What is the 1st Thing to Do When Updating a Kitchen?

by Samanth Rose

If you’re starting to seriously consider remodeling your kitchen, one question you will probably ask is, “Where do I start?” Admittedly, a quality kitchen remodel involves multiple changes, and it’s not obvious how to begin.

In order to help demystify the process, we’ve broken down the ideal kitchen remodel step-by step, so that you’ll know just where to start and not miss a crucial step along the way:

 

1. Create a Vision and Sketch Your Dream Kitchen Layout

The first step when upgrading your kitchen is often the easiest and most fun: it’s deciding what you want.

There are many ways you might approach this step. You might want to spend time browsing through images of professionally designed kitchens to gather ideas and determine your preferences. You might want to save pictures in a folder, write out a list, or create a vision board. Though you’ll undoubtedly make changes as your remodel progresses, at least you’ll have a North Star and clarity on your priorities.

At this stage, you’ll also want to start taking measurements of your space so that you will create a plan that maximizes the functionality of your kitchen. It can be useful to sketch a layout of the room – and here at RTA Wood cabinets, we have a professional team that will help you do this for free!

 

2. Determine Your Ideal Budget and Schedule

Once you have the vision of your dream kitchen, it’s time to make your plan realistic and tangible by determining your budget and setting some milestone dates.

While you probably won’t be able to determine exact figures, it’s useful to do some research and have a least a ballpark estimate of anticipated costs. You also want to establish a range or ceiling for your budget so that your remodel is a project you can actually undertake and not just fantasize about.

While the timeline for your specific kitchen upgrade will vary based on factors like the scope of your project and the availability of those who will install the new features, experts generally estimate that the typical kitchen remodel last for 1 - 3 months.

 

3. Get Prepared for Kitchen Demolition 

Depending on how much you’re planning to change, your next step is to get prepared for demolition.

If you’re making only a few changes or undertaking them in a piecemeal way, you might be able to still use your kitchen while a small section is under construction. However, if you’re planning a significant remodel, you need to make sure you have an alternate space for storing your kitchen essentials and preparing meals.

 

4. Complete Your Planned Renovation

Finally, it’s time to complete your kitchen upgrade. While the exact process may vary slightly depending on the specific work you’ll be having done, here’s one common order of installation:

• Plumbing & Electrical
• Painting
• Flooring
• Cabinet Installation
• Countertop Installation
• Large Appliance Installation
• Backsplash

5. Review and Look Ahead

Congratulations – you should now have a brand-new kitchen!

Be prepared for some clean-up, especially if you’ll be DIY’ing any part of the process. It’s common to find that your kitchen routine may change now that you have a new set-up. Be sure to reflect and review how things are going to see if there are additional changes you may want to make.

Don’t worry if your new kitchen doesn’t feel “perfect” right away. It’s normal to find there are aspects of the remodel you wish you could change once you actually try living day-to-day in the new space. Hopefully, if you’ve done careful planning, only a few tweaks will be required to finally transform your kitchen into your perfect dream!  

If you’d appreciate some professional assistance in the first step of your new kitchen upgrade, RTA Wood Cabinets is here to help. As mentioned earlier, we’re happy to offer a FREE no-strings-attached kitchen layout design from our team of kitchen experts. Learn more by calling us today at: 1-877-247-6918.