They say the kitchen is the heart of the home; and the kitchen does set the tone for the entire house. It has the ability to not only provide a meal but a complete experience. In older homes, more importance was given to the dining and living rooms but times have changed and most families congregate in a large open plan kitchen for both preparing the meal, dining together and quite often the room is used as a living space too, having furniture to relax and continue conversation while digesting your Christmas Turkey.
Your family and guests often gather in the kitchen to socialize, eat, and cook together, so it’s important to make sure your kitchen is a space you really love. Perhaps this upcoming new year one of your goals is to give your home the kitchen it deserves. It’s very easy for homeowners to get bored with their space, and important to spruce it up a bit from time to time. You may want to change the decor or you may be wishing for a complete renovation.
Due to the fact that the kitchen is the most used room in the home, not having one during the renovation period can be stressful.
Here are a few tips on how to renovate and style your kitchen without the stress:
• We often go into renovations with inaccurate ideas of what will save money. Understand the biggest ways to save. Companies such as Kitchen Warehouse can provide you with the kitchen of your dreams, design and personalise it to whatever suits you and your family. Your kitchen can then be flat-packed to your home for you to fit yourself, or find someone to do the work for you.
• Go for what you love, not just what’s ‘in’ right now. While a good company is invaluable, remember that your kitchen designer isn’t going to live with this kitchen — you are! You’ll save money and time by doing your own homework on what you want, especially all the finishing details. And don’t be afraid to go with your gut instinct.
• There’s no denying that it’s hard living without kitchen units or even a kitchen sink. Be clever; use your microwave, toaster, slow cooker and refrigerator in another room. Plan simple meals that don’t require much prep or cooking, or purchase complete pre-packaged meals (t.v. dinners) that can be prepared in the microwave. If you don’t have access to your dishwasher or kitchen sink, then you’ll need to plan on using paper plates and disposable utensils.
• After you’ve figured out all the fine details, keep a folder with all the details of your decisions, plans, blueprints, order forms, timeline, and photos of ordered fixtures. Staying organized is very important!
• If the renovation is getting too much for you, save your sanity and stay with family and friends. This is an absolute luxury as It’s rarely possible for homeowners to live elsewhere while renovating, but if you can, it’s so helpful. It’s tough to feel rushed to get your kitchen in working order and the drywall dust out of your living space; it can lead to emotional decisions. If this isn’t possible, why not book a holiday and return to a shiny new kitchen!?
The kitchen is the most important room in your home because it is the center of your family’s day-to-day living. Take on board these renovation tips and create for yourself the kitchen that you deserve.
