How to Renovate a Kitchen: A Guide

Kitchen Renovation.

If you had to renovate only one part of your property to increase its overall value, always go for the kitchen. You don’t even have to do a complete overhaul. Just a few specific upgrades can raise your property’s selling price and generate interests from home buyers. If you’re wondering how to renovate a kitchen that will look beautiful for years to come or to list your home for sale, this is your best guide!

Tips for adding value to your home through the kitchen

A kitchen renovation will add more value to your home, allowing you to gain more profit from the property from either selling or renting it out. However, not all types of improvements to your kitchen will raise the property value. Here is a list of improvements that you should focus on:

1. Include an island

While most home buyers don’t know how to renovate a kitchen, they do know the worth of having another workspace, that’s why installing a kitchen island is a valuable addition to include in your renovation. Just make sure to clear one metre of space on all sides of the island for better traffic flow.

2. Maximise storage

Storage is another sure value-adding upgrade for your kitchen. Take full advantage of your kitchen’s storage space by installing cupboards from the wall to the ceiling. Include open and closed cupboards to add some variety. Adding drawers to your kitchen island will maximize its use. You can also include open shelving for more storage potential.

3. Buy quality appliances

Quality appliances are a costly addition to your home renovation, but they will also boost your property value big time. Most people will easily peg your home as a bad investment just with the sight of outdated appliances, so investing in modern kitchen appliances is a great move. It will impress prospective buyers or renters tremendously, along with your kitchen’s upgraded look. For a better aesthetic, purchase appliances from the same brand and range so they match.

4. Install a flashy splashback

Sometimes, homeowners forget this simple yet important kitchen feature when they’re researching how to renovate a kitchen in their home. A polished splashback will give your kitchen a new character, aside from its basic function of protecting the wall. It gives a different vibe, which will make the kitchen more interesting to property buyers. Splashbacks are available in acrylic wallpapers, tiles, marble, glass, and metallic materials; each one has a variety of designs and colours. Do your research and find out what’s the most popular splashback style today so your kitchen is on trend.

Common areas to renovate

Adding new appliances, a new splashback, an island, and storage will definitely do wonders for your property. But that doesn’t mean you should neglect to improve other existing kitchen features. Here are some of the areas that you can renovate.

The Benchtop

Probably the most used kitchen area is the benchtop so you need to ensure that it’s in tip-top condition. The best way to do it is by upgrading the benchtop to marble or granite if you are willing to splash out some cash. However, a long-lasting laminate will do if you are on a budget. Make sure to get a product that is resistant to heat, water, and stains to make sure that it’s resilient enough. In terms of how to renovate a kitchen benchtop, pick a benchtop in a neutral colour so prospective buyers will find it easy to imagine their own kitchenwares fitting into the look of the kitchen.

Cabinetry and Shelving

Storage space is at the top of the list when it comes to how to renovate a kitchen. Check that they are functioning well. Inspect if the handles and cabinet doors are hinged properly. If not, make sure to fix them right away. You can also remove the doors altogether to create open shelving and create a new style for your cabinetry.

On the other hand, if your existing cabinets and shelves are still in good condition, giving them a fresh coat of paint will make them look new. It will also help brighten up a dull kitchen. However, if you plan to repaint the cabinets with a new colour then make sure you stick to a neutral colour. Experts agree that neutral colours look more sophisticated and cleaner.

Kitchen Flooring

Another kitchen area that catches people’s eyes immediately is the floor. If you already have a decent kitchen, the flooring could be a deal-breaker. So, if your kitchen floor is old and full of grime, renovating it is a no-brainer.

Pick flooring material according to your budget but if you have extra cash, hardwood flooring is an excellent choice. It’s one of the most popular kitchen flooring choices because it’s very pleasing to the eyes. Plus, most wooden floor materials today can withstand water stains and heavy traffic. Other good kitchen flooring choices are stone tiles, cork flooring, and vinyl tiles/sheets.

Tips for a stress-free kitchen renovation

Renovating your kitchen can be very rewarding once everything is done. But the process can be very stressful for you and your family. However, there are steps to avoid turning a kitchen renovation into a nightmare.

1. Organise properly

Start by packing all your kitchenware, labelling them, then moving to a designated area in your house. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where to get the coffee, where to wash dishes and most importantly, where to eat. If you can’t move the fridge, make sure that you get an alternative, like a mini fridge or a second-hand fridge, which you can probably find online. Also, you won’t be able to cook as much as before, so make sure that you have a budget for dining-out or ordering food more often.

2. Adjust your shopping habits

If you are used to shopping for food on a weekly basis, you will likely need to adjust while your kitchen is being renovated. Kitchen may hinder proper food storage, so you might need to do daily trips to the supermarket. It may also require some additional time management on your behalf. This might include finishing work early to avoid overtime, so you can buy food for dinner and the following day’s breakfast and lunch. If not, you might be eating canned goods all week!

3. Set-up a small temporary kitchen

Thank the heavens for your backyard deck or patio because it can make a good temporary kitchen during the renovation. If you don’t have such an outdoor space, an unused room will do. Just make sure that you have a good access to water and electricity wherever you are setting up your temporary kitchen.

Move all the equipment that you’ll need like the coffee maker, electric kettle, toaster, microwave, and mini-fridge. It’s best to buy a small single-burner stove that you can use for the time being.

4. Learn to Relax and Meditate

Kitchen can be a messy business. It will be noisy and full of clutter in some parts of the house. There can be delays, change of plans, and a lot of reminders to your kids about staying away from the construction. It’s enough to give you a constant headache.

If you are feeling stressed, it can be helpful to meditate. Assign a room where family members can retreat into and relax without worrying about the renovation. Maybe practice some yoga or go to the park for a break from the noise. Remind yourself that everything will be done soon and you can go back to your normal life.

How to Renovate a Kitchen Stress-Free with Renovare

If you’re looking for other inspiration or guides on how to renovate a kitchen, speak to Renovare Group today! No matter your project, Renovare has a great team of renovation builders ready to help! Call us on 1300 049 516 or get in touch online!

Updated: 27/07/2021

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