Is your kitchen in desperate need of a makeover? The linoleum floors, laminate countertops, and garish wallpaper remind you of an era long gone, and you’ve come to the decision that it’s finally time to modernize.
A kitchen makeover is a fantastic way to improve the aesthetic and value of your home, but tackling this behemoth of a project can also prove overwhelming if you don’t have a solid grasp on what you need to do and how to do it. Here are some kitchen remodeling mistakes to avoid so you can skip the headache and fast-forward to the reveal of your brand-new food sanctuary.
The Wrong Contractor
If you’re planning on hiring a contractor to handle the bulk of the remodeling, make sure to choose wisely. The right contractor can make your dreams come true, but the wrong contractor can take that dream, crush it into teeny-tiny pieces, and stomp on it.
Don’t choose the first contractor that comes up during a five-second Google search or the cheapest contractor in your area. Take the time to search, read reviews, interview prospective candidates, and compare before choosing a contractor.
DIY Difficulties
Going the DIY route has plenty of perks. You’re completely in charge of the project from start to finish, for one. But there’s one glaring downside—you might make mistakes.
You don’t have the expertise and knowledge of a pro, so you’re bound to slip up here and there. You might forget to disassemble your countertops before painting them or mess up the electrical system or plumbing. If you feel like a task is too complicated to manage on your own, enlist help.
Style Mismatch
You’ve handpicked everything for your brand-new kitchen—the cabinets, the backsplash, the appliances, and more. But when they show up at your doorstep, you’re dismayed to learn that they don’t match. The final kitchen remodeling mistake to avoid is accidentally picking out design elements that clash. How do you avoid this unfortunate scenario?
When you’re choosing furniture, decorations, or appliances for your kitchen, don’t neglect to grab and compare samples. Those little colorful cards found in the paint aisle of your local hardware store are paint samples. You can also get palm-sized samples of tiles, hardware, wood, appliance metals, and other materials. If you place those samples side-by-side and they don’t look quite right, tinker with the design.