Should you revamp or remodel your kitchen? Key questions to ask yourself.
Revamping your space should be fun, not stressful. Take these elements into consideration. (Like… can your kids fit into your cabinets?)
Remodeling or ravamping anything is a big step. How much time and effort do you need to put in to make the right impact.When it comes to putting your hard-earned money into a project, you should feel confident about your decisions.
Below are some factors to evaluate when contemplating whether you should revamp or remodel.
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- Kitchen footprint: Is the layout of your kitchen organic? Meaning, does the room—and the placement of key features within the room—make sense? This may sound crazy, but we all come to “live with” certain things in our house and after a while, we don’t see those idiosyncrasies anymore. So if your kitchen is so small the oven door barely opens—or it’s location in the house disrupts the flow, now’s the time to address it.
Cabinets: Cabinetry is a key feature of your kitchen, and there are many questions to ask.
Do you have enough? Even in tight, urban apartments you need to be able to appropriately store your dishes or pans in order to free up counter-space.
Is the placement or layout acceptable? Are they too short? Too tall? Are they easily in reach—and can be utilized by someone of normal height? Tall shelves are great to stuff things that are used less often, but if even the wine glasses need you to be en pointe, then it an adjustment may be needed.
Are they made out of good material? Cabinets can be made out of a variety of material ranging from particle board to wood to aluminum or glass. If you are investing in your kitchen and you have the budget, installing a more durable or sustainable cabinet system is a wise decision.
Last, but not least, how’s the hardware? Hinges, doorknobs, pulls… these can add a nice finishing touch, and are more important than you think. Evaluate the hardware for improvements. It may be a simple as a little cleaning solution and elbow grease.
- Appliances: These days, appliances are smarter than we are. While new tech in any form is awesome, it’s not always necessary. What is important is how they function and how well they sync with your design scheme. So if you have extra money and you’d like to make the investment in a nice matching set, go for it! I’m jealous. But if not, there are alternatives, like refacing.
- Tile and countertops: Like cabinets, tiles and countertops can make a big impact to your space. And they can be done both DIY and on the cheap if you can find the right person.
- Floors: Last, but not least, is the floor. Now, I can go on all day about flooring. (See “We’re floored.”), but you can’t deny that it makes a difference. High traffic areas, like the kitchen, show wear and tear easier than less traffic areas. If new floors are unnecessary or out of budget, then perhaps it’s a simple as a good seam clean (if you have tile) or wood floor cleaner (for hardwoods) is all that’s needed. Also think about mats or even a rug to protect against errant dirt and grime—and pop or even comfort. (Think: comfortable kitchen mats that ease the fatigue of standing.)