Pro Tips for the Amateur DIYer: Renovating Your Kitchen
There are a lot of things DIYers can do to keep costs down. Planning will help you save on potential mistakes. Shopping around for bargains or using wholesalers where you can will also make things more affordable. However, be prepared to spend money on areas of the kitchen that hold value well. It will pay off in the long run. Appliances are one place that you should break out the wallet. If the time comes, and you’re selling your place, no potential buyer wants the cheapest stove and fridge from the discount store. Floors also are a big deal. Install nice floors and take the time to do them right.
Last but not least, don’t forget to go high-end on the countertops. Nothing says luxury like good quality marble or granite countertops. These days most DIYers, and even developers, source their countertops online. For more information, visit Marble, one of the foremost providers of natural stone. You’ll find a wide selection of countertops to fit whatever theme you’ve chosen for your remodel. Buying quality countertops will make perhaps the biggest difference in whether your renovation is a success. Spend the upper limit of what you’re comfortable with. You’ll spend years loving your kitchen, and if you ever sell, nice countertops are a major plus with buyers.
DIYing a kitchen renovation is a big deal. You’ll learn a lot along the way. There will be ups and downs, but overall there’s a deep sense of satisfaction that comes with completing a project on your own home. It will create a bond between you and the house that will make memories for the rest of your life. Take some deep breaths and go slow, this is well within your reach. All a successful kitchen renovation requires is the ability to learn and hard work. All of the tools are right in front of you.
Plan, Plan, Plan
One of the biggest problems DIY renovators make is failing to plan. Their kitchen renovation might start with an idea to change the kitchen countertops, but then they move along through the remodel piecemeal. They tackle that and then, filled with confidence, they see that the walls could use a fresh coat of paint. Once the paint dries, they notice that the shelving doesn’t match, so they figure something out to replace the cabinetry. What they end up with is a mix and mash of different kitchen items that don’t mix well together.
DIYers shouldn’t enter kitchen remodels lightly. You should plan things down to the last detail before any nail gets removed. Use a virtual room planner and pre-shop for appliances, countertops and paint before you do anything. The virtual planner will let you see how every last detail will look without having to move any furniture. What’s great about virtual planners is that, as they’ve become more popular, big name home improvement retailers have them available for customers. You can get the basic virtual planner functions with the added bonus of seeing how a certain manufacturer’s product will look in your kitchen.
Make sense of your plan and tackle different areas of the kitchen along a time line that makes sense. Have a backup in case your first choice of products is unavailable. It’s also important to be flexible with timelines. Don’t schedule a big reveal party that will put pressure on you if things don’t all go according to plan. If you don’t live alone, give everyone a heads up so they don’t flip out when construction goes on for months.
Use Resources Available
Being a DIYer doesn’t mean you have to figure out everything blind. There are easy ways to get advice and inspiration without paying a professional. One of the best things DIYers can do is to look at design magazines and websites prior to remodeling. One of the biggest regrets DIYers have is that what they thought would look good doesn’t turn out. It’s OK to realize not everyone has a great eye for style. That’s why design sites and publications exist. Look through and find a theme you love and stick to it.
Another great resource is YouTube and blogs that walk DIYers through home projects. You can pretty much find anything online, from how to change a car battery to putting together a computer. The same goes for housing. There are video channels dedicated to home improvement, and people often post videos of their own kitchen renovation. You can see a time lapse of what part of the kitchen they did first to last and they’ll often offer a recap and lessons learned.
Finally, there are a lot of experts walking around your local big box home improvement chain who you can ask for help. You’re going to be making a lot of trips to the store for supplies, so you might as well leverage that resource if it’s there. Ask them what they think of your approach to installation, repair, or redesign. They’ll be able to give an expert opinion for free when it could have cost you a lot.
Don’t Skimp on Key Areas
