A kitchen is often considered the heart of any home – it’s not only a place for cooking, but also a room to hang out with your friends, gather with your family, or enjoy occasional drinks with your loved ones. When designed correctly, a kitchen can be a highlight of the entire home.
But even if your kitchen seemed elegant a few years ago, with time, it can wear out. Don’t worry, though – remodelling can deal with that. Before starting an improvement project, you’ll need to consider several important factors – for example, whether some cabinet re-dooring will do or you need to take the whole place down.
We’ve prepared this short guide to help ensure your kitchen renovation is as smooth as possible.
The Right Size
It is extremely important to choose the optimal size for your kitchen. If it’s too small, no renovation will make it look bigger. If it’s too big, you’ll have a hard time arranging everything inside. You must also consider the ratio between volumes and surfaces. Solid worktops should be no higher than 30 cm – otherwise, the space will seem cluttered. As a result, you’ll have to grab some cooking utensils from the cupboard which will take even more time.
Wall-mounted kitchens should not be higher than 50 cm. Otherwise, you’ll run into the same problem – as well as getting a hard time opening the doors.
Layout
The layout of your kitchen says a lot about how convenient it is – and how comfortable it is to cook in it. Use Kitchen Tune-Up’s kitchen cabinet design tool to help ensure you make the most of the space available to you. For example, if you want to install a lot of utensils on an upper shelf, you should choose a kitchen with an upper cupboard.
Most importantly, you should consider the house style when choosing the kitchen layout – for example, installing a buffet station in the corner will look great in modern or vintage homes, but will make classic style kitchens more crowded.
Lighting
The lighting of your kitchen affects both day-to-day functionality and the overall look and ambience of the room. When choosing lighting fixtures, you should ensure that they match each other in terms of style and size. We also recommend choosing light bulbs that emit warm light – otherwise, your kitchen will seem colder than usual.
Countertops
Replacing countertops makes a big difference, especially if you take the overall kitchen design into account. Besides, it’s extremely important to choose materials that will withstand the wear and tear of daily activities.
Granite countertops are the most popular choice when it comes to kitchen remodelling. But if you’re looking for a modern look, consider adding stone surfaces, engineered stone or even different types of laminate.
Flooring
When choosing flooring, you should consider the amount of traffic your kitchen gets. If you have a lot of traffic, you should use natural stone tiles or wood to avoid the floor getting damaged quickly.
You should also choose flooring materials that match the overall design of your kitchen. For example, stoneware flooring will look perfect in a rustic kitchen. Whereas, wood flooring will look great in a modern or vintage-style kitchen.
Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers
The cabinets and drawers are probably the most important element of a kitchen because they are what will keep your utensils and ingredients. Ensure that your cabinets and drawers fit your space well but aren’t too deep and take up too much space.
Custom kitchen cabinets with glass doors are a great choice for a showroom-type kitchen where you can see what you need without opening the doors.
Drawers come in various widths, so you should take stock of what utensils are most convenient for each drawer size. For example, deeper drawers are great for storing linens or china. For cutlery and cooking utensils, a shallower drawer will serve your needs perfectly well.
Choosing Appliances
Choosing the right appliances will make your life easier every day. Consider the shapes and sizes of these appliances in relation to the style of your kitchen. For example, modern electric appliances look great in a classic kitchen with beautiful oak cabinets.
To make your life easier in the future, be sure to choose appliances that don’t require constant attention. You should also choose appliances that match each other in terms of size – for example, if you want to install a dishwasher and a stovetop, their sizes should match. Failure to do this will only result in wasted space.
The Bottom Line
Remodelling your kitchen is no easy feat as there are so many things to consider – from layout and lighting to choosing the right flooring and countertops. The key thing to remember during your renovation is to consider both the practicality and aesthetics of your kitchen. These suggestions will help you create a space that allows you to comfortably cook your meals, have enough space to store your ingredients and utensils and socialize with your loved ones.
