5 Kitchen Remodeling Tips (Or Myths)

Kitchen remodeling can be one of the scariest home improvement projects, and many people live with old or inconvenient kitchens for years because they are afraid of the mess and cost of remodeling. It can be a big job, but if you hire the right kitchen remodelers, you can stick to your budget and schedule while causing as little trouble as possible.

There are a lot of myths about renovation contractors and what you should and shouldn’t do when remodeling your kitchen. It’s important to tell the difference between a myth and the truth so that you can make good decisions about your kitchen remodel. Here are five myths about remodeling a kitchen that you should know.

1. You should spend a certain percentage of the value of your home on remodeling your kitchen

In reality, there are different degrees of remodeling, and this is what determines how much you should spend. If you only want new lighting and wall covering, you don’t need to spend as much as if you also wanted new cabinets, countertops, and appliances. Once you know what you want to change most about your kitchen, you’ll probably end up spending between 5% and 15% of your home’s value on remodeling it. Contractors who do renovations can do anything from small fixes to a complete overhaul. It’s up to you to decide where your project falls on this spectrum.

2. I Can DIY My Kitchen Remodel

Many people don’t realize how big a kitchen remodeling job can be, and how critical it is that it’s done correctly Your kitchen should not only be safe, but it should also fit in with the rest of your home and, ideally, add value to it. Some people think they can do their own kitchen remodeling because they know how to put together IKEA flat-pack furniture, but that’s not true. Good kitchen remodelers aren’t cheap, but the ones with repeat customers are the ones who do things right the first time.

3. Kitchens should be updated to fit the latest styles

You should remodel your kitchen to fit your needs. If you plan to stay in your house for a long time, you should remodel your kitchen to fit how you use it. If you want to sell your house in the next few years, you should talk to kitchen remodeling contractors about what you can do to make your kitchen more appealing to buyers. If you like a certain trend, use it, but don’t base a whole kitchen remodel on what’s “hot” right now. In a few years, it might look horribly out of date.

4. The lighting will be figured out later

Lighting is always important, but it’s especially important in the kitchen. Ask the contractors you’re thinking about hiring if they have done any work on lighting before. Before you start building your new kitchen, at least narrow down your lighting choices and make a careful choice. The best kitchen remodelers know how to light a kitchen and know that putting lighting off until the end of the project means you might have to go cheap to stay on budget or settle for lighting that isn’t ideal. Lighting is one of the most important parts of making a room “work,” so think carefully about it from the start.

5. If we spend more than we can afford, we'll put in a cheaper floor

The floor of your kitchen ties everything together, so putting in a cheap floor to save money (maybe so you can buy more expensive cabinets) is never a good idea. Floors are much more than just another surface in the kitchen, and going cheap to stay within your budget often backfires when you want to rip it out again in a year or two. Like lighting, flooring is an important part of how your kitchen looks and feels as a whole, so you should think about it carefully from the start.

The idea that remodeling a kitchen is “too expensive” is probably the biggest misconception that contractors see. That’s not always true, especially when you think about how much more you’ll enjoy your kitchen if it looks nice and has all the storage, work surfaces, and appliances you need to enjoy the many hours you and your family spend there.

Ask for the contractor’s credentials, talk to former clients, and make sure you get along well with the person you choose. A great kitchen remodel takes time, but with the right materials and the right contractor, it can give your home a great new look and feel.