Upgrading kitchens and bathrooms is always a good idea. It can make you feel more at home because it gives you the chance to put a stamp of your personality in these rooms. Some upgrades are minor, so you can do them yourself. Others are more complex, so you probably need professional help.
That said, major upgrades for kitchens and bathroom could have a significant effect on the way you use these rooms as well as the value of your home. You do have to remember that any big improvements you make in either your kitchen or bathrooms come with some headaches.
One of these is the cost. While reliable remodeling companies will offer some great packages for kitchens and bathrooms, they can still run into big money, especially if you want custom cabinets. You can keep your budget under control with careful planning and judicious consultation with a reliable contractor, but be ready to shell out some serious bucks.
Another issue is convenience. Kitchens and bathrooms are essential for daily living. You can hardly manage to get through a whole day without one or the other. Major bathroom or kitchen remodeling projects can mean days or weeks when these rooms are out of commission, so you have to put up with the inconvenience.
That does not mean that you should not upgrade kitchens and bathrooms, however. It only means you have to ensure you understand into what you are getting, and weigh the pros and cons of going through with it. Upgrades can pay back the time, money, and effort you spend in spades if you go into them with a clear plan and reasonable expectations. Here are the top considerations to upgrade kitchens and bathrooms.
Priorities
Kitchen and bathrooms are highly functional elements in your home, so you have to keep that in mind when choosing the design for the kitchen and bathroom. Most people want their kitchens and bathrooms to look like those they see online or in magazines. However, the kitchen or bathroom they want might not be the one they need.
It all boils down to lifestyle. If you live alone and spend very little time in your home, it might not make much sense to put in all the bells and whistles in your kitchen. You will probably not need that second oven, or a full kitchen island with the bar ref. You might want a fancy kitchen with all the extras. What you need is a basic kitchen where you can make coffee and prepare simple meals.
You have to think about how you actually use these rooms before deciding on the type of upgrade you need. If you are an occasional cook, for instance, you will not need too many cabinets and countertops. In that case, you can put in fewer but more expensive cabinets and not break the bank.
On the other hand, if you spend much of your time cooking frequent and substantial meals for your family, you will need to go for space and work efficiency. Put in as many RTA cabinets and countertops you can afford and fit into the space, and think seriously about extending your storage and work space with a kitchen island.
If your problem with your kitchen or bathroom has to do with the design rather than the function, minor upgrades might be more what you need rather than a major remodel. Put in new cabinets or countertops, repaint the walls, or replace the fixtures. Any of these can go a long way towards updating the look of your kitchen and bathroom, and will cost you much less than a major remodel.
Think about what you need for your kitchen or bathroom before what you want. This will help you determine what changes you need to put high on your list of priorities and if a major upgrade of your kitchen and bathroom is even in the cards for you.
Budget
Budget is a major consideration for any changes you make to your home. It will limit the extent and nature of any upgrade you make. If you are one of the lucky ones with no budget constraints for your remodel, then skip to the next section. Otherwise, read on.
The first thing to do is to take a good, hard look at your finances and work out how much you can afford to dedicate to your home improvement project. If your upgrade is not urgent, look only to your discretionary income to decide what you can afford. However, in some cases, you have to dig a little deeper into your pocket to come up with the funds.
If you made a list of your needs, you will see what urgent issues you might have. You have to find the money to address them before anything else. For example, if you have leaky pipes, you should not delay in replacing them as they are serious problems, and can lead to ones that are even more serious if not addressed.
Once you have set aside funds for these urgent matters, you can consider investing in other needs on your list. For instance, if your main problem is storage space, plan to spend on new cabinets or improving the space efficiency of your existing cabinet spaces. Get a free estimate from local cabinet specialists such as Cabinet Land to find out what it might cost you.
Always keep your feet on the ground when deciding on your budget. You do not want to find yourself in a crisis when the bills come due. Stick to a realistic budget when making decisions, and run down your list of priorities until you reach your spending limit. It also helps to work only with a reliable contractor that will give you firm quote and not pile on the extras.
Convenience
Upgrading the kitchen or bathroom will typically result in some inconvenience, if only for the few hours it will take to put in a new vanity or new cabinets when no one can use the room. A major remodel will stretch this to as much as a few weeks, so this might mean a serious disruption of your home life. If you are bringing in a contractor, it also means strangers coming into your home.
You have to decide if you can manage these things for the duration of the project. If you are fine with no bathroom or kitchen for a protracted period, then a complete remodel is possible. However, if you feel you can only stand it in short spurts, you might want to plan a series of minor upgrades to lessen the disruption.
Conclusion
Upgrading your kitchen or bathroom can have a major impact on your life, so you have to make decisions only after careful consideration. These top considerations to upgrade kitchens and bathrooms should serve as a guide for you.
Whether you decide to do a major or minor upgrade, always ensure you consult with reliable professionals. If you need new cabinets, Cabinet Land Kitchen and Beyond serves Chicago land and have the expertise and resources to complete virtually any type of cabinet for your bathrooms and kitchens – ON TIME and ON BUDGET with top quality craftsmanship that will exceed your expectations.
We offer free estimates for any cabinet style you choose from our showroom in Schaumburg, Illinois. So, you get exactly what you expect from your purchase. We work only with the best cabinet brands at the best prices compared to our competitors such as Advance Cabinets and Handsome Cabinets.
Call or visit us today and see how we can help make you achieve the authentic period look for your kitchen!
