Buyers are now mostly focused on the kitchen when they are looking into properties they can buy. It is now considered the main area of a home. Dr Naomi Findlay, a renovation expert, has given a few tips on where you should spend or save in terms of renovations, so you can profit more from the investment.
There’s no need to do a lavish renovation of the entire kitchen, sometimes, even just a bit of your time and money is enough. Upgrading your kitchen can lead to an increase in the interest of the buyers. Sometimes, only small sharply focused touch-ups are needed to update your kitchen and boost its value. And when the time comes that you decide to sell your home, you can easily reap the rewards of your hard work with its higher selling price.
Below are some upgrades that would likely increase the price of your home.
- Adding of a kitchen island
A new kitchen island does not only provide additional workspace, it’s also a good way to boost storage and an instant addition to the value of the property.
The kitchen may be drawn out into an open-plan living or dining space if you plan to introduce a kitchen island.
Good to know:
- If you have tight space in your kitchen, instead of the recommended one meter on either side of your island unit to allow for traffic flow, you can also go for 850 millimeters.
- Assess the proportions of your kitchen and the things that you want to put on your island unit, this is to decide on the size of your island. It