Common mistakes that can ruin your kitchen remodel

Kitchen remodelling projects hold a lot of promise. They can help you create a more functional cooking space by choosing an efficient layout, increasing storage and installing new appliances. You can also improve comfort and safety in the kitchen, ensure higher energy efficiency, enhance the overall appeal of the space and boost your home’s value. With a remodel, you can finally bring your dream kitchen to life and turn it into the hub and the heart of a home as it’s often referred to.

All in all, a kitchen remodel is definitely worth the time and effort you put in, but only if you do it right. One should not forget that these types of large-scale projects are most often than not extremely complex and imply all sorts of challenging tasks such as knocking down walls, replacing worn or damaged pipes, or redesigning a space from scratch. Therefore, it’s very easy to make all sorts of mistakes that can ruin your plans and your budget.

So, if you’re getting ready to remodel your kitchen and you want to get things right the first time, here are some of the most common mistakes to watch out for.

Starting without a plan

One of the biggest mistakes a homeowner can make when taking on a kitchen remodel project is to break ground without having a well-devised plan ready. Although you may have to make slight changes and adapt your plan as the work progresses, kitchen remodelling is not something you can improvise or figure out along the way.

Without a good plan that can guide your actions, a kitchen remodel is nothing more than wishful thinking, so you need to set clear goals from the get-go. We’re not talking about a mental image of how you want the space to look at the end of the project. A proper plan implies knowing exactly what you want to achieve and all the practical steps you need to follow to turn your vision into reality.

Not setting a clear budget

Experience has taught us that most kitchen remodels end up costing more than initially planned. This isn’t usually a huge tragedy as most homeowners already expect to go a bit over their budgets to reach their goals. The real problems arise when people haven’t planned a budget to begin with and have completely underestimated the costs of the project.

This brings us back to our previous point and stresses the need to plan before you act. One needs to take into account all the expenses that come with a kitchen remodel, and keep in mind that unexpected costs are bound to arise.
Ignoring your kitchen’s space and structure

You may dream of a kitchen island or a huge pantry, but you have to make sure that your vision matches the reality of your home. In other words, if you only have a tiny space available, you’ll never be able to turn it into a spacious kitchen unless you want to completely change the structure of your home or add some sort of extension.

Much too often people start their remodelling journey with big hopes and mismatched resources. You need to be realistic about your possibilities and consider your current space and the overall structure of your home, so you can come up with a viable kitchen remodelling plan.

Doing things in the wrong order

Those who have zero experience with kitchen remodels may not know that there’s a certain order in which they need to complete tasks. A frequent mistake people make in this respect is to choose their appliance after they’ve already fitted their kitchen cabinets. Measurements can make or break a kitchen, as even a small difference can cause major problems when installing appliances.

Similarly, one should not install cabinets before floors as this can lead to several issues. In the case of hardwood floors, it’s much easier to ensure everything fits properly if the floor comes first. This also ensures that your cabinets won’t get damaged during the process.

Getting all your inspiration from social media

Instagram and Pinterest may be great sources of inspiration when designing a kitchen, but relying entirely on the pictures and videos people post on social media to decide how you’re going to approach your remodelling project can be a huge mistake.

Not only will this cause you to have unrealistic expectations or base your kitchen design on fleeting trends, but you may also end up creating a space that doesn’t match your lifestyle and needs. You need to figure out what works best for you and build a kitchen that will stand the test of time.

Prioritising form over function

Having a picture-perfect kitchen is every homeowner’s dream. However, a nice space is worth nothing if it lacks functionality, especially when it comes to kitchens which serve a practical purpose first and foremost. If you put aesthetics first, like so many people unknowingly do, you risk creating a kitchen that is impractical and difficult to use.

As a rule of thumb, you should always consider the function of the project first and then move on to design and other elements that are meant to increase the aesthetical appeal of the setting.

Being cheap on important items

Kitchen remodels are notoriously expensive, so one might be tempted to cut a few corners and save money whenever and wherever possible. However, most people don’t know when to save and when to splurge.

While hunting deals and bargains can help you reduce the costs of your remodel, when it comes to critical items such as plumbing or appliances you should make sure you choose quality products even if they cost more. Similarly, it’s important to know your limits and refrain from turning your kitchen remodel into a DIY project. instead of overestimating your skills and abilities, it’s best to hire a professional to address more complex tasks as they can get the job done right and on time.

There are a lot of things that can go wrong during a kitchen remodelling project, but you can avoid most of these scenarios if you prepare properly and learn from other people’s mistakes instead of your own.