Thinking of updating your cooking area? Read these kitchen remodel mistakes first!
I don’t know about you but I really think the kitchen is the heart of the home, which is why if you thinking of undergoing any work on it, you need to have a look at these kitchen remodel mistakes beforehand.
We have moved into a house with a fairly dates kitchen and are just biding our time with it. We had only recently finished installing a new kitchen in our previous house so I do have a lot of tips which I have picked up along the way. I can’t wait to plan a new kitchen to suit the needs of our young family and can’t wait to get started.
The kitchen is often the main focal point of a home. If your kitchen is outdated, you might be thinking of a kitchen remodel. There is no need to hire an expensive professional, however. With a little time and patience, you can do your kitchen remodel yourself. If you are careful, you can actually remodel your kitchen and save a lot of money in the meantime.
Here are some tips and ideas for your do-it-yourself kitchen remodel:
Don’t demolish – think of updating instead
Instead of ripping out all of your cupboards and cabinets, consider updating the existing cabinets. Sand them down and stain or paint them and replace the hardware to give your cabinets a fresh and updated look. You might be surprised how much difference a fresh coat of paint can make.
Salvage if you can
To save money and stay environmentally friendly, consider getting your cabinets and building materials second hand. You could salvage some of the materials from a building that is abandoned or being torn down, or from a business or apartment complex that is closing or renovating.
To get that industrial look that is so popular, you could find a stainless steel island from a restaurant that is closing down, or you can use salvaged wood to build your own kitchen island. Just make sure that you communicate what you want so that it falls exactly within your brief.
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a great place to find used or unfinished furniture and building materials. Clean up, paint, and update these pieces as needed for beautiful additions to your space.
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Is there a way of fitting in some space savers?
If you are remodeling your kitchen, there is no better time to add some great space-saving additions. Here are a few ideas:
- A pot rack can be hung from the ceiling to provide an extra space to hang pots and pans, utensils, etc.
- Build shelves into the sides of cabinets for extra space to keep spices, jars, or food wraps.
- Mount spice racks on the wall near your stove to free up cabinet space. Or make use of small extra space in cabinets to install a vertical pull-out drawer specifically for spices.
- Install taller cabinets to make use of more space in your kitchen. Keep items that you don’t use every day higher up to get them out of your way.
If you are updating appliances as well, invest in an overhead microwave. The amount of counter space you save will be worth it.
Spend time and money on your countertops – it will be worth it!
Aside from appliances, the countertops are usually the biggest and most noticeable project for a kitchen remodel. Countertops can also be one of the more expensive upgrades, but that cost can be dampened a little. Consider countertops made of recycled materials or concrete. Or, instead of replacing the countertops entirely, look into countertop epoxy that can be poured over your existing countertops to give them a brand new look.
A do-it-yourself kitchen remodel is certainly a project that should not be underestimated, but is definitely an obtainable goal. Of course, with any do-it-yourself project, make sure that you are being as safe as possible and call a professional if you have any trouble or questions.
I hope you found these kitchen remodel mistakes useful? Do you have any tips of your own? Please do let us know in the comments below…