Is it time for a kitchen renovation in your Okotoks home? A renovation is a significant undertaking, so timing is important. This post will help you determine the right time for your kitchen renovation.
5 Signs It’s Time for a Kitchen Renovation
How can you know that your kitchen needs renovation? Here are five signs to pay attention to.
1. Your kitchen is outdated
Your kitchen is the heart of your home, and that means an outdated kitchen affects the appeal of your home as a whole. Even if a complete kitchen remodel isn’t necessary, you can still give your kitchen a visual update by doing one or more of the following:
- Repaint the walls
- Install new cabinet doors
- Upgrade the door handles and drawer pulls
- Install new countertops
- Update the backsplash
- Lay new flooring
A modern, up-to-date kitchen elevates the overall look of your home’s interior.
2. The functionality or layout of your kitchen is inadequate
There are many factors that may contribute to a lack of functionality in your kitchen, such as:
- Electrical issues like flickering lights, frequently burnt bulbs, or blown breakers
- Poor lighting
- Old appliances
- An inefficient or awkward layout
Older kitchens can even become hard to keep clean—cabinet finishes look dirty even after a good scrub; grout lines in the backsplash or flooring are permanently stained; countertops, sinks, or flooring are faded or worn-out from years of use and ground-in dirt.
Increasing the functionality of your kitchen improves efficiency and the enjoyment of your home. It also makes entertaining easier and more enjoyable for both hosts and guests.
3. Your kitchen lacks storage and organization
Putting away groceries can be frustrating when you can’t find sufficient space to store them. Working in the kitchen becomes drudgery when the counters are full of stuff you can’t store elsewhere and you can’t find what you’re looking for because the room is unorganized.
Check out the following posts for ideas for small kitchens, eliminating kitchen clutter, organizing your kitchen, and creating more storage.
37 Ways to Make Your Small Kitchen Better
9 Ways to Organize Your Kitchen to Make Healthy Eating Easier
15 Easy Ways to Conquer Kitchen Clutter
Small Kitchen Renovation Ideas
How to Make Your Small Kitchen Look & Feel Bigger
When there’s a place for everything, it’s easier to keep everything in its place and enjoy your kitchen.
4. You’ve outgrown the kitchen space
If you’ve lived in your home for a while, the kitchen you loved at first probably doesn’t meet your needs anymore. Adding children or older parents to your household might make your kitchen feel too small. Or if you’ve become empty nesters, maybe a smaller kitchen fits you better now.
Family size is an important factor in your kitchen needs, but lifestyle plays a part, too. Maybe you entertain a lot these days, or you prefer eating at your island instead of a full-size dining table. If you enjoy cooking with your spouse or kids, your kitchen must accommodate that.
Even if you’re not an avid cook, you still require a minimal amount of space. You have dishes and food to store no matter how little you cook. And simple throw-together meals require at least some counter space for you to prepare them.
Adequate space is a key to a kitchen you enjoy working in. You can create more space in your kitchen in various ways, including:
- A new layout to maximize wall space, work surfaces, and storage
- Remove a wall to make the space feel bigger and allow for an island or eating bar
- Add a pantry
- Install extra shelving
- Increase countertop space
- Increase cupboard space and make cupboards more accessible
- Take advantage of “empty” space such as extending cabinets to the ceiling
If your kitchen feels crowded or cluttered, you can’t find a space to fit big pots or small appliances, or your food gets lost in your crammed cabinetry, it’s time to renovate your kitchen.
5. You plan to sell your home
Do you have fond memories in your kitchen? You may find its quirks endearing. At least, you’re used to your kitchen the way it is. But if you plan to sell your home, it’s important to take a step back and look at your kitchen through the eyes of a potential buyer.
The kitchen is arguably the most important room in a house. Of Canadian homebuyers, 69% said they would have paid more for new appliances, and 55% would have paid more for granite countertops. A kitchen renovation might be worth the investment if it means you can sell your home for significantly more money.
Check out these Top 10 Kitchen Upgrades to Add Value to Your Home.
Factors to Consider Before an Okotoks Kitchen Renovation
Even when your kitchen shows signs that it’s time for a renovation, there are a few other factors to consider before you get started on your kitchen renovation project.
Budget and Cost Analysis
Naturally, money is a factor. What’s your budget? A bit of research is necessary to find out how much a new kitchen costs and how much a kitchen renovation costs in Okotoks. When you have a rough estimate, you can set a realistic budget. Knowing how much your kitchen reno may cost will help you to determine if it’s the right time.
Lifestyle and Needs
If you plan to host large parties or gatherings over the holidays, or if you have out-of-town guests coming to stay for a while, you don’t want your kitchen off-limits during that time. So, when planning a renovation, take into account your calendar, your lifestyle, and your needs during the renovation process.
Weather can also be a factor. Here in Okotoks, summer is a great time to renovate because we have nicer weather that allows us to enjoy outdoor barbecues. The availability of contractors and materials can be another factor.
Market Trends and Home Value
Especially if you’re planning to sell your house within the next several years, a kitchen renovation could be a worthwhile investment. Newly renovated kitchens attract homebuyers: 58% of homebuyers say their preferred style of kitchen was extremely or very important to their home-buying decision.
Is it time for a kitchen renovation in your Okotoks home?
Are you ready to renovate the kitchen in your Okotoks home? The experts at Riverstone Kitchens & Renovations can help you plan your kitchen renovation, including the right timing. Contact us today for a free consultation.
