One of the important rooms in any home is the kitchen. This sees a lot of use and therefore it is an important space to get right. From cooking meals to having family dinners or friend’s round to chat over a coffee, it is one place that will see lots of action.
If you have just moved into a new property where the kitchen is looking a bit tired or dated, then you may see a total renovation as the only option open to you. This will not only allow you to stamp your own personality on the room but also totally refresh how the space looks.
The same is true if you have lived in a property for a long time. The kitchen may have looked great 10 years ago but after a while, it might need a total renovation to update it.
If this is the case, then you may decide to carry out the work yourself as a DIY project.
Plan out your renovation properly
If you plan to complete a DIY renovation project for your kitchen, there are a few things to think about. Firstly, you must plan out the work properly. This is no time to wing it and deal with issues as they come along.
Make a proper plan of the new layout and take time to source the cabinets or new appliances you want. It is also worth making sure you have all the tools you need, a skip hired to dump the old kitchen into and a plan of which jobs you will tackle first.
Be accurate with your measurements
A major aspect of any planning for a renovation project is to measure everything properly. You do not want to cut something to fit only to find your measurements were off.
By the same token, you do not want new cabinets or appliances turning up that don’t fit in the space you have for them. Most pros will measure everything twice to be sure and this is a great DIY tip when doing the work yourself.
Call in the experts when needed
Although there is much on a kitchen renovation project you can handle yourself, you may come across certain jobs that you need qualified help with. Common examples of this are any kind of electrical rewiring or fitting of gas cookers.
These specialized jobs need expert tradespeople to handle safely. Do not be tempted to have a go yourself – it could not only lead to serious injury for you or others in the house, but it could also invalidate your insurance too. As with all DIY work, the most important thing is to stay safe.
Match up new appliances
A good tip when completing a DIY kitchen remodel is to match up all your appliances from the same brand. This will give your new kitchen a sleek, unified look where everything blends together perfectly.
Most well-known brands now have a range of appliances to make this easy. Just remember to pick colors and styles that work with the design of your new kitchen, rather than against it.
Think about a home warranty
One thing to consider after the renovation is complete, is to take out a warranty plan for your home. This is a plan that covers common home repairs so, for kitchens, this applies to items like ovens, stoves, dishwashers and fridges. Many plans will also provide cover for things like your kitchen plumbing system.
Of course, you should assess the cost first but you will usually find that what you pay for a home warranty plan is great value when compared to covering any future repair or replacement costs yourself.
Covering your new kitchen with a home warranty will give you peace of mind that they are protected for the future. Not only that but it could save you money in the long term were anything to go wrong.
Take your time when remodeling your own kitchen
Carrying out a DIY kitchen renovation can be done with some good planning and an organized approach. One key tip is to simply give yourself plenty of time to get it all done and not to rush. When you start to go too quickly, mistakes will usually happen.
If you take it steady and call in expert help where needed, you will end up with a new kitchen that the whole family love.