Renovating your kitchen can be an exciting yet challenging project. It’s the heart of your home, a place where culinary creativity happens and where family and friends gather. From planning to the final result, there’s a lot to take into consideration. To help you navigate this transformation with ease, we’ve compiled our top kitchen renovation tips.
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Plan Ahead
Lets dive straight in, first and foremost when discussing any kitchen renovation tips is to thoroughly assess and plan ahead. Careful planning is crucial for any renovation project. Start by identifying your needs and wants. What doesn’t work in your current kitchen? What do you want to achieve with the new space? It’s all too common to dive in head first when making a decision, only to realise you missed out on key fundamentals later on. The best way to counteract this is to create a detailed list and prioritise.
- Kitchen renovation cost: Budgeting is another key aspect. Decide how much you’re willing to spend and stick to it. It’s advised to set aside an additional 10-20% for unexpected costs.
- Timeline: Set realistic goals for each phase of the renovation and allow for flexibility. Delays can happen, so plan for them to avoid frustration.
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Hire Professionals
Unless you’re an experienced DIYer, it’s best to hire professionals for major tasks. An experienced contractor can handle the complexities of the renovation and ensure the work is done in adherence to health and safety regulations.
- Choosing the right contractor: Get recommendations, read reviews, and check credentials. Obtain multiple quotes, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about their previous work and timelines.
- Design professionals: We’ve all been there, scouring the internet for kitchen renovation ideas. However, when it comes into play, it’s worth considering hiring a kitchen designer to maximise functionality and aesthetics. They can offer invaluable insights and solutions that you mightnot have considered.
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Functional Layout
A well-designed kitchen layout can make all the difference. Follow the kitchen work triangle rule, which connects the sink, stove, and refrigerator in a triangle layout for easy, efficient workflow.
- Consider traffic flow: Ensure there’s enough space for people to move around, especially if it’s a high-traffic area. Leave enough room for doors and drawers to open without obstruction.
- Storage solutions: You’ll be surprised how many little nooks and crannies can be utilised and turned into effective storage, which is particularly useful if you have a small kitchen. Maximise storage with smart solutions like pull-out shelves, corner cabinets, and vertical storage. Think about what you use most and ensure it’s easily accessible.
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Quality Materials
Next up in our kitchen renovation tips is to invest in quality materials that will stand the test of time. While it might be tempting to cut costs, cheaper materials may wear out quickly and cost more in the long run.
- Cabinets: Opt for solid wood or plywood for durability.
- Worktops: Whilst cheap kitchen worktops may cost less initially, materials like quartz, granite, or ceramic offer longevity and easy maintenance. Plus, they add a touch of luxury to the finished result! So, whether you decide to choose a black granite worktop or prefer white quartz kitchen worktops, you can rest assured there will be something to suit everyone.
- Flooring: Choose durable and easy-to-clean options like tile, hardwood, or luxury vinyl, especially if you have a busy household with children or pets.
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Lighting Matters
The kitchen is more than a place to prepare food. It’s where families gather together and socialise and often acts as a work-from-home space at the kitchen table. Therefore, good lighting is essential. Combine task lighting, ambient lighting, and accent lighting to create a bright, inviting space.
- Task lighting: Install under-cabinet lights to illuminate work areas.
- Ambient lighting: Consider recessed ceiling lights or a central fixture to provide general lighting.
- Accent lighting: Use pendant lights or a spotlight track to add style and highlight specific areas.
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Don’t Forget Ventilation
Proper ventilation is crucial to keep your kitchen odour-free and to prolong the life of your appliances and cabinetry. Invest in a good cooker hood that vents to the outside.
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Temporary Kitchen Setup
Two of the most disruptive projects to take place are kitchen and bathroom renovations, especially if it takes several weeks. As work commences, be prepared and set up a temporary kitchen in another part of your home. By doing so, this helps to maintain normalcy and enabling you somewhere to create meals for the family. Consider buying ready-made foods or foods that require minimal preparation and using small appliances like a microwave, toaster oven, and electric kettle.
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Communicate Clearly
It’s important to maintain clear communication with your contractor and other professionals involved in the renovation. Regular updates can help address issues promptly, keep the project on track and completed on time.
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Be Flexible and Patient
Renovations can be unpredictable and not always straight-forward. One of the kitchen renovation tips we always advise is to stay flexible and patient if unexpected challenges arise. Keep your eye on the end goal, and remember that the inconvenience is temporary.
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Enjoy the Process
Lastly, try to enjoy the renovation process. While it can be stressful, creating a space that reflects your style and needs is also an exciting opportunity. The end result will be a beautiful kitchen you can enjoy for many years to come.
High-Quality Worktops from Stone Synergy
We understand having a new kitchen installed can be an overwhelming task and a disruptive experience; that’s why it’s important to invest in quality materials that stand the test of time. At Stone Synergy, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of granite kitchen worktops, ceramic worktops and quartz kitchen worktops in a wide variety of colours. Our worktops can be measured, cut and delivered in just 7-10 working days and come with a 25-year material warranty.
Now we’ve covered our kitchen renovation tips, if you’re ready to take the next steps, call our friendly team. We’ll be happy to assist with any queries you may have, or get a free, no-obligation quote.
