If you are in the process of remodeling your kitchen, you need to stay on top of the remodeling planning process. There are many costly mistakes you can run into, which will not just lead you to spend more money but also waste time.
If the prospect of saving time and stress intrigues you, then you will appreciate the following tips.
Guidelines on how to have a more positive experience with your kitchen remodel:
You can try an island before you commit to it
Adding a kitchen island is always a great idea, especially if you have the space to accommodate it. The goal should always be to ensure good traffic flow in the kitchen. If you don’t do it, you risk restricting the space and making it feel like cramped quarters. That is why it is a good idea to ‘try out the island, so to speak. This doesn’t mean having the actual island structure in place but instead making one for yourself out of cardboard or plywood. Place it in the kitchen and leave it there for a few days. Make sure there is enough clearance around the kitchen island to allow for unrestricted movement. That will give you an idea about how big of an island the space can afford or whether you can have an island at all.
Set up your temporary kitchen 
While the kitchen is undergoing remodeling, you will do well to set up a temporary one. The latter features some cooking equipment, a place to wash dishes and do other essential tasks while the main kitchen is still out of commission. Functionality is key, so don’t worry about aesthetics.
Build your kitchen with an office in mind
Nowadays it is always good to consider the chance that you will have to work from home. All you need is a small and comfortable space for a computer station and sometimes this can be in the kitchen. It requires minimal storage space, some cleverly place electrical outlets and perhaps a recessed wall cabinet. If the space allows it, you should definitely consider it.
Leave some space for potential remodels and appliances
Sometimes you will do the remodeling process in stages. This means for example that you will have new cabinets, but go with your current fridge for the time being. It is best to consider any such aspects and leave enough room between cabinets to replace the fridge later. According to some kitchen experts, you should rely on filler strips and panels to fill up the extra space. It is best if the filler strips match the panels you have currently so that you have a consistent look.
Be mindful of floor gaps
This is one of the most common issues that happen when you wish to keep your current floor in the kitchen and only replace the cabinets. There may be gaps between the old flooring and the new cabinets. You have to ensure that the total width of your new cabinets is similar to the overall width of the old ones. You can utilise moulding to hide the gaps.
Get countertops after cabinets
Another great tip in regards to getting the right countertop is to measure the base cabinets and get countertops then. Sometimes cabinets come out with different dimensions after installation because of out-of-square walls.
You will always do a better kitchen remodel when you follow such tips than if you approach the task without sufficient preparation.
