10 Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Kitchen remodels can unveil new aspects of your home, like the example of a 400-year-old mural being discovered in northern England. But finding beauty in your existing space is not about unlocking old art. You can also add new kitchen lighting and create a new kitchen layout. All of these upgrades can transform a dull space into an inspiring area for cooking and sharing moments with friends. Before you begin exploring options for kitchen flooring, it’s important to learn about common kitchen remodeling mistakes.

For example, restricting movement with too many tables. Or painting a bold color on your walls that you’ll later regret.

Take note of these mistakes so your kitchen remodel project succeeds and your vision comes to life.

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Don’t Make These 10 Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes

Whether you’re renovating an old kitchen or you’ve just bought a new home, it’s vital that you start with the basics. How much money do you have to cover the remodel?

Once you set a budget for the materials, hiring professional builders, and investing in decorations, you can start the process.

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1. No Budget

One of the easiest kitchen remodeling mistakes is not sticking to your budget. It’s easy to get excited when flicking through an Architectural Digest magazine that you forget you have limited funds…

So, to make it simple, you should write down the most important elements of the remodel. This is where you decide between the expensive cabinets or a new table. Plus, you need to factor in other costs like maintenance and hiring workers. Depending on the size of your budget, it’s also good to include electrical repairs.

Keep the kitchen remodeling costs in mind when browsing flooring and countertops. Your budget will prevent you from overspending on small details and gives you more opportunities to get the items that matter to you.

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2. Overestimating the Space

Space will determine how big or small the kitchen remodel will be and how it will look after completion. Don’t overwhelm a tiny kitchen with a gigantic island occupying half the room. In these situations, it’s better to pick a small peninsula that compliments the space.

In larger kitchens, it’s crucial that you don’t pack too many features into one area. Balance the design with the space and ensure that all areas are covered. Otherwise, you’ll have an empty space that makes the room feel lost.

Filling the space with functional elements and leaving enough room to walk through aisles should be top of your priority list.

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3. Wasting Space

Even though you need to carefully plan the space, it’s essential that you optimize little areas. For instance, if you have a cabinet with nothing around it, try fixing a lamp to the wall. This is a good way to add extra light and gives the kitchen a cozy touch.

In the beginning, you should discuss floor planning with your building company. Every home has a different function for its kitchen. Some people want an intimate setting for family meals. At the same time, other people like to host large dinner parties and enjoy a long dinner table in the kitchen.

Make it clear to your contractor what you want from the kitchen so they can take it into consideration when allocating floor space.

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4. Overlooking Storage

Kitchens have some of the most storage requirements of all the rooms in a home. You need to store utensils, baking equipment, and everyday glassware. Plus, leaving extra storage for guests and event kitchenware like table sets for the festive season is important.

Two or three small cabinets are not enough for a home kitchen. But, if you don’t consider the storage options early, it can lead to problems during construction. Storage options don’t have to ruin your overall aesthetic; you can think of hidden pantries or wooden cabinets that add to your interior design.

Remember to plan where the storage will go before moving on to interior design elements.

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5. Disorganized Lighting

Lighting is vital for kitchens as it offers clarity for cooking and creates a cozy environment. The wrong lighting instantly sets the tone of the space and makes it hard for people to feel comfortable. There are three main areas of kitchen lighting to think about:

• Ambient lights
• Task-based lights
• Decorative lights

Using several of these types of lights will enhance the overall atmosphere of the kitchen. So, it’s good to think about layering lights at different levels and color saturations. Task-based lights should be white and powerful. But, ambient lighting is softer with a warm hue.

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6. Picking Bad Materials

It’s possible to find lots of cheap kitchen remodeling materials online or at stores. This kind of material will look great for a few months, but it will fade and decrease in quality. That’s why investing in quality materials at the start of your remodeling is better.

Natural wood cabinets can be expensive, but they provide a great look to your kitchen and don’t discolor. This is good if you want to have durable kitchen units that don’t break quickly. Stay away from marble surfaces if you plan on cooking daily in the kitchen.

Marble is an ideal aesthetic choice for luxury homes, which means it’s more suitable for small kitchen areas if you cook frequently. Granite and tile are also common choices for kitchen remodels, as they come in a variety of colors and sizes.

The final decision will be your design preference and the kitchen layout. So, take your time picking the materials and remember to weigh up the cost value.

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7. Not Prioritizing Electricity

Electricity is what makes your kitchen functional, so it’s important to map out where the electrical socket will go in the space. Otherwise, you’ll move your refrigerator into your new kitchen and have nowhere to turn it on. This is a disaster, which means all your hard work is ruined if you can’t use your appliances.

Take inventory of your kitchen equipment and which items require electricity. Then, talk with your contractor about adding or removing electrical sockets. In some homes, you can add electrical areas for overhead lights or high-powered equipment.

Also, think about functionality like charging mobile phones or laptops on an island. Check that there’s a socket nearby so you can work or relax with your electrical devices.

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8. Going Too Quickly

Starting a new design project is exciting, and sometimes we all wish we could speed up the timeline…

But going too quickly through your remodel can cause unhappiness later. A kitchen is a big project; it takes time to get all the elements in place. So, instead of focusing on the timeline, shop for new decorations or start planning a reveal party.

This gives you space to think about other things without interfering with the quality of the remodel. If you know how to paint or install cabinets, getting involved with the team is also a good idea. Offer to paint the rims of the doors or install a lighting fixture. This way, you feel involved and can benefit from the completion.

Another reason to slow down the process is that you don’t want faulty fixtures to cause a hazard in the space. It’s better to take the time to double-check lights, electrical sockets, and door frames before you begin using the room. This keeps everyone safe and protects you from injuries.

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9. Changing Things Last Minute

Contractors are set to specific schedules and concepts, which means you can’t change your mind last minute. Once you have the outline and materials, there’s no going back. If you want to change things, it’s important that you make alterations during the design phase.

This is where you can explore color palettes, space options and create different angles for cabinets. But, after this point, it’s essential that you stick to the timeline. Similar to rushing the remodel, changing details can mess up the construction and create an incoherent layout.

Therefore, spend a lot of time researching design ideas and browsing the internet so you know exactly what you want.

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10. Impulsive Decisions

Impulsive decisions about a bright yellow kitchen cabinet can feel great at the moment, but you’ll likely regret this choice if you don’t think it through. Changing the paint color is easy, but removing an island or installing a wall partition takes more time and investment.

Leave your impulsivity to the interior design and keep the layout simple. This gives you the freedom to be creative and a solid outline to work with that will withstand years of wear and tear.

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Kitchen Remodels for Creative Homeowners

Finding creative ways to install cabinets or place islands is hard, so you need to hire an experienced contractor. These professionals know how to turn a concept into your dream space. Everything from the flooring to the tiled feature behind the sink can make a massive difference to your remodel.