Staying home is encouraged due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this setup will probably go on for a few more months. This new lifestyle change has affected the home remodeling industry.
Most people are now staying indoors. As a result, some of them have become more interested in renovating their homes. For instance, compared to last year, the demand for kitchen and bath remodeling rose by 40%.
Remodeling the kitchen in the middle of this pandemic isn’t such a bad idea. It could help you polish your cooking skills and make healthier food choices. After all, we need to stay as healthy as possible, especially in these trying times. If you do decide to do a kitchen remodeling, there are a few things you need to consider:
Budget
First off, you need to think about how much you would be willing to spend on remodeling your kitchen. If you want to buy new appliances, how much is your threshold for each appliance? How much would you be willing to shell out for a complete change of your kitchen layout?
You will also have to consider if the total cost of your remodeling is worth it in relation to the value of your property. This way, if you ever decide to sell your house, you will be able to get your money back and some more.
Layout
Another factor to consider, which has already been mentioned earlier, is the layout of your kitchen. Would you stick with the current layout and just add some improvements? Or would you want to change the layout completely?
One popular trend in kitchen design is modular layout. It involves dividing the kitchen space into modules where the appliances and storage are placed and stacked. This layout is a great space-saving option and allows for effective storage management. It looks sleek, too.
But with any layout that you choose, make sure that you apply the kitchen triangle theory, where three key work areas in the kitchen must be in a triangle: the sink, refrigerator, and stove. This theory allows for maximum efficiency when working in the kitchen
Appliances
You also need to consider the appliances that you will use when you remodel your kitchen. For instance, if most of your appliances still work fine, such as your refrigerator, stove, and microwave, you can just reuse them again to save money and time (fewer hours of shopping online or offline).
Meanwhile, if you wanted a complete makeover, you could perhaps choose appliances of higher quality. For example, you could choose ones with better energy efficiency to save you money in the long run. You also need to check on the new appliances’ longevity. It would be best to buy new appliances that will last you for a very long time.
Repairs
While a beautiful kitchen may be beautiful on the outside, it’s not worth it if it’s faulty on the inside. Before you remodel, you need to check for any damage that needs to be addressed.
For instance, you need to check your plumbing. Perhaps you simply need replacements for your pipes or a sewer line repair if the problem is much bigger. You should also check the wires connected to your kitchen lights and see if they need to be replaced or repaired.
Lights
Speaking of lights, you also need to think about where you will put lights. First, you need to check where your ambient light should be. This should be your main source of light in the kitchen. Check which areas are not covered by it and then add necessary lights. It would also be wise to add lights to task areas such as the countertop and the sink, where you do most of the cooking.
Putting lighting fixtures in appropriate areas will make the kitchen more inviting. It will also help you be more productive in the kitchen and do your cooking and baking with ease.
Other Embellishments
After all the other things considered, you might also think about the embellishments that you will add to your remodeled kitchen. You would want to hang artwork on your kitchen wall. Or, if you’re into plants, you can install hanging shelves and put small potted plants to add a refreshing vibe to your kitchen. Or you might consider putting up wallpaper with nice patterns to add more character to the area.
Kitchen remodeling is a huge project that requires a lot of time and money. Keep these several factors in mind so that it will be easy for you to mitigate problems when you start your project.