Kitchen remodels are among the most popular renovation projects undertaken by homeowners who want to revitalize and add value to their living space.
Unfortunately, many of these projects end up wasting money by making the same mistakes over and over again.
If you can’t afford to hire a designer, check out these three tips to make sure you’re spending your money wisely:
1. Use Quality Materials
Ever heard the expression “a carpenter is only as good as his tools?” No matter how good it “looks” from afar, your kitchen remodel is only as good as the quality of the materials you use to build it.
Want your drawers and cabinets to stay shut? Use quality hinges and slides, not the dollar-a-piece junk from Ace Hardware.
For cabinet interiors, wood veneer is more durable than melamine, laminate, MDF or particleboard.
And don’t cheap out with linoleum tile on the floor, either: choose a natural surface like hardwood, terra cotta, brick, or even concrete.
Knowing when to spend and when to save is a matter of technical expertise, but a good rule of thumb is to buy for life, rather than having to fix or replace it every few years (or more).
2. Add Interest
In every home improvement store like Lowe’s, Home Depot, and even Ikea, there are always little bathroom and kitchen sets to showcase their various products in the context you would actually use them.
The goal is to trick you into thinking that a generic kitchen with all of their generic products is actually what you want or need.
The truth is that your kitchen is part of your home: it should match not only the rest of your house but also your personality, not some pre-fabricated ideal.
Start with a one of two standout pieces or features and work around them.
Not only will this make it easier to keep your kitchens aesthetic internally consistent, it will also help you match the rest of your home.
Whether it’s your cabinets, countertop, sink, backsplashes, flooring, or light fixtures, find something that’s really “you,” and you will easily make a kitchen you love.
3. Love Your Countertop
The importance of a good countertop can’t be overstated.
The importance of a great countertop, on the other hand, exceeds almost everything else.
Think about it: you use the countertop more than any other feature in the kitchen, and it probably (or ideally) covers the most surface area.
Everything else just needs to look nice, but you use your countertop to cook, clean and eat on every day, not to mention decoration and appliance storage.
Invest in a nice, natural stone like granite, marble, quartz, limestone, or concrete to get a low-maintenance countertop that will last a lifetime.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Interested in remodeling your home?
Visit Maya Construction Group – your home remodeling contractors in Chicago or call (773) 305-5789 to schedule a consultation.