Are you ready to create the kitchen of your dreams? It is important to consider certain design concepts that will stand the test of time so you will love your kitchen for years to come.
Here are 10 important tips to follow when looking to make the right kitchen design decisions.
1. Get Inspired
The inspiration for your dream kitchen can come from books, magazines, websites, reality shows, and family and friends’ kitchens. Regardless of where you find your inspiration, make sure you have clear ideas of your must-haves and want-to-haves.
2. Set a Realistic Budget
Have a precise idea of what you want to spend on your new kitchen. Know what you can spend and take 10% off that number for the inevitable unexpected items that come up during renovations. That doesn’t mean you need to skimp on cabinetry or countertops, but it makes sure that you are making more sound choices up-front.
3. Consider Your Lifestyle and Priorities
A well-designed kitchen allows easy access to all the essentials. If the main function of a kitchen is food prep and cooking, keep the work triangle in mind for a good workflow. A good layout also provides a clear and unobstructed lane for family and friends to move around while cooking is in process.
Kitchen designers are experts at this part of the process. They can help you figure out the best layout for your lifestyle and budget. You’ll need to share with them how you like to work in your kitchen, whether it’s a gathering area, and the parts of the kitchen that need to be most accessible. Don’t worry. Kitchen designers know the questions to ask you to help them get the information they need to begin to lay out different options for you to consider.
4. Don’t Get Caught Up with Trends
Choose a design that won’t go out of style in 5 years. Most people will remodel their kitchens once over the course of time. A kitchen remodel is disruptive to your life and will be one of the biggest investments in your home. The last thing you want to have to do is re-renovate your kitchen because it went out of style quickly.
5. Pick Your Cabinets
Searching for the perfect cabinets for your kitchen remodeling project can be a daunting task. One of the easiest ways to simplify the decision-making process is to start with deciding on a door style. Once you’ve picked your door style, you can move to natural or painted and hardware that best matches the cabinet’s style.
6. Maximize Storage
When designing your kitchen, adding specialized cabinets that maximize your storage space will guarantee that every item has its own repository and will eliminate kitchen storage woes. Consider a pantry or large cabinet that will hold dry foods and larger boxes, like cereal, which will take up large chunks of smaller cabinets.
7. Illuminate For Ambiance and Utility
Well-designed lighting is an important element to designing a successful kitchen. The right lighting design will combine the look you want with the light you need. Consider standard ceiling fixtures and recessed fixtures that focus light where you need it. Hang pendant lights over an island to provide light and a real design accent. Incorporate low-profile fluorescent lights mounted under upper cabinets to illuminate countertop work areas.
Make sure all these fixtures operate independently from each other, so you can adjust lighting for different occasions.
8. Prioritize Functionality
From the many countertop materials available to the right appliances to deciding on a sink or faucet, choose the right materials and fixtures that meet your kitchen’s style but will also meet practical needs. Always put functionality first.
9. Consider The Whole Family
Besides the cook, also keep in mind other family members who will be using the kitchen. In this way, you won’t just design for the available space but for the utility of its usage.
10. Hire A Good Design Team
Good kitchen designers can take your vision and transform it into your dream kitchen. This final step is the most important. You don’t want to hand over the design and remodeling of your kitchen to just anyone. Make sure you choose a designer that has the experience and know-how to make your dream a reality.