Your home is the one of the largest investments you can make, yet people are increasingly choosing to upgrade their existing home instead of purchasing brand new houses. Whether you are choosing to remodel or build from scratch, your kitchen will be the highlight of your home and a place where you and your family spend a great deal of time. It’s important that it not only looks great but adds value and enhances your quality of life. Some say that kitchens are the heart of any home but they can easily become useless if they aren’t functional and designed to last a long time. Learn about the biggest kitchen remodeling mistakes & how to avoid these.

Consider these 5 Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes That Homeowners Make 

 

IGNORING THE FLOW OF YOUR HOME:

This is typically seen in homes with small kitchens that have limited storage space. Many homeowners will compromise storage options to create more space but that’s not necessary if you plan out your cabinet space. Functional cabinet space will make cooking easier and reduces the clutter. Rather than omitting shelf space, many homeowners are opting to enhance the areas they have to work with. Chelsea Wynn, the Public Relations and Social Media Expert for Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. suggests removing the cabinet doors from wall cabinets to make kitchens feel larger and more open. This approach increases functionality and creates a place to store dishes or appliances to neatly sit.

 

BAD LIGHTING: 

Lighting is often the most overlooked thing in the kitchen. It may not seem important right now but wait until you are trying to peel a potato or slice an avocado with minimal lighting. You should choose your lighting in the beginning of your planning stage and according to the style of your new space, make sure it reflects what you really like and not what you are willing to settle for. If your home lacks windows and natural lighting, consider replacing one of your solid exterior doors with a French door like these doors we have available at both our Cincinnati and Louisville area stores. They will instantly brighten the look and feel of your kitchen while making it seem more open and spacious.

 

COMPROMISING QUALITY TO SAVE MONEY: 

Go ahead and repeat after me. Cheaper is not better. It’s just the truth. Sacrificing function to include nicer materials will do nothing but disappoint you in the end. Make sure you consider the proportions of your kitchen areas and measure everything. In fact, measure TWICE.  Avoid the trends you think look hip today. Your kitchen is much more than a fashion statement and today’s trends will more than likely be outdated fifteen years from now. Depending upon who you ask, your kitchen is easily the most important room in the house. You are opening and closing your cabinets all the time. Hardwood cabinets with a sturdy finish and strong hardware are imperative to carry your family the extra mile.

 

CUTTING CORNERS TO SAVE TIME: 

It’s important to your budget and your sanity that you get the job done right the first time. It might seem like it won’t be a big deal to live with a small error or mistake but in reality it can have a major impact on how you utilize and enjoy your kitchen in the future. Don’t compromise longevity just to trim time. Make sure your house plans allow adequate space for your refrigerator and dishwasher. This is a big kitchen remodeling mistake to avoid. These are necessities and if they aren’t functional on a daily basis, you will definitely feel it. Be sure to go over the measurements of all of your cabinets and appliances. Remember to allow room for the drawers and cabinet doors to open.

 

STARTING YOUR PROJECT BEFORE MAKING FINAL DECISIONS: 

Finally, make sure you know what you want before you begin your project. This probably sounds like common sense but you would be surprised how many people change their mind in the middle of everything. Some folks think that it’s easy to switch things up at a moment’s notice. Others think it’s no big deal to start a project before making their final decisions because they prefer to take it one step at a time. This is not good practice and can result in costly changes if certain aspects of the project don’t end up meeting your expectations. In fact, it’s best to make a formal checklist that will structure the period of time when you are in project mode.

For more information on kitchen remodeling, designs and answers to your questions about renovations to your kitchen please feel free to give us a call at any time. We offer many products and solutions to your next home remodeling project and we would be happy to assist you as you get started. Be sure to like, share, tweet & pin this article  and subscribe to our newsletter for ongoing style tips & tricks. Happy Remodeling!