With social distancing and COVID-19 keeping more people at home, many families have spent more time than usual in those central home spaces—the living room, bathrooms, and especially the kitchen. And with all that extra time doing more than just cooking, you may have realized that the space is lacking in full family function.
After all, with kitchens now serving not just as places to prepare food, but as offices, classrooms, and gathering places, you may have pushed your kitchen to its limit, and found any number of problems—a lack of storage or preparation space, a lack of seating or gathering space, or even an outdated style—or damaged surfaces—that make it look less-than-great and feel unpleasant to be in.
So if you’re thinking that it’s time for a kitchen update, this article is here to help! We’ll break down some big considerations and common questions about kitchen renovations, and give you some kitchen remodel ideas that might help get your kitchen looking and working great again.
Consider your budget and scope of the renovation
This is the first and most important step in any kitchen project—renovating a kitchen can be one of the most expensive home projects you can undertake, and costs can easily run up. Step back and take stock of what you can afford to spend, and prioritize what will make your space look and work best within that budget—even small changes can have a big impact on a space.
You might be interested to know that top-level remodels with all the bells and whistles don’t recoup as many costs as mid-level remodels. So while it may seem that you need the smart appliances and most expensive granite countertops, you can have a better return-on-investment for a smaller-scale renovation—like bringing your cabinets up to date, updating your backsplash, or refinishing your sink or countertops.
Consider how your current kitchen works for you
Think seriously about whether or not the current footprint of your kitchen works for you. If it does—if you like the location of the main fixtures like your sink, stove, dishwasher, refrigerator—then your remodel might be more about appearance, like painting or updating hardware. If you’re having storage issues, adding shelving or updating cabinets might be the way to go.
But if the footprint of your kitchen doesn’t work—if the island is too small or non-existent, if there’s no counter space, if things get in the way of each other—then remember that paint can’t help with that. This larger-scale renovation might bring you more enjoyment from your space, and make it work better for how your family uses it.
If your current footprint DOES work for you, easily make big-impact updates.
Some budget updates can get you the most bang for your buck. Replacing cabinets with fashionable and lighter-looking open shelving can make a space look airy and more in line with other rooms of the house. Updating light fixtures can make the room look better and feel more pleasant, and painting walls or cabinets—or even the ceiling—can update a space without breaking the bank. Even new hardware can give a space a new and trendy feel.
And small organization choices can help make a space work better—re-organizing, labeling, or designating a homework space or coffee bar can make daily life run more smoothly. Adding storage space—like pegboards, baskets, drawers, or fold-away surfaces—can improve the function of the space without a full remodel.
If the current footprint DOES NOT work for you, prioritize function.
While top-of-the-line smart appliances, heated floors, built-in-espresso-bars, and marble countertops might sound great, remember to keep in mind how your kitchen currently works for you. Budget time and money to make the changes that will have the most impact—adding an island, moving the location of the sink or stove, removing a wall, adding a window.
Remember to choose appliances you will use and that potential future buyers might like as well—while a bright pink stove might be right up your alley, try to keep the future in mind for appliances that aren’t replaced often. And when choosing countertops, remember that surfaces like marble stain easily and need a lot more care than other less-expensive materials.
Even while keeping future re-sale in mind, remember that you’re designing the kitchen for your family. You know your budget and how your space needs to work—pick features you’ll use and that will work for you!
Consider refinishing for countertops and sinks.
If you’re keeping the current footprint of your space, you might wonder if you need to replace worn, outdated, or damaged countertops. While damage—like chips, cracks, scratches, or burns—on a countertop can drag down the appearance of a room, making even the cleanest kitchen look dirty and tired, these issues can be quickly and easily resolved with a process called refinishing or reglazing.
This process means that the surface of the counter is gently sanded down, repaired, and given a new, high-gloss coating. This makes the space look great, might make it easier to clean, prevents long-term damage, and can even update outdated colors. Faux granite countertops can complement the colors of a space and bring it into the current era.
If your sink is chipped, cracked, or damaged, kitchen sink reglazing is also possible—this is a great option for those with oddly-shaped sinks, which can quickly run up costs when it comes to the plumbing work needed for replacement. And a Corian Counter top and sink were designed to be refinished—check out more details on our blog!
Where can I find counter and sink reglazing near me? The Tub Pros proudly serve the greater Memphis area of the Mid-South. Our refinishing services—for counters, tile, sinks, and even tubs and showers—can get your space functioning great and looking like new in just a few short hours. If you’re ready to get started on your project, give us a call at (901) 871-8827 or use our convenient online contact form. We’re here to help!
**Disclaimer** Please be advised that all content, including Blog articles, on the website thetubpros.com and The Tub Pros LLC is for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR SUBSTITUTED FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. No guarantees are made and the use of the website, content, and any information provided is at your own risk. If you are seeking professional advice, you are strongly encouraged to consult with a competent specialist in your area who can provide you with specialist advice on your particular matter or need.