Planning a Kitchen Renovation - How Does It Work?

Are we right in saying that you've never spent such a long consecutive time at home before as you are now? At least that's true for us. And we're probably also right in saying that since eating out is off the table, you've never had to look forward to cooking so much.

This brings us to today's topic. Alongside all this cooking, you may have noticed that some things in the kitchen need replacing, some need painting, and some things could be more convenient to use. Or let's be direct – the kitchen could use a proper renovation.

No one knows what times lie ahead, but we'll likely spend more time in our homes in the future than before. And that's why sprucing up the kitchen is certainly a worthwhile idea.

The most important thing is proper planning of the renovation. If you've done this work well, the renovation should run without major problems.

Set a budget

Before you start drawing your dream kitchen on paper, set a budget – without it, there's no point in even starting to plan, let alone renovate. Otherwise, you might find that the money runs out halfway through and you're left without both an old and a new kitchen.

A renovated kitchen should last many years, and if the initial budget shows that several necessary changes would remain undone in the kitchen, it makes sense to use a renovation loan so that it can all be done at once and within a reasonable timeframe.

Do your homework

Visit interior design websites, look at kitchen pictures on Pinterest, and collect solutions or designs that you like. You might stumble upon some cool solution that you could use at home, but that you would never have thought of yourself.

Some keywords for kitchen trends that we've noticed:

• Dark kitchen furniture, black seems to be particularly in vogue.
• Floor-to-ceiling cabinets.
• Larger kitchen islands than before.
• Natural wood.

To find out what things cost, do your homework at online stores too – don't go to the hardware store or kitchen salons in person right now.

Measure your kitchen

Take out a measuring tape and draw a kitchen layout on paper. Or on a computer, if you prefer. What's important is to get a clear picture of the space.

Think about traffic flow

An awkward kitchen layout is a nightmare. And changing it is extremely difficult. So think carefully about how you'll be moving around in the kitchen, and if it still doesn't feel quite right, change the plan.

Is there enough room for all the cooks?

How many people usually cook at the same time? Is there enough counter space for everyone? Can you move past each other comfortably?

Consider maximum comfort and functionality

Is it more convenient to squat down when you want to take a waffle maker out of the lower cabinet, or would a pull-out drawer work better instead of a cabinet? If you start planning early, you'll have time to think through all these solutions.

Plan your kitchen around what you actually need and what you're likely to use, not what you want just for the sake of it being cool.

Leave water and sewage in the same place

If your renovation budget is rather small, leave the sink in the same place. Breaking down walls and floors usually doesn't lead to anything good, and it often brings surprises that can send your budget to astronomical heights.

Put great emphasis on good lighting

Now you have the opportunity to change your previous awkward lighting solution, so your kitchen is bright, white, and feels perhaps even bigger. Food also looks better in such a kitchen.

Think through general and task lighting. If cabinets are going above the work surface, the area underneath them should definitely be properly lit. If you're not having traditional wall cabinets, plan hanging lights over the work surface. There should also be hanging lights above the island.

Read about the Kinnisvara24 renovation loan with favorable interest rates here.

Planning was aided by Houselogic.