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The kitchen, a key room in any home, often captivates homeowners when exploring real estate. Its layout, functionality, and wall colors significantly impact your decision, evoking warmth and nostalgia. A well-planned kitchen can feel instantly like home, reminding you of family meals and shared moments.
Houzz’s survey of 1,337 homeowners revealed an average spend of $11,000 on kitchen remodels, reaching up to $33,000. This presents lucrative opportunities for interior designers and contractors. Whether you’re planning a new kitchen design or updating an existing one for resale, using a kitchen remodeling tool can streamline the process and maximize the return on this substantial investment.
13 Best Kitchen Remodeling Ideas
1. Use bold cabinet designs
Although you may not think so, cabinets can actually make quite a statement in your kitchen. Whether they are lower cabinets or upper cabinets they can add an aesthetic appeal to the whole space. You can use simple wood cabinets, or white cabinets to make your small kitchen remodel turn out successful. But why stop there when you can customize your kitchen cabinets to reflect your personal style?
If you’re wondering how to do that, we have a few ideas. You can choose from a wide array of bold cabinetry designs with Mediterranean patterns for a contemporary kitchen. Or you can choose sleek design ideas with laminate or glass doors for a modern kitchen. If you have a penchant for art, you can also use textured or decorated glass panels with sophisticated designs that make you feel more comfortable and serene.
You can really influence the look of your new kitchen with your imagination, with just a hint of personal touches.
Read also – Best Modern Kitchen Design Ideas for 2024
2. Add a kitchen island
A kitchen island can make a major difference in your kitchen. Yes, the countertops and slabs are very helpful, but a kitchen island can help you open up space further, while still creating an illusion of closed functionality. What we mean is, that you can open up the walls to your kitchen and change the floor plan. Maybe your kitchen can overlook the living room or dining area so you can cook for your friends and loved ones while still being part of their conversation.
With a kitchen island, you can create more space for seating or laying down cooked items. You can even double it into a workstation with open shelves on the sides to hold your chopping board, butcher block, cheese grater, and other smaller objects that you need for preparation before you start cooking the meal. For open-concept kitchens, kitchen islands might not be a great fit.
| Laurel Vernazza, Home Design Expert at The Plan Collection recommends that you in an open-concept kitchen, I always recommend installing the cooktop along a counter that runs against a wall. It may look attractive in a photo shoot, but locating a cooktop, on a kitchen island runs into risks, challenges, and practical problems. |
3. Use uncommon shelving and storage spaces
Gone are the days of open shelving and boring storage spaces. With new interior design plans and innovative kitchen remodeling ideas on a budget, you can liven up your kitchen and elevate its functionality. If you have a large kitchen, then you can not only install befitting cabinetry and a kitchen island with storage but also implement hanging storage facilities for easier access.
Small kitchen? No problem! You can get creative with your layout and look for compact, efficient appliances and smart storage solutions that maximize space or have a dual purpose. Also use all the nooks and crannies a Kitchen can offer by looking into pop-up appliances, electrical outlets, and lazy susan corners. Thus hanging open shelves or innovative kitchen renovation can provide the much-needed storage spaces without compromising your idea of a sleep modern kitchen or overloading your countertops.
Also, don’t forget the pantry area. It may seem easier to store all your food in the kitchen cabinets, but it could be an unreliable option as it cannot accommodate bulk purchases, which are relatively cheaper. Therefore, use a little space to install a pantry room where you can store food for longer periods of time.
Read also – Best Kitchen Decor Ideas
4. Add a tile backsplash
The backsplash is an inevitable part of cooking exquisite meals for your family. You can’t control the sputtering and splatters but you can prevent them from destroying your beautiful white kitchen, the subway tile on the back wall, or even the wood panels. A tile backsplash is ideally located in a strategic position to control the imminent moisture and grime from ruining your new kitchen.
These structures can be pre-installed or even used as temporary measures while cooking. Innovative kitchen solutions and interior designs can facilitate removable tile backsplashes. Ideally, you can also use wax or laminate to protect the walls and the backsplash as an added measure to keep your kitchen shiny and clean.
