It’s no secret that property owners can take advantage of major savings by doing their own DIY kitchen renovation. But before you start the process, it’s important to have a plan in place in order to ensure a smooth and stress-free new kitchen. Below are three key questions to ask yourself before you start designing your kitchen.
How Does My Current Kitchen Work?
Looking at how your old kitchen is or was being used will give you clues as to how you want and need your new kitchen to work. Ask yourself the question “how functional is it really?”
One good example of this is base cupboards. For a lot of homeowners, lower cupboards or corner cabinets are a pain and can create dead space. Swapping out those cupboards for drawers or lazy susans for corner cabinets can increase the functionality of your new kitchen.
Bench space is another critical factor that impacts functionality. Is there enough room for kitchen preparation? Or are you finding it tight? Do you want a space where the family can congregate? How does it work currently?
What about technology? Are your smartphones, tablets, and keys taking up a lot of bench space? Do you need a space where you can recharge mobile phones, tablets or store keys without impacting bench space or adding to the clutter?
Take some time to think about how your kitchen should be laid out. Larger spaces do well with a U-shaped kitchen or an L-shaped, while creative shapes may appreciate the increased accessibility which comes with a galley kitchen. Straight-line layouts are ideal for tight or narrow kitchen spaces and smaller budgets.
How Will I Store Kitchen Items?
Generally, what works best for most kitchens are having drawers on the bottom and cabinetry on the top. Shelving may also be a good option for tidied plates, cups, and other decorative items.
For food storage, many DIY kitchen renovators want to have as spacious a pantry as possible. After taking the measurements and considering your kitchen appliances, however, you may find that space is too tight without sacrificing functionality or aesthetics.
Another common issue is dish storage and its proximity to the sink and dishwasher. Having storage closer to these two areas will help reduce the time you spend tidying up after each meal.
Where Should My Appliances Go?
Outdated kitchens or simply poorly planned kitchens will leave dysfunctional spacing between appliances. What we at Smart Kitchen find time and time again is that the so-called “working triangle” is the best route to go with when planning out your appliances.
The “working triangle” sets your sink or dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooktop apart so that they form – you guessed it – a triangle.
One thing to keep in mind is your kitchen’s cooktop. A gas cooktop can never be set immediately beside a wall or a pantry. It’s also necessary to have your kitchen appliances picked out before you begin the design process to ensure that everything will fit into your brand new beautiful kitchen. If you have not picked your appliances out, no sweat, you can purchase your appliances straight from Smart Kitchen .
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