Learning how to remodel a kitchen is a rite of passage for many homeowners, considering it'due south the virtually popular remodeling project afterward bathrooms. Like any renovation, there are essential steps to take when you remodel a kitchen, all of which require careful planning and a big helping of patience.

A DIY kitchen remodel doesn't have to exist hard, however. Nosotros'll cover what parts of a kitchen remodel whatsoever homeowner can handle themselves, every bit well equally when to bring in professional help to ensure a successful and efficient kitchen remodel.

6 Elementary Steps for Planning a Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen Remodeling Layouts and Color Swatches

1. Assemble Ideas for Your Kitchen Remodel & Sketch It Out

The first step in a kitchen remodel is the easiest – decide what y'all want. Start your search for inspiration past browsing your favorite Pinterest boards and home comeback sites, and save ideas in a binder or vision lath every bit yous enquiry to help develop your own remodeling plans. Viewing a broad range of layouts and designs is helpful to identify the fixtures, textures and materials you want in your new kitchen. You should also consider how your kitchen will be used and whether your new design volition fit inside the existing floorplan.

When you have some (realistic) ideas in mind, draw up a full general outline of the remodel. Your primary focus should exist figuring out the layout of the room. A crucial stage in the blueprint process is to determine how far apart your cabinets will be spaced out, where your kitchen island will be situated, where appliances will become and other logistical details. Knowing the precise layout will also give potential contractors an thought of the scope of the work, making it easier to get ballpark estimates for your kitchen remodeling project.

"If you accept time to become the DIY route, that will be a lot more affordable. You tin can exercise a high-end kitchen renovation on a limited budget if you have the fourth dimension to put into shopping for every item yourself and doing some of the labor yourself. If you're on the internet, y'all have pretty much the whole world at your disposal."

Elizabeth Weintraub | Broker-Associate, Lyon Real Estate

2. Create a Upkeep and Desired Timeline for the Kitchen Remodel

Once yous accept an thought of what your dream kitchen would look like, it'due south time to determine how much it will toll. Perform some enquiry to come up with a solid foundation for your kitchen remodel budget. While it'south tough to determine exactly how much a kitchen renovation will cost this early in the procedure, establishing a budget ceiling now volition allow you to kickoff getting in affect with professionals.

Acquire More than About How to Budget for a Kitchen Remodel
Our guide to remodeling a kitchen on a budget shares the average costs of each attribute of a DIY kitchen remodel – from floors to cabinets – and tips for saving on each ane.

Yous should also take a full general thought of how long your kitchen remodel will take so you tin set yourself for the big project you're taking on. While timelines vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size of your kitchen, the scope of work existence washed and any contractors you may be working with, experts guess a kitchen remodel can accept anywhere from one to three months.

Couple Budgeting for Kitchen Remodel

3. Call in the Professionals

There's a professional person out there for just virtually every facet of a major kitchen remodel, from granite countertops to custom kitchen cabinetry to managing the unabridged project itself. Your task is to use your friends, colleagues, and good one-time enquiry to notice the best professionals to realize your unique designs. A adept identify to kickoff is to visit large-box stores and showrooms to go a await at every fabric available to you lot, and possibly pick up a few referrals along the way.

Bold you haven't reached out to a licensed contractor yet, y'all should do so in one case the upkeep, layout and overall design are finalized. A skilful rule of thumb is to get at to the lowest degree iii different estimates that include timetables for completion. Do a walkaround with each prospective contractor to go over every aspect of the kitchen remodel and to get a sense of whether you may need to add or subtract from your budget.

"Not anticipating the issues that tin can happen, and not keeping the contractors on task are the most common mistakes I've seen homeowners make during a kitchen remodel. People are ofttimes afraid to tell others what they expect considering they don't want to appear rude, but if your contractor is running late for instance, yous should call them instead of waiting patiently.
Yous take to be a footling flake pushy during your remodel, which for some people is difficult."

Elizabeth Weintraub | Lyon Existent Estate

Nonetheless, even if y'all are aiming for an cheap DIY kitchen remodel, you should never have the low-ball bid when hiring help for a renovation. Low estimates indicate a contractor may be desperate for work and/or plans on using depression-quality materials.

One time you've picked a contractor to assist in your kitchen remodel project, draw upwardly a contract that outlines the scope of the work and establishes a payment schedule. A typical payment schedule provides x percent upfront, 25 percent at three-stage intervals throughout the project and the concluding 15 percent upon project completion. Jot downwardly a checklist of requirements for hiring a contractor and ask all the questions you accept before signing an agreement.

iv. Go Gear up, It'southward Sabotage Twenty-four hours

To quote Fixer Upper's Chip and Joanna Gaines, "It'south demo day." Are y'all prepared?

The paperwork has been diligently browsed and approved, the pattern is finalized and the crew y'all've hired to help is prepare to offset fierce down the kitchen. Some homeowners may choose to get out their firm in one case the kitchen sabotage starts, merely others volition opt to remain in the home. If y'all choose to do so, there are some things you demand to plan alee for:

  • Set up a temporary kitchen in some other room of the firm.
  • Make sure you have infinite for preparing small meals.
  • Bring only the essential appliances you need for cooking (read: no waffle irons).
  • Use a mini-fridge to store perishables.
  • Stock your pantry with newspaper plates, plastic silverware and cups.
  • Keep non-perishables such every bit peanut butter, crackers and snack bars handy.

For more than tips and some moral support as you undertake a kitchen remodeling project, check out "How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel".

Beyond preparing a temporary kitchen organisation, you should also brand plans for cleanup before the kitchen remodel begins.

Whether you're tearing out cabinets, gutting the whole kitchen or something in between, nosotros accept a disposal solution for your DIY kitchen remodel. Larn more about our residential dumpster rentals and find the right size for your cleanup needs.

five. Put Your Kitchen Back Together

When you're ready to put the remodeled kitchen back together, we recommend this guild of steps to complete your renovation:

  1. Configure plumbing and electrical. (Note: If your kitchen remodel involves updates to the plumbing or electrical wiring, nosotros recommend having a professional contractor oversee the process for this step.)
  2. Paint the room.
  3. Install new flooring.
  4. Add together kitchen cabinets.
  5. Install countertops.
  6. Place large appliances.
  7. Fasten cabinet hardware.
  8. Put in the backsplash.

vi. Wrap Up Your Kitchen Remodel Project

One time the dust has settled, you can check out your newly remodeled kitchen, check off the projection items that are complete and wrap up the others that all the same need attention. If y'all worked with a contractor, everything that was agreed to in the contract should be fulfilled before they receive last payment.

After your punch list is complete, you can finally dismantle your makeshift kitchen and resume a normal cooking routine in your brand-new kitchen.

If y'all have any debris or junk left over from your renovation, you can take heavy-duty cleanups into your own hands with our renovation dumpster rentals. Learn more virtually how nosotros can assistance lighten your load, no affair what home comeback or cleanout stage you lot're in.