Planning a Kitchen Renovation?

Tackling a kitchen remodel can be a rewarding but challenging process. The key to saving yourself from stress? Lots of planning. With a few key elements and the help of our step-by step guide, planning your kitchen remodel idea can be seamless.

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Step 1: List Your Wants & Needs

Creating a list of wants and needs is a great place to start when creating a home renovation checklist. A new oven may be at the top of the list of needs, while a wine fridge may top the wants list. These lists are a great way to keep everyone on the same page.

When working on your home renovation checklist, it’s important to consider a few things to help you finalise your dream kitchen.

• Kitchen layout. It’s important to decide whether you are happy with the layout of your kitchen or if you want to remodel it to suit your needs better.
• Cabinetry. Remodeling may involve refreshing your current cabinets with new hardware or opting for all new cabinetry (stock or semi-custom) for a fresh start.
• Appliances. Look at your appliances and see what you will keep or replace, and what you want to get rid of.
• Flooring. Flooring will impact the installation of your cabinets, so you’ll have to decide if you want to keep your current flooring or replace that as well. Our guide, How to Choose the Perfect Flooring for Your Kitchen will give you more info.

Step 2: Set Your Budget

Setting a budget will help you create the kitchen of your dreams while ensuring your project is realistic and on track.

On average, homeowners tend to spend £150 per square foot for a full gut and replacement. Each piece of your remodel will impact your final cost. Having the design decisions in place first will easily allow you to add to or take away from the scope of the project. For instance, if you're considering stock or semi-custom cabinetry, there will be a difference in price and product arrival.

Step 3: Have a Design Plan

This is where you'll solidify plans, from layout changes to choosing the right materials. Creating a mood board can be a great resource to aggregate your ideas. You can also get inspiration from Wayfair's​ Shop the Look page. It's also a great opportunity to play with your budget to see what can be rearranged to accommodate those numbers. Maybe the tile cost can be lowered to make room for your dream cooker hood.

This step may also include finding the right people to help. From designers to contractors, based on your comfort level, it can be invaluable to have a little guidance. Their know-how makes it easier to source elements that may take months or cost more. They can definitely help avoid costly mistakes.

Make sure that everything in your design plan is in place before a hammer is taken to the wall. Having all of the specifics, like measurements, squared away is essential to a seamless kitchen remodel.

Step 4: Establish a (Realistic) Timeline

Timelines can fluctuate depending on the market, complicated nature of the project, time of year, availability of appliances, shipping timelines and code approval. A realistic timeline for a kitchen remodel can be anywhere from three to six months. Be ready for a few unexpected surprises to help manage stress levels as much as possible. There will be glitches and bumps in the road, but know that in the end, this process will be so worth it.

However, a part of having realistic timelines means understanding how long each portion of the remodel can take and when to order your materials. For example, kitchen cabinets are typically the first product within the project to be ordered as they have a longer timeline. Semi-custom cabinets typically ship within 3 and 4 weeks, though they may be delayed if there are supply demands. As we mentioned in step 2, a designer or contractor can help you with when to order materials

Step 5: Begin Your Kitchen Remodel

Before beginning your remodel, go over your kitchen remodel checklist:

• List your wants and needs
• Set your budget
• Create a design plan
• Apply for necessary work permits
• Establish a timeline
• Choose your materials, which may include:
  • Kitchen sink
  • Kitchen taps
  • Kitchen appliances (refrigerator, range and range hood, dishwasher etc.)
  • Backsplash
  • Flooring
  • Cabinets
  • Cabinet hardware
  • Decor & accessories

Tip: For more kitchen ideas and inspiration, check out:

• Need Help Choosing Your Next Kitchen Sink?
• Kitchen Decor Ideas That'll Never Go Out of Style
• 5 Cooker Hood Ideas To Boost Your Kitchen's Design