with plates and bowls.
Decide on a style
It’s always nice to decide on a style before decorating with furniture and accessories. Of course, you can always mix things up. Modern kitchens have the tendency to look cold and impersonal; but if you add classic decorations like traditionally-inspired table cloths or vintage china, you’ll certainly manage to make the whole space seem warmer. Painted kitchens are another smart way of defining your style. Shades of light blue and yellow are ideal for a contemporary kitchen, whereas dark brown and cherry are more suitable for cottage-inspired kitchens.
Have a budget in mind
Remodeling a kitchen can end up costing thousands of dollars; if you can’t afford to spend that kind of money, it’s always a good idea to settle on a budget. Try not to exceed it. Check out home stores and kitchen showrooms to have a general idea of the price involved for a makeover. If you choose to order things from the web, don’t overlook shipping costs; since we’re talking about hefty items you could end up paying a lot of money for that dream kitchen island that you want so much. Quality shouldn’t be overlooked either and try to stay away from items that are completely unnecessary. Fancy appliances can wait, flooring and good quality furniture can’t.
Smart accessorizing
Now that you have the furniture and the appliances, it’s time to accessorize. Once again, don’t go over budget and put your money to good use. For example, invest in flower pots and seeds. Plant rosemary, thyme, parsley and basil to make your kitchen seem livelier and fresh. You can always use these herbs when you’re cooking. A spice rank will come in handy, as well as a set of jars for coffee, sugar and tea. All these affordable accessories will make your kitchen seem functional and practical. They’re cheap and can be easily purchased from any type of general store or supermarket.
Remodeling a kitchen to make it seem new and interesting doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. As long as you can adhere to a budget, things will turn out great. Get inspired from the web, use DIY projects for décor, and consultwith a professional to help you with the heavy work. Feel free to personalize it according to your own preferences; paint the cabinets in unusual colors, add flower pots, nice linens and colorful kitchenware, and cooking will become such a satisfying activity.
