Remodeling your kitchen is an exciting prospect, but the project can also be intimidating and expensive. This is especially true if you’re not familiar with the process or are planning to do it yourself.
Before you start a kitchen remodeling project, it’s important to establish a list of priorities and a budget. This will help you create a plan that reflects the needs of your family and fits within your financial means.
One of the first things you should do is to sit down with your family and discuss the current layout of your kitchen. Talk about the problems you experience, and make a list of features that are missing or ineffective. Once you have a list of what you’d like to change, it will be easier for home remodeling contractors to create a layout that meets your specific needs.
Maximizing storage: cabinets, drawers and other solutions
Using every square foot of your kitchen is essential when you’re working with a tight space or small budget. That means finding ways to stow everything from pots, pans and dishes to baking trays and chopping boards.
Cabinets are often a great place to store these items, and wide-drawer styles can offer more storage than traditional lower cabinets do. For even more space, use dividers in the cabinets to split them up into categories. The dividers are particularly helpful for items that are not stacked, such as baking trays and chopping boards.
Clear bins are another excellent option for storing food items. These containers are easy to see and can be filled with just about anything, from dried goods to spices. They’re also a great choice for storing produce that doesn’t mind being stored in the dark, like onions and garlic.
If you want to keep your countertops free from clutter, consider utilizing hanging racks for storage of dishware and other items. These are available in many sizes and styles, and can be found in most home improvement stores.
Sliding two-tiered drawers are another way to maximize storage in a limited space. These drawers can be adjusted to suit your needs and come with grippy feet on the bottom to keep them in place. The OXO expandable drawer organizer is a great choice as it can be expanded to hold twice its original size and comes with three removable trays for organizing cutlery, utensils and other odds and ends.
Pegboard is a handy option to hang items on that can double as a shelf. This solution is especially effective for storing smaller items, such as a set of scissors or a pair of keys. A simple piece of pegboard is also a great idea for storing pots and pans on a kitchen island.
Hooks are another great way to keep items organized, and they are particularly useful in the kitchen. These can be mounted to a wall, a door or a shelving unit. They can hold a variety of items, including cooking utensils, spices and a set of knives.