If your home’s kitchen is looking a little worse for wear, then it may be time to plan a complete renovation. Of course, a kitchen renovation is a major undertaking—but if you make the right design choices, it can also be one of the smartest and most cost-effective home improvement projects out there.
And of course, renovating your existing kitchen comes with the excitement and freedom of creating a kitchen design that truly reflects your personal tastes and lifestyle. Still, the process of redoing a kitchen from top to bottom is inherently hectic. By keeping some basic tips in mind as you get started, you can tackle your kitchen renovation project with a little more confidence.
Tips for Designing the Perfect Kitchen
So, where should you start with your kitchen renovation project? It’s a good idea to take a tour of your own kitchen as it currently exists, making objective notes about what you like (and don’t like) about it. From there, you’ll have a better idea of the types of changes you wish to implement in your design.
As you embark on your kitchen renovation, there are a handful of other tips worth keeping in mind, too.
1. Decide on a Practical Layout
The overall layout of your kitchen can make a huge impact on its functionality. If your current kitchen lacks a cohesive layout, you may often find yourself feeling frazzled or stressed while you’re trying to prepare a meal. The ideal kitchen layout will include what’s known in the industry as a “work triangle.”
Essentially, this means that your layout should allow you to easily move between your stove, refrigerator, and sink while you’re cooking without being interrupted by foot traffic or other obstacles. Incorporating a solid work triangle into your new kitchen’s design can make your new space much more usable and will be worth the effort—even if it means potentially moving some appliances and/or utilities around.
2. Choose a Color Scheme
The right color scheme can add beauty and personality to your new kitchen space. Right now, bright and white kitchens are very popular. However, you’ll want to make sure you select a color scheme that will also work with your lifestyle. For many, white kitchens may seem like a good idea until it comes to keeping them clean.
3. Select the Right Materials
From countertops and flooring to backsplashes and cabinet hardware, you’ll need to make many material choices when designing your new kitchen. When considering different material options, be sure to think about things like:
- durability (especially for countertops and flooring)
- overall appearance
- cost/budget
- maintenance
For example, granite is a very popular countertop material; not only does it come in an endless range of colors and styles, but it is also quite cost-effective and durable. However, it does require some maintenance in the form of regular sealing. If you’d prefer to avoid any maintenance on your kitchen countertops, you may instead want to explore quartz, which has a similar appearance and durability but does not require any sealing or other ongoing maintenance.
4. Don’t Overlook Lighting
One of the most common mistakes people make when designing a kitchen is not putting enough care into their lighting choices. You’ll want to make sure that you have plenty of bright task lighting, especially in areas of the kitchen where you’ll be prepping food. However, mood lighting or ambient lighting are also important; pendant lights installed above a kitchen island or breakfast bar can create some lovely ambience, as can under cabinet lighting. Be sure to fully explore your options here.
5. Consider Future Resale Value
When making decisions about your kitchen design, of course you want to prioritize your own personal taste. However, it’s also a good idea to think about how your decisions might affect the resale value of your home in the future. This is especially important if you plan on selling your home within the next few years. If this is the case, then you may want to stick with more “tried-and-true” kitchen design ideas rather than going for something too bold.
What’s Next?
Once you have a better idea of what you want your new kitchen to look like, all that’s left to do is to get started! Depending on your level of experience with remodeling work, you might choose to tackle the project yourself or hire a professional home contractor to assist you. From there, you can turn your vision of a dream kitchen into reality!