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Whether you regularly try to emulate Julia Child in the kitchen or are the type of cook to burn water, you can surely agree that the kitchen is the beating heart of the house. It helps keep your family fed and can be a wonderful room for building memories and doing things together.
Your current kitchen, however, may not exactly be the dream space you’ve always had in mind. But that doesn’t mean that an incredible kitchen isn’t within reach.
Before you start ripping out cabinets, here are some key things to consider when designing your kitchen:
Things to Consider When Designing Your Kitchen
Expert’s Advice
It can be tempting to tackle home renovations yourself, especially if you’re an avid DIYer. While it might help you save a bit of money on labor costs, there are some jobs best left to professionals.
Making a mistake during a kitchen renovation might incur plenty of costs in the future, and jobs involving wiring or plumbing can be dangerous.
Professional kitchen designers can be an incredible help if you’re thinking of renovating your kitchen. They can connect you with budget materials, outline a budget and work timeline, and give you key tips for getting the most out of your new kitchen.
Layout
Whether you’re remodeling or starting completely from scratch, you’ll want to consider the layout of the room. First, the location of plumbing and electrical wires can guide the design of the whole kitchen as moving them can be costly and difficult.
If you decide to move the sink, for example, make sure to hire a qualified plumber to do the job. Otherwise, let the room’s basic design guide the choice you make. Working with the existing layout can save plenty of money and make the process much easier!
Budget
Designing your dream kitchen can quickly turn into a major cost. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to save when renovating or redesigning your kitchen. Choosing cheaper materials and tackling smaller jobs yourself will help keep you well within the budget.
Another great idea is to opt for refurbishing parts of your kitchen rather than completely replacing them. Outdated cabinets can be easily spruced up with a bit of paint or with new hardware.
You can keep your appliances, assuming they’re all in working order, and focus more on the aesthetic aspects of your kitchen. You might also consider sourcing recycled materials for your countertop, flooring, or cabinets if possible.
Design
In designing kitchens, architects pay special attention to the space between the sink, the stove, and the fridge. As a cook, you’ll be crossing this distance plenty on a daily basis, and there’s no reason for cooking dinner to turn into a marathon.
You’ll want the space between these key areas to be limited, while still allowing free range of movement. Corners are another thing to avoid as you can catch on them easily, plus they make the room less space-efficient.
Counter Space
The key operational space in your kitchen will, invariably, be the countertops. Choose a high-quality material that packs a visual punch. Many people love the durability and elegance of marble, but there are plenty of good-quality laminate and wood options as well.
If you have kids, having some counter space at their level could help engage them in the process of cooking, or give them a nice spot to snack while mom and dad are in the kitchen.
If you’ve got room for it, installing an island is a great way to create more counter space, while also providing a central spot for your family to gather.
Visual Impact
While the layout of your kitchen will determine how pleasant it is to cook in, the visual choice will make a big impact on how you (and your guests) feel about it.
Many homeowners aim for a design and color scheme that matches the rest of the house, but it’s key to choose an aesthetic that fits your personal preferences.
Surprisingly, the visual impact of your kitchen is, to a large extent, determined by small but key choices. Even using colors in unique ways can completely transform your kitchen!
Pay special attention to focal points, such as the backsplash and countertops. Well-placed lighting is also an inexpensive way to draw the eye towards design focal points.
Don’t Give Up On Your Dream Kitchen!
Your kitchen’s design helps determine how much you like to use it. An aesthetically pleasing, well-designed kitchen is easy and safe to use and encourages people to gather. Parties always move to the kitchen, don’t they?
With these few key tips in mind, you can ensure that the design process ends with you, cooking happily in the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of having.