If you have finally decided to renovate your kitchen, congratulations. You’re a few steps from getting the kitchen of your dreams. While it’s an exciting and satisfying activity, kitchen remodeling requires adequate preparation to get everything done according to your style and budget. Luckily, there is so much you can do to prepare for this massive project. Here are ten tips to help you.
1. Take Time to Explore Your Options
Most project delays are caused by a lack of clarity on specific areas and things such as the design, material selection, and other processes. It’s crucial that you sit down and decide what you want and how you want the operations to be carried out. Ideally, you must have an answer to every question your contractor may ask to streamline the process.
2. Create a Budget
A budget helps you have a realistic project that you can afford to start and complete without experiencing financial issues. It’s easy to overspend on a kitchen remodel due to the high number of kitchen appliances, cabinet designs, and countertop materials on the market.
3. Consult With a Contractor
Once you have the budget and plan in mind, you can talk with your contractor about what you want. During this meeting, you want to know how long the remodeling will take, the dates, and the time, so you can proactively begin preparing. Ask what would be needed and create a buying list.
4. Examine the Layout
Check the layout of your current kitchen and assess what will need to be moved, whether there will be demolitions, and how spacious you want your new kitchen to be. Decide what you want to keep and what you want to replace or remove.
5. Consider Your Lifestyle and Set Up a Temporary Kitchen
You don’t have to worry about finding a temporary kitchen if you have an outdoor kitchen. For major renovations, you will need to create a temporary kitchen in the dining room, living room, or any spacious adjacent area. If you intend to replace all your appliances, throw them away, but keep the refrigerator, microwave, and stove for now.
6. Pack Loose Items
Pack up all loose items such as utensils, baking items, glasses, mugs, decorations, and countertop appliances like coffee makers and blenders. If there are sections in the kitchen that contractors won’t touch, keep some of these items there. Don’t forget to separate the ones you will be using during the remodeling.
7. Plan Meals Ahead
If the bigger part of your kitchen is likely to be under renovation, you can plan meals and find ideal areas to prepare them. While eating out can also be an option, it can quickly strain your budget. If the location you intend to use as a temporary kitchen is in use most of the time, consider cooking from outside.
8. Keep Appliances in Mind
If you have decided to get new appliances, be sure to allocate enough space for them, especially if they will be bigger than what you already have. You can discuss this with your contractor to help determine if you will need to create extra space or work in the current space.
9. Categorize Food and Store It Accordingly
Organization is vital when renovating a kitchen. Depending on the duration of the renovation, it’s essential to separate perishable foods and foods nearing expiration from dry foods. Keep the perishables near your temporary kitchen for easy access, and start consuming them before cooking the hard foods or buying others. This allows you to plan your meals and prevent food wastage.
10. Disconnect All Important Lines from the Kitchen
The last thing you want is power outage or gas leaks in the middle of a renovation. Disconnect the plumbing, electricity, and gas from your kitchen to stay safe. Note critical details about electricity to avoid accidents. You can get your contractor to do this before the project begins.