Read also – Best Small Kitchen Design Ideas
5. Implement statement décor
The kitchen is such an important part of your household. It deserves a décor worthy of its valor. Make way for natural lighting, it can elevate your decor to a new level and also let sunlight, a natural disinfectant work its magic in your kitchen. It may seem irrelevant to implement artwork and ostentatious decorative pieces in this particular space, but you can still liven it up with fixtures and lighting for added effect.
You can create a statement with some tall bar tools around the kitchen island and convert the space into a mini-bar with a shaker and some jars of assorted ingredients. You can also use pendant lights for mood lighting for date night or some neon lights for party time.
These décor pieces are small and almost negligent unless they are in use. They are pretty much subdued so they don’t get in the way while you move around your kitchen in a hurry. But they do add an aesthetic appeal so your kitchen looks beautiful and keeps on par with the rest of your home décor.
| Artem Kropovinsky, the founder at Arsight says, “ Sometimes it’s all about having the right light. It is not about showing your kitchen but making it real. Combining different kinds of lighting will make an entirely new atmosphere.” |
6. Install advanced stainless steel appliances
Most appliances these days implement stainless steel for its durability, hygiene, and tensile strength.
Commonly used wood burners, steel grates, iron, and other materials that were used in the past, were definitely usable but not reliable.
Stainless steel appliances are hardy and sleek. Not only do they withstand extreme heat and cold temperatures, but they are also easier to clean. You may not always have the time to scrub those burners and spilled food, especially if they dry from the heat.
But with stainless steel appliances, a quick wipe is enough to remove the residue and stains, leaving your kitchen spotless. Not to mention, they add a modern feel to your kitchen design, besides the high-end functionality.
Read also – Best Kitchen Layout Design Ideas
7. Make a living green wall
In the green wall, you can install panels on the kitchen wall to grow herbs, small vegetables, or even edible flowers. This concept not only brings a vibrant splash of greenery into the kitchen, adding to the aesthetics but also serves a functional purpose.
| Bree Steele, Interior Decorator, at RJ Living makes a great point about having a green wall. In recent times, we’ve seen a rising popularity of the ‘slow living’ movement, which is all about mindfulness, sustainability, and authenticity. One of the ways to celebrate these philosophies in the kitchen is to introduce a living green wall (or vertical garden). |
8. Add a touch of metallic hardware
Metallic structures add flair to your kitchen design. Whether it is a contemporary kitchen, a modern kitchen, or even one with a rustic theme, metallic hardware fits into everything. Sure that farmhouse sink looks appealing with its marble or granite finish. But a stainless steel metallic sink merges in with your appliances with ease. You can also add a stainless steel faucet to further increase the aesthetic value of your new kitchen.
Since the kitchen sink suffers the worst of the worst, stainless steel helps keep it protected. It won’t rust easily and the stains come off with ease, thus leaving your kitchen clean and hygienic for an extended period.
If you are a homeowner who is renovating the kitchen to sell your real estate, then metallic hardware is a great idea. It helps potential buyers envision their kitchen knowing that their tasks will be minimized in the space.
Read also – How Much Does It Cost To Paint The Interior Of A House?
9. Consider air quality in your kitchen
If you’re planning to use the space after your kitchen remodeling project after the renovation or flip the house after the renovation project, you need to bear in mind the air quality in your kitchen and find ways to let the cooking odor and exhaust out. While exhausts and hoods are the go-to to maintain a smoke-free kitchen, you’d be interested to know that a lot of people now plan to move away from gas stoves.
10. Use substantial materials for countertops
Most people tend to overlook the quality of materials used in cabinets, countertops, tiles, etc. because they prefer to save money on these dull objects in order to finance their interior design plans to make the kitchen look pretty.
However, this is a faulty concept.
The kitchen countertops experience the most rigorous activities when you’re cooking your meals. Therefore, they must be of good quality so as to avoid cracking, chipping, or breaking under pressure.
While marble and granite countertops may be good choices for the price, they also have their flaws of chipping, cracking, or even yielding germs. These materials are no doubt sturdy, but they are a hot zone for infestation due to the porosity and visible cracks.
