Redecorating your kitchen can be a fun and exciting time, especially if you’ve been dealing with nasty or problematic elements from the previous owner. Of course, it can also be a bit of a nightmare if you don’t take the proper steps to ensure that the work you’re doing is going to be functional and attractive. The following will explore a few tips you might want to implement when designing your dream kitchen.

Be Honest About Your Needs

Magazines and Pinterest are filled with glorious images of glossy kitchens, but not all kitchens are suitable for all lifestyles. Think about how many people are in your kitchen during busy times, consider what things you need to be able to do in your kitchen, and be honest about how much stuff you have to store and the features you need to include to keep kids and pets out of the things they need to be kept out of. Never sacrifice function or comfort for style. 

You will come to regret it and very quickly discover that what once felt stylish is now the bane of your existence. It is especially important to plan for everything you use on a regular basis to be easily accessible. 

Think About Maintenance

Similar to the above point, there are things that look great in photos that quickly don’t look great in real life when smeared with the messes that come with daily living. When selecting materials, look for things that are easy to clean; recent information from MSI shows that you can often find waterproof, damage-resistant alternatives to traditionally sought materials like wood. This can allow you to have the hardwood look without worrying about water damage or other problems occurring over time. 

It’s also especially important to think about color choice if you have pets or little ones. White carpet doesn’t mix well with crayons; darker flooring doesn’t work great with light-colored pet fur. No matter how much you love your new kitchen, there are going to be days when you don’t get everything on your to-do list done; try to make selections that make those days easier on the eyes.

Consider Colour Psychology

Whether you know it or not, the colors around you are impacting your psychological state. Take the time to learn about the effects different colors have and be wary of negative impacts when selecting larger swatches like flooring, paint, wallpaper, or countertops. It turns out that super trendy grey everyone has been loving isn’t actually good for your mood.

Incorporate Plants

Plants and kitchens go hand in hand. You can grow your own herbs on the countertop or window sill, but even non-edible plants add a lively feeling to your space. Beyond the fresh look of thriving plants, houseplants have been shown to clean the air of toxins which is a particular concern in the kitchen where heat, cooking, and regular usage of cleaning products are further adding to the contaminants found inside homes. Studies have even shown that house plants improve your mood by releasing oxygen into the air.

Maximize Natural Light

Natural lighting makes everything look better; just ask a filmmaker or photographer. If you’re selecting window coverings, make sure that they can open completely to allow a maximum amount of light in. You might also want to play up light by placing a mirror opposite your largest window or hanging suncatchers in the window. 

Go Bigger With Your Sink

This is a hyper-practical tip that tends to support all lifestyles. If you’re torn between different sinks, go for the bigger one. Something like a Belfast sink can make big cleanups a lot easier. This also allows you to quickly hide dishes from view when you’ve got company in the other room who don’t want to wait for you to wash up after lunch or if your in-laws suddenly show up. Sooner or later, you’re going to have a big mess to deal with, and a big sink can make it much easier on you to handle it.

The above tips should help you with the design stage of your dream kitchen. It’s important when budgeting to understand that the initial estimate you’re given for cost is likely going to be lower than the final cost (expect to spend about 30% more than the estimate). Likewise, the renovation process is probably going to take 30% longer than initially expected. This is because no matter how new a home is, renovations reveal surprises. You might find piping that needs to be updated, water damage behind the drywall, or even the nest of a rare bird on a windowsill that needs to be collected by an endangered species expert before you’re allowed to continue working.