The kitchen is arguably the most important room in your house, so you don't want to get your remodel wrong. A kitchen renovation is no cheap feat, and you don't want to have to pay to fix avoidable mistakes.
We've asked some design experts to weigh in and share their top tips with us so you can ace your new kitchen design. These often-forgotten tips will set you up for success.
1. Kitchen Layout is Key
No matter how stylish your kitchen is, if the layout isn't optimal, you won't enjoy using it. Planning your kitchen layout should be one of the first things you do in your renovation.
When it comes to designing the layout, you can always fall back on the trusty kitchen work triangle rule. This rule says that you should always be able to draw a triangle between your kitchen sink, where you wash and prepare food, the fridge, and your oven. Ideally, you would minimise the distance between the three points while leaving enough room so you're not cramped.
A more modern approach to planning your kitchen layout is designing it with the different zones in mind. Some of the zones you might consider include:
- food preparation zone
- clean up zone
- area for your guests
- eating and drinking zone.
You'll need to find a balance between minimising the distance between zones while maximising the work area to have an optimal kitchen layout.
However, if you need help designing a kitchen layout, there are classic types of layouts you can check out, like these two:
- Galley layout: It can be an excellent option if you have a small space. It’s characterised by having two walls facing each other, separated by a three-to-five-foot walkway. It allows you to make the most out of small spaces without sacrificing functionality.
- Island kitchen layout: It can be a perfect choice if you intend to have a larger kitchen. It’s a functional layout wherein the island serves as a traffic controller to keep the natural flow in the area. One of the good things about this layout is that a kitchen island can transform a one-wall kitchen into other layouts, like the galley-like style.
While planning the layout, you'll also want to consider how much storage space you want seriously. The layout you choose will impact how much storage is available.
You can move to the design process once you pick the appropriate kitchen layout. It involves using and combining layouts, appliance arrangements, and other details to develop your desired kitchen design.
However, if you need assistance, you can always work with professionals specialising in kitchen design. This way, you can renovate your kitchen successfully.
2. Choose Your Appliances Early and Give Them Enough Space
One of the most common kitchen renovation mistakes people make is waiting until the end to choose their appliances. This is something you should be doing in the early stages.
The size and dimensions of your kitchen island, countertops, cabinetry, shelving, and more all impact what appliances you can have. Planning this out before selecting your appliances can limit your options significantly.
You'll need more space for these appliances than just the dimensions listed too. Remember you'll need to allow for clearance spaces for adequate airflow, space for them to be plugged into a power source, and sufficient room for any plumbing fixtures and pipes they might need.
3. Use Your Existing Plumbing as Much as Possible
If you're looking to save yourself from some stress as well as hold onto a bit of extra money, use your kitchen's existing plumbing as much as you can. Plumbers from Jim's Plumbing have revealed that one of the most common reasons people's kitchen renovation budgets blow out is that they don't factor in the extra costs of moving your plumbing around.
Moving plumbing means you'll need to pay for the new parts as well as all the labour that goes into moving it - and it's no simple job! This means pulling up your floor, making holes in your walls, and more to move your sink to a new location or install a new water line.
If you're happy with the placement of your kitchen sink, dishwasher, and anything else that's connected to water or gas, it's wise to leave it as is.
4. Don't Underestimate the Number of Power sockets You Need
With toasters, air fryers, coffee machines, and more, your kitchen is home to a number of energy guzzlers. Your fridge-freezer, cooking appliances, and dishwasher account for 11.5% of your home's energy bill alone!
When you think about how many appliances are left plugged in all the time, the number of Power sockets you need quickly stacks up. Here are just some of the ones that are plugged in constantly in most homes:
- fridge/freezer
- microwave
- rangehood
- dishwasher.
Then you'll want at least three more that you can plug in the appliances that get stored away too! Make sure you and your designer work with a trustworthy electrician when it comes to this matter and the electrical work at large.
5. Function Over Style, Always
Now comes the fun part of a kitchen remodel- picking out your backsplash, kitchen cabinets, tapware, and everything else that goes into styling your new kitchen. Above all else, the things you choose need to be functional. That fancy matte black tap looks good now, but you might not be so happy when it's faded in a few years.
This includes things like lighting too. A modern hanging pendant light over your island bench can take your kitchen's aesthetic to a whole new level, but if the lighting in the rest of your kitchen is subpar, it'll be too dark to see it in the first place.
While you want your dream kitchen to come to life, it's important you also factor in the functionality of everything. Renovating your kitchen can be stressful, especially if you're going to it alone. With these five tips in mind, you're set to perfect your kitchen remodel.
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