7 Steps to Remodeling Your Kitchen

Remodeling your kitchen is a substantial project that requires a lot of planning and saving. Although kitchen renovations aren’t cheap, you can save money by completing some of the work yourself and hiring trusted contractors who are upfront about their pricing and timespan. The planning phase of your remodeling may take as long as the construction process, but there are several online resources for remodeling techniques and styles available for free.

1. Make a Plan

Planning is essential to a successful renovation project, but be prepared to make adjustments to your plan if problems occur during the remodeling process. Everything may look fine on paper, but when you begin the project, you may find that aspects of your plan are not physically possible to implement. For instance, if you want a six-burner unit installed in the center of the kitchen, you’ll have to install a hood ventilator that was not included in your original plans. Problems and minor accidents can occur with DIY projects and professional jobs, but if you remain flexible with your goals, the remodeling process can be less frustrating.

2. Decide on Contractors

You should spend a considerable amount of time researching potential contractors and decide which aspects of the project you may want to attempt without outside help. Avoid doing a friend or family member a favor by allowing an inexperienced builder to handle your kitchen project. Dealing with the building, electrical system, plumbing fixtures, and appliance installation are not tasks for amateurs, and only a licensed, highly rated contractor should be considered. Check message boards and contractor sites for reviews and recommendations and ask any friends with attractive new kitchens who they used for their remodeling.

3. Choose a Color Scheme

Once you have a structural plan for your kitchen project, you can decide on the color scheme. Before you order countertops, cabinets or paint, it’s helpful to have an idea of how your wall color will coordinate with the rest of the kitchen. You may want to have professional paint kitchen cabinets rather than purchasing new ones. If your cabinets are functional and well built, you’ll save money by having them refinished or painted.

4. Improve the Lighting

A remodeling job is a perfect time to replace the lighting fixtures you hate and add more lighting in poorly lit areas of the kitchen. In general, it’s more important for safety to have better lighting in the kitchen than any other room in the house. If you spend a lot of time chopping vegetables and using your stove and oven, you should install efficient LED lights to conserve energy and provide years of light in your kitchen. A well-lit kitchen can minimize accidents caused by energetic children or an impatient amateur chef, and you have many options for lamps and lighting fixtures that vary in price and styles.

5. Install New Counters

A new counter can improve your working space and the overall design of your kitchen. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to spend the bulk of their remodeling budget on a premium marble countertop that will make their family or friends envious. There are a wide number of countertop materials to choose from, but some of the most popular options are marble, quartz, granite, soapstone, concrete, hardwood and stainless steel.

6. Install Appliances

After installing the countertop, you can connect your appliances. Be sure that your appliances are correctly adjusted with concern to the plumbing and electrical outlets. Accidents can occur when improperly installed devices cause an electrical short or fire.

7. Replace Flooring

Your flooring should be one of the last things to modify when you remodel the kitchen. Since you’ll probably move heavy equipment and appliances around your floor during the renovation, it’s better to replace the floor last to minimize any tears, stains and scrapes on a brand-new floor.

Remodeling any room in the house is an immense project, but with thorough planning and research, you can create a world-class kitchen without experiencing frustration.