There is no doubt that the kitchen renovation can be an exciting way to refresh your home and breathe new life into your space. However, it can also be an expensive and time-consuming process that you do not want to have to carry out too often.
Kitchens are often one of the most heavily used rooms in the home with the average person entering the kitchen 2 to 3 times a day. Because of this, some experts recommend that you should renovate your kitchen every 10 to 15 years. There are certain circumstances where you may want to renovate sooner rather than later. Here are a few things to think about before planning your next renovation.
Wear and Tear
With daily use, it is no surprise that at some point your kitchen cabinets and surfaces will look a little worse for wear. However, you can greatly extend the longevity of your kitchen by choosing high-quality products and materials and carrying out some maintenance along the way.
Repainting cabinets, replacing door pulls and resealing counters may be time consuming, but it’s a lot quicker and more wallet-friendly than a full renovation. If your kitchen is truly past repair, then doing some research into the best materials for your budget will help stretch out the time between renovations.
For instance, while you can expect a laminate countertop to last for 10 to 20 years, quartz countertops can last a lifetime. It may involve a higher cost upfront but will prevent you from needing further work done in the future.
Changing Styles
As history has shown us interior styles can change drastically from one decade to the next. The styles that were once all the rage can now make kitchens feel shabby and dated. If you still love your old school kitchen, there is no reason why you should renovate just to keep up with the times! Your home should always be somewhere you feel comfortable, so you should never change it out of fear of what others think.
If you do want to bring your kitchen up to date, it is a good idea to spend a while finding fixtures and fittings with a timeless appeal. Going for neutral colors and finishes that have stood the test of time will help prevent your kitchen from feeling dated too soon.
If the neutral look is not really your thing, think about ways you can introduce colors and styles that can be changed easily when the time comes. For instance, swapping out your kitchen cabinet doors will be a far simpler task than replacing the floor.
Improving Functionality
Creating a kitchen that is more aligned with your day-to-day needs is as good a reason as any to renovate your space (even if it is a little earlier than you anticipated). Though it may have worked fine when you first moved in, our family arrangements and circumstances change over time, and it may be that your kitchen is simply no longer ideal.
Perhaps you need more storage space or an extra surface to keep things neat and tidy. Maybe the entire layout needs to be changed to improve foot traffic and stop the kitchen feeling cramped.
Enlisting a pro kitchen designer for your renovation can help you get clear on exactly where the problems lie and come up with solutions that will work for you and your family. The good news is once you have gone through this process then most future renovations will be minor in comparison.
Consider Your Options
It is easy to get carried away with designs and plans, but bear in mind that there is no reason your kitchen upgrades need to be all or nothing. It may be that just a few well-considered changes will be enough to achieve the kind of kitchen you are looking for. Even just a countertop can transform the look and feel of the room.
Similarly, there is nothing wrong with a phased renovation, where you tackle things a little at a time. It takes a little bit of planning and a lot of patience, but this could be the ideal option for avoiding any unnecessary expense and disruption.
Conclusion
While there are some great general guidelines out there for how often you should renovate your kitchen, it is important to consider your specific circumstances before you take the plunge. Any home renovation is a big undertaking, and it is also wise to get a professional opinion from someone who has gone through the process hundreds of times before.
If you are considering a kitchen renovation but are not sure where to start, we would love to help. Simply give us a call on (206) 589-8055 and one of our talented team members will run through your options (with no strings attached). We are a premier provider of WA cabinets and would love to chat with you!