When planning a kitchen remodel, homeowners often focus on the finished product: gorgeous flooring, state-of-the-art appliances, brand-new fixtures – the whole shebang. Or, they’ll go straight to imagining how much easier a functional kitchen will make their life – not to mention how it will make them the envy of their friends and neighbors. To be fair, this can be a lot more fun than planning the layout of the said kitchen. However, ensuring you have the optimum kitchen design layout is vital.
Put another way: without a great design, a kitchen with the finest of everything will not reach its full potential. There are some tenets for designing a kitchen. Some may seem obvious, but it’s amazing how often basic necessities are minimized, if not overlooked when designing a kitchen. Look at it this way: the kitchen is often the nerve center of the home. It deserves some extra attention and thought!
Enough storage space for appliances and other items
If you’re forced to leave a toaster oven, blender and a mixer out because you’ve got nowhere to put them, the clutter could eventually overwhelm the space.
Ample counter space to accommodate all activities
Take stock of everything you do in the kitchen, from cooking to homework.
Sufficient room for several people to move about comfortably
This is subjective, as families vary in size (consider how much time you spend in the kitchen and how often you have guests in there). A cramped space can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to have an impromptu dance party.
Exposure to natural light, as well as quality lighting in general
Most household accidents occur in the kitchen, and it stands to reason that the better you can see when handling a butcher knife, the better.
Proximity to an entrance
When you’re lugging groceries into the house, every foot can make a difference.
Allow space for open doors
Whenever possible, space your layout so you won’t have to close your oven door in order to open the refrigerator, your dishwasher won’t bump into your cupboard door, etc.
Consider the triangle
A kitchen “triangle” consists of three main components: the sink, the refrigerator, and the stove. In the ideal efficient kitchen, the three sides add up to a minimum of 12 feet, with a maximum of 23 feet. Decide where you want to situate each and go from there.
Take finances into account
Any remodel is expensive and can easily spin out of control once the gears are set in motion. There are a few things you can do that may help you get a handle on the process. You can consult with a realtor to ascertain how much your home may be worth and how much a new kitchen may add to its value. Use the internet to research tips on how to keep your expenditures down. Look at financing for the major pieces of the remodel, such as cabinetry. Also, consider doing some of the easier portions of the remodel, such as demolition, yourself. Finally, ask yourself how much you really need to alter your kitchen’s current layout. Some of the most expensive parts of a remodel are moving water lines, gas piping, and adding new wiring; if you can keep the existing infrastructure, it’s a huge win for your wallet.
Look at kitchen designs and materials in person
The beauty of the internet is that we can obtain just about anything within a few minutes with the click of a button. You have access to unlimited design options and accessories online. While this is nothing short of miraculous, it’s crucial to view many of these elements in person to get a “real feel” for them. There’s a big difference between how something looks on your screen and how it will appear in your kitchen. There is no substitute for laying your eyes on something before you buy it.
Go with what you want
Above all, this is your home. The great part about that is that you can exert ultimate control over how it looks. Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the endless amount of data available or what experts might say. Sure, there are basic structural guidelines that you need to adhere to, but you should get the kitchen that will fit your needs and style, not necessarily what’s trendy.
There you have it. There are many other factors to take into consideration, but if you keep these in mind, you’ll have a good knowledge base from which to work with when planning your kitchen remodel.
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