When it comes down to it, kitchen remodeling requires a delicate balance of creativity and practicality. If you think about it, your kitchen is perhaps the most important room in your home. Not only is it a main center for entertaining, but it also has a utilitarian function. For this reason, you can’t venture too far outside the box; you still need to hold on to some basic tenets that are required of a functional kitchen. One of the best ways to stay on course when remodeling your kitchen is to avoid some of the more common mistakes that people make when they remodel. Here are five kitchen remodeling mistakes to avoid.

  1. Not having a plan of action. Before you start your kitchen remodel, you want to have a plan of action. Even before you hire a kitchen remodeling contractor likeIntegrity Restoration and Remodeling, you want to have some vision of what you want your kitchen to look like. Do you want something more modern or do you want something a little more old fashioned? Thinking about these things and incorporating them into an action plan is pivotal.
  2. Not thinking about functionality. Functionality is incredibly important when you are remodeling your kitchen. Not only do you want to have all the right appliances, but you also want to have all the right surfaces to work on. If you are a serious cook, you’ll need a lot of prep area. For that reason, you’ll also need a heavier duty stove. If you want to get the most out of your kitchen remodel, you want to make sure that your new kitchen has everything you need to create your culinary masterpieces.
  3. Not incorporating adequate storage. Storage is another imperative factor to consider. When you are remodeling, there are a lot of places you can go with storage. You can place cabinets both high and low – for things like cookware and other kitchen tools. You could also reserve an area for a pantry. Another idea is to hide all your appliances behind storage for a more streamlined look. Of course, this is all up to your personal preference, but you still want to reserve plenty of space for storage.
  4. Not considering the size of appliances. When you are thinking about appliances, you also want to consider how much square-footage you have in your kitchen for these appliances. If you don’t have much room, you may want to go for a smaller oven or a smaller refrigerator. If you have more room in your kitchen, you may want to go for larger appliances. The last thing you want to do is fill your kitchen with appliances and lose some of the ergonomic function.
  5. Not having an adequate aesthetic balance. A kitchen shouldn’t be entirely utilitarian – it is still a part of your home. For this reason, you want to add a lot of aesthetic flare. If you don’t, it will look incongruous to the rest of your home. You may want to think about adding a nook for people can eat breakfast and drink coffee. You may also want to think about an interesting color for the walls or some fun window treatments. In the end, a beautiful kitchen has a fine balance between utilitarian and aesthetics.