Quartz countertops are a much better solution for your needs. They are extremely tough, and almost unbreakable, which makes them durable solutions. Additionally, the hardy exterior makes it impossible to breed germs in the cracks thereby keeping your kitchen clean and hygienic at all times.
| If you want a unique touch to your countertops, you can paint them too. Melanie Hartmann, owner of Creo Home Buyers in Maryland says, “While a tricky DIY renovation, painting your counters correctly can instantly refresh and update your kitchen with a more modern ‘finish’.” |
Read also – 34 Walk-in Closet Design Ideas for Every Home
11. Make a place for everything
A kitchen makeover is a perfect opportunity to redefine the functionality of your kitchen. Everything in your kitchen should have a purpose. If it doesn’t, then it has no reason to be there.
| Docia Boylen, owner of Handyman Connection of Golden says, “Along with making space for every item you own, think of the type of ‘work zones’ you need in your kitchen and then organize the storage areas for those work tasks to store the items you need.” |
Choose your upper cabinets wisely to accommodate the necessities such as plates, bowls, and everything else you need instantly.
You can choose pull-out or open shelves for the lower cabinets and store the unbreakable things there. Remember to ensure that you don’t store any hazardous materials as they are easily accessible to children. Place your cooktop in a strategic location, ideally close to the dishwasher and at an appropriate distance from the sink. This way, you can make a place for the rest of your appliances in the free spaces where you can access them easily.
When there is a place for everything and everything stays in its place, your kitchen remains uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing. It also helps you maintain smooth functionality without bumping into things while you are cooking in a hurry.
For example, if you make coffee every morning – having a coffee bar storage center where mugs, coffee, and pots are all in the same area and enough room to store what you need will create a coffee zone in your kitchen. Design storage for cooking tools near the stove, cooking ingredients near the prep area, and dishware near the dishwasher.
Read also – Top 15 Latest Interior Design Trends in 2024
12. Don’t shy away from adding personal touches
DIY kitchen remodeling is all the rage right now.
An interior designer can help you reorganize the floor plan of your kitchen and renovate it for optimum functionality. However, you can still add some personal touches to make the space more homely and tailored to you. You can ask them to install pieces of furniture or woodwork that you may have created or designed, such as a china cabinet or bar stools. You can also piece together furnishings from IKEA and paint them yourself with customized designs. Or you can even hang photo frames with pictures of your loved ones in the kitchen because why not?
These personalized features actually add character to your kitchen, making it feel more cozy and desirable. Unless, of course, you plan on flipping the piece of real estate, in which case implementing personal touches is needless. Still, you can personalize a little to add style and design to the property with subtle pieces of furniture like the bar stools and a range hood that appeals to your potential buyers.
Read also – How to Create the Best Architect Portfolio in 2024
13. Bring in standalone appliance garages
The cabinetry will conceal the appliances, but a cabinet door with a lift mechanism allows for easy access to appliances. Appliance garages feature a dedicated outlet within them and come in handy to bring in many appliances under one umbrella.
| Thomas Borcherding, the owner and principal designer of Homestar Design Remodel recommends a brilliant solution to appliance accommodations – an appliance garage. It’s a cabinetry modification that allows for a dedicated countertop nook for appliances. |
Conclusion
Kitchen renovation is an opportunity to instill new memories and create a personalized space for your family. It is the only room in the house where your friends and loved ones can come together to laugh and share stories while enjoying a meal you make for them with love and care.
You can add a small table and create a breakfast nook for your family to convene and start your day with them. You can use an open-planned kitchen as a link to catch up with your children while they finish their homework or play in the living room.
The kitchen is a space for bonding and celebrations and you can design it to yield a lot more than just cooking meals.
Try Foyr Neo software to remodel your kitchen and turn your kitchen into a new trend. Sign up for the 14-day free trial today!
FAQs
Use warm colors, comfortable seating, and personal touches like artwork or family photos to create a welcoming atmosphere.
Consider the style, functionality, and finish of the faucet. Touchless faucets and those with pull-out sprayers are popular choices.
Choose a few high-end finishes, such as a statement light fixture or upscale countertops, to add a touch of luxury without breaking the bank.
Install lower countertops and accessible storage solutions, and consider touch-activated or lever-handled faucets for universal design.
Consider Roman shades, bamboo blinds, or even stained glass for unique and stylish window treatments.
