9 Things to Keep in Mind for Your Kitchen Renovation
Kitchens are considered the heart of the home, so when it’s time for a remodel of the space, it can feel equally as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. The renovation of any space in your home is a big deal, but the features of your kitchen aren’t as easily remedied as a living or bedroom should you make design mistakes.
To ensure you get it right the first time, make sure you’ve considered a few often-forgotten details that may escape your brain in favor of paint color options and open shelving possibilities. Read on for several commonly overlooked issues that can complicate a kitchen remodel after it’s all said and done.
1. Trash and Recycling Bins
You’ve selected the perfect pantry doors and settled on the right tile for the floors, but have you considered where some of the more unsightly details will live in your space? Kitchen renovations are notably expensive and time-consuming, and it can be easy to forget to take care of even seemingly simple details during the planning process.
As you consider new faucet colors and lighting options, make sure you have a plan for where your trash, recycling and, if you have one, compost bins will go. The sooner you have a plan for how to fit your trash bins into your kitchen space, the more time you free up to think of all the other, more fun elements of the remodel.
2. Storage Details
Whether you’re starting from square one with your cabinetry or you’re simply upgrading your existing layout, it’s a great time to figure out how to make your storage spaces work better for you and your lifestyle. Creative storage details make your kitchen a more functional place, but they also find ways to maximize the space you do have to work with in order to reduce visual clutter and create a cleaner, more accessible space.
The inside of your cabinets and drawers are just as important as the outside aesthetic and should be examined during the planning stages to reach the full potential of the areas. Decide where smaller appliances should be stored, how pots and pans can be hung or tucked into drawers, what pullouts or dividers you can include in the pantry and what shelving and compartment solutions you need to ensure everything has a designated place.
3. Landing Spaces
The more counter space you can free up during your renovation, the more open and relaxed your kitchen will feel when it’s all over. Plan the space to maximize potential landing spaces that will work for every meal, every holiday, every family event and every time of day.
If given the choice to cut down on counter space to put in other features, think twice. Your kitchen benefits from as many landing spaces as possible, so if you need to cut into wall-counter space in order to accommodate a cabinet extension, you may want to replace that space with an island or by adding supports to extend counters beyond their current limits.
4. Backsplash
In order to create a truly beautiful and cohesive space, all aesthetic design elements need to hold a similar weight. The backsplash of your space is a significant feature, so it’s important to make big decisions regarding the materials, colors, designs and layout at the same time you select new countertops, flooring and cabinet fronts.
5. The Work Triangle
Your kitchen should be as beautiful as it is functional. Envision how a new layout would affect how you move around in the space as you’re working. Draw a triangle, whether on paper or in your head, between the sink, refrigerator and stove and ensure no major structural changes impede the flow of movement within this work triangle.
It may seem insignificant at first, but if these high-traffic areas are blocked by poorly placed corners or odd placements, you may want to consider a new layout entirely. A fluid workflow within your space should make all three of these areas efficient and accessible in location. Any blockages or ill-conceived layouts could have you frustrated in the future as you’re forced to navigate obstacles just to complete basic kitchen tasks.
6. Appliances
Before you start erecting new cabinet systems and moving the pantry across the room, make sure you have selected appliances to fit the measurements of your newly renovated space. Ensure, as well, that you choose options that won’t conflict with your other design plans. If it won’t be possible to open the dishwasher and an adjacent drawer or cabinet at the same time, scrap those plans and find something more functional.
7. Practical Details
Though the end goal is to maximize utility, it takes a great deal of creativity to get there. Thinking outside the box when it comes to the practical details of your space will not only make things easier during the renovation process, as you’ll have less to take care of after the dust clears, but it also provides you with an opportunity to consider unique ways to use traditional spaces.
To get started in this line of thinking, walk through all the ways you navigate your kitchen on a daily basis. Consider beautiful, creative details that integrate your day-to-day habits into the space, from chalkboard-front countertops intended for grocery lists to decorative hooks and railings to hang brooms and foldable step stools.
8. Dining Spaces
Even with a designated dining room, there is a likely chance you and your family will eat at least a few meals in the kitchen space itself. Look for ways to incorporate as much seating near available countertops as possible, or carve out a space in the corner for a smaller dining table for casual mealtimes or homework sessions.
9. Family Member Needs
Ultimately, your kitchen should consider the needs of every member of your household, including children and pets. Make the space a nicer place for your whole family by including thoughtful details such as a pet food station, a kid-friendly snack area or a special nook to have quick family breakfasts before everyone heads to work or school for the day.
Conclusion
Your kitchen should feel like a welcoming place your family can gather for years to come. Considering deliberate details early in the process will ensure a functional, beautiful space for decades.
