A kitchen remodel can be a major undertaking that takes time and money. If you are considering remodeling your kitchen, here are some expert tips to help you make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Make sure to budget properly for the project. It’s easy to get carried away when designing your dream kitchen, but premium finishes quickly add up.

Keep It Simple

Remodeling your kitchen doesn’t just mean adding new cabinets or changing the color of the walls. It also ensures the kitchen is practical, easy to use, and well-organized. This means avoiding mistakes that could cost you time, money, and energy.

The most common mistake is jumping into a renovation without first having a core design orchestrated by a professional. This can lead to expensive additions outside the original plans and create problems requiring more pricy fixes.

Another common mistake is forgetting to consider how you’ll be using your kitchen and not taking the time to design a workflow that makes sense. This can result in little issues, like drawers that don’t open fully or cabinets that get in the way of your work area. It’s also important to remember that the smallest details can make the biggest difference, like choosing the right knob for your new cabinet or dividers for your new drawers.

Make It Functional

Whether you’re channeling your inner Ina Garten every night or living out of the Costco frozen food section (hey, we all do it), your kitchen needs to work for you. That’s why functionality should come before beauty regarding kitchen remodeling.

This includes determining your goals for the kitchen and how much space you need to accomplish them. Your goals could be as simple as updating fixtures or a complete renovation that involves tearing down walls and reconfiguring the floor plan.

A time-tested design concept called the kitchen work triangle helps you determine where your primary workspaces are located. This can make it easier and less stressful to prepare meals. You also want to ensure enough storage for your utensils, pots, pans, and other cooking equipment. That means incorporating plenty of cabinets and drawers into your remodel.

Make It Beautiful

Kitchens are the hardest working room in most homes and must withstand constant use and abuse. Creating the perfect layout is one of the most important steps in any kitchen remodeling project. This includes determining how you will move through the space and ensuring a clear flow between the kitchen, dining room, and living room.

The smallest details can greatly impact your kitchen’s look and functionality. For example, instead of displaying a jumble of jars filled with sugar, coffee grounds, flour, and other everyday ingredients on your counters, choose a unified set of glass or plastic containers for storing these essentials.

Choosing the right materials is also crucial to your kitchen’s longevity. Avoid dated, opulent, or overly decorative elements that can quickly become outdated and tacky. Instead, opt for clean woodwork and simple accents that will stand the test of time.

Make It Affordable

The kitchen is the heart of a home and a popular place to upgrade. While getting caught up in the excitement of a remodel is easy, a little planning and budgeting can keep things on track and make the process smoother.

Before hiring a contractor, decide the big-picture goal for your kitchen remodel – more space, better design, or just new appliances. This will guide everything from where you put the trash can to what size of cabinets you’ll buy.

Consider how you use your kitchen most often, and aim for a layout that makes sense. For example, think about how much storage you’ll need for pots and pans and what you can stow away in lower drawers or cabinetry to free up more shelf space.

Dramatically changing a kitchen’s layout can be costly. For example, moving plumbing for sinks, dishwashers, or refrigerators will add to the remodeling bill, as will re-routing gas piping and heating and cooling ductwork.