By far one of the most important spaces in the house, a kitchen is not only a functional area where your family gathers to prepare, cook and share meals, it has been described as the true heart and soul of a home. But if it’s damaged, dated, cluttered or dysfunctional, then it’s not going to be somewhere your family naturally gravitates to, is it?
A brand new kitchen can effortlessly blend comfort, beauty and convenience, and it can help to create the perfect sanctuary where the family can congregate … any time of the day! Here are our top 6 reasons to remodel your kitchen.
#1 – Your Current Kitchen Is Deteriorating
Probably the most obvious reason for undertaking a kitchen renovation is deterioration. Kitchens are busy places, so it’s not surprising that over the years they suffer from damage. Cracked tiles, uneven floors, peeling countertops, faulty taps, water damage – none of these will inspire family gatherings or gourmet cooking for that matter!
#2 – You’d Like To Add Value To Your Home
Nothing adds value to a home more than a beautifully renovated kitchen. Ask any real estate agent! Homes with modern, functional kitchens will often ‘make or break’ a real estate deal because they are much more appealing to savvy homebuyers. Ask yourself … would you prefer a home with an on-trend design and modern appliances, or one with aging cabinets and a cooktop that’s seen better days?
If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen, you should try to view your financial outlay as a long-term investment rather than a short-term expense. In fact, homeowners typically recoup more than half of what they spend on their renovation project anyway, so the short-term pain should be worth the long-term gain!
#3 – You Want To Save On Your Energy Bills
With energy costs steadily on the rise, something else to consider when undertaking kitchen remodelling is whether your renovations will grant you any eco-friendly advantages. ‘Greener’ kitchens generally perform better, use less energy and can therefore often equate to energy savings.
Solar water heaters place less stress on the environment and skylights can make use of natural light, therefore reducing the need for artificial light. Energy efficient appliances can also help you save on energy bills. Many electrical appliances now sold in Australia have an energy rating label (based on a star system) which helps buyers compare how much electricity a product uses compared to other appliances. It’s a handy assessment of your appliance’s energy efficiency – the more stars, the more efficient the appliance and potentially more savings for you!
#4 – You Would Like To Modernize-Up
Bringing your kitchen into the 21st century can not only be an investment opportunity and an energy-saving exercise, it can also help modernise the look and feel of your entire home.
If you’re looking to modernise your kitchen, an ideal starting point is to think about what sort of can’t-do-without appliances you’ll need in order to add to your kitchen’s functionality. Bigger items like dishwashers, fridges and cooktops often take up a large amount of space, so you’ll need to factor these in before choosing your cabinetry, for example.
Plus, appliances these days can not only add to the overall efficiency of your kitchen, they can change the way you cook! Dishwashers are quieter, refrigerator designs allow easier access, and induction cooktops add a new dimension to the type of dishes you can whip up in a flash. Who said cooking was a chore!
#5 – You Want A Kitchen That Suits Your Lifestyle
Another thing that can motivate you to update your kitchen is whether it suits you and your family’s needs and lifestyle. In the past, kitchens were separated from the rest of the house, however many of today’s modern designs recognise that the kitchen is actually the hub of the home.
Kitchen renovations can transform your kitchen into a welcoming entertainment area, particularly if you open up the room to the rest of your living spaces or combine your kitchen and dining areas to create a more practical living space. Or if you’re keen to simplify family meals, adding a ‘breakfast bar’ can enable you to effectively manage the time you spend preparing and serving food … for at least one meal anyway!
#6 – You Need A Kitchen That’s More Functional
If you’re going to spend a lot of time in your new kitchen (and let’s face it, a lot of us do), then it needs to be functional to allow for maximum efficiency, reduced workload and a streamlined food preparation process. Are you consistently bumping into others while you’re preparing a meal? Is there a corner of your kitchen that always seems to be cluttered? Is there enough room to enable you to multi-task?
If the answer’s no to any of these, then a new kitchen renovation can help remove bottlenecks and adding more cabinets, a second sink, a bigger pantry or even a kitchen island for food prep will all help your kitchen layout work more effectively for you.
The ability to clean is also something to consider if you’re going to remodel your kitchen, and things like low-maintenance appliances and an accessible floor plan will not only benefit your kitchen’s appearance but also add to the longevity of its components.
One last piece of advice? Remember that there’s no such thing as a kitchen that’s perfect for everyone, but renovation can give you the chance to create a kitchen that’s perfect for you!
Planning a brand new kitchen renovation? Contact the experts at All Bathroom Gear today on (07) 3391 8628.
