10 Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid
Remodeling your kitchen can be an exciting endeavor, but you'll need to plan carefully to bring out the full potential of the space. The first step is avoiding the errors of those who came before you. Here are just 10 common kitchen remodeling mistakes to beware.
1. Rearranging the Plumbing
It's a bad idea to mess with your pipes when you remodel. Your water, gas and sewage lines form a complicated labyrinth under your home, and trying to uproot and replant them can set you back thousands of dollars. Plan your remodel around your sink and not the other way around.
2. Needlessly Upgrading Your Appliances
If you need a new dishwasher, go ahead and buy it. But don't splurge on shiny new appliances just to make your kitchen look good. Not only will you waste money, but you'll also hurt your potential re-sell value. Who knows what trends will come into fashion in the next few years?
3. Not Triangulating Your Workspace
The three busiest sections of your kitchen are the sink, stove and refrigerator. They're often called the "work triangle" by designers, so it's important that they complement each other in size and elbow room. Don't let an open fridge door block your stove, and don't let your sink splash under your fridge.
4. Planning for the Short-Term
A good rule of thumb when remodeling your kitchen is to think about every design element as if you're living five years in the future. You may have enough floor space right now, but what about when you and your husband start a family? You may not need non-slip flooring this very instant, but what happens when your elderly mother comes to live with you?
5. Neglecting Counter Space
Always give yourself more counter space than you think you need. It'll be much more expensive to tear down and replace counters in the future than it will be to add a few extra feet today. If you need counter space but lack square footage, think about things like decorative corbels and pull-out cutting boards.
6. Not Customizing Your Sink
Your sink is something that you use every day, so it's worth the effort of customizing it to your personal needs and desires. Think about things like aerators, backsplashes and faucet types. Think about single versus double basins. Think about garbage disposals.
7. Doing It Yourself
Always consult a professional before making any significant changes to your kitchen. An electrician can tell you about the long-term effectiveness of a skylight; a cabinet painters company can give you an estimate for a new look. Even if you're confident in your DIY skills, it never hurts to get a second opinion.
8. Not Replacing Your Flooring
The kitchen floor is one of the most heavily-trafficked areas of the home. If you're still making do with the tiles that were there when you moved in, it's time to make a change and when you do so consider tile cleaning. Here are just a few of the most common kitchen flooring types:
- Linoleum
- Laminate
- Cork
- Bamboo
- Hardwood
9. Lacking Electrical Outlets
Between toasters, blenders, choppers, mixers, slow cookers and coffee makers, you're going to need a lot of electrical outlets to power your kitchen. Make sure that you've incorporated plenty of them in your blueprints, especially if you plan on installing new appliances with your renovation. It's no use buying an ice cream maker if you don't have anywhere to plug it in!
10. Cutting Corners
It's fine to take shortcuts with little things, but don't pinch pennies when it comes to the big-ticket design elements of your kitchen. A good kitchen remodel is an investment for the future, so don't feel guilty about splurging a little to get the space of your dreams.
These are just a few of the usual suspects when it comes to kitchen remodeling mistakes. If you're serious about getting your money's worth with your renovation, use these guidelines to avoid common errors and accidents.
