Whether you’re renovating your kitchen to help your home sell or to create the kitchen of your culinary dreams, there’s some planning and budgeting you’ll want to do first.

When it comes to the renovation itself, know that washing dishes in the bathtub gets old really fast, renovations are extremely stressful, and everything will cost more and take longer than you plan for. Here are 4 lessons experience yielded:

Determine Your Must-Haves

The first step when remodeling your kitchen is deciding what you really want. It can feel like the options for your kitchen are limitless, but unless you have a limitless budget, you’re going to have to pick and choose what’s actually important to you.

Do you need more storage? Do you want more space for entertaining? Do you want a flow that works better for your family?

Get professional design help

A kitchen designer will know tricks you won’t, but ask about how they charge: Do they bill for the design plus a markup on everything you buy, and can you order things on your own to save money? (Ask your contractor the same questions.) Also, check for design help in unlikely places.

Choose your appliances and sink early

Appliances have big implications on layout. When planning, don’t just measure their width: Check the depth and leave clearance for circulation around door openings, including the side of the fridge, which often needs to be up to three inches to open interior drawers fully. Also, don’t skimp on ventilation: People forget the range needs a vent, or they underestimate the strength it needs. Shop for your sink early too, as it’s just as important as your appliances. Find an appliance store that will let you buy early but will hold them until you’re ready to install, because appliances go in last.

Update Plumbing

Now that your kitchen is essentially gutted, you can get to work on some of the internal elements of your kitchen like the plumbing.

If you’re handling this on your own, you’ll want to have a few things on hand, such as towels and buckets in case anything starts leaking. Some common plumbing issues you might want to solve during your renovation are:

  • Low water pressure
  • Leaks from your faucets, sink or dishwasher
  • Clogged plumbing
  • A gas line addition
  • Shut-off valves update

Whether you’re renovating your kitchen to help your home sell or to create the kitchen of your culinary dreams, there’s some planning and budgeting you’ll want to do first.

When it comes to the renovation itself, know that washing dishes in the bathtub gets old really fast, renovations are extremely stressful, and everything will cost more and take longer than you plan for. Here are 4 lessons experience yielded:

Determine Your Must-Haves

The first step when remodeling your kitchen is deciding what you really want. It can feel like the options for your kitchen are limitless, but unless you have a limitless budget, you’re going to have to pick and choose what’s actually important to you.

Do you need more storage? Do you want more space for entertaining? Do you want a flow that works better for your family?

Get professional design help

A kitchen designer will know tricks you won’t, but ask about how they charge: Do they bill for the design plus a markup on everything you buy, and can you order things on your own to save money? (Ask your contractor the same questions.) Also, check for design help in unlikely places.

Choose your appliances and sink early

Appliances have big implications on layout. When planning, don’t just measure their width: Check the depth and leave clearance for circulation around door openings, including the side of the fridge, which often needs to be up to three inches to open interior drawers fully. Also, don’t skimp on ventilation: People forget the range needs a vent, or they underestimate the strength it needs. Shop for your sink early too, as it’s just as important as your appliances. Find an appliance store that will let you buy early but will hold them until you’re ready to install, because appliances go in last.

Update Plumbing

Now that your kitchen is essentially gutted, you can get to work on some of the internal elements of your kitchen like the plumbing.

If you’re handling this on your own, you’ll want to have a few things on hand, such as towels and buckets in case anything starts leaking. Some common plumbing issues you might want to solve during your renovation are:

  • Low water pressure
  • Leaks from your faucets, sink or dishwasher
  • Clogged plumbing
  • A gas line addition
  • Shut-off valves update

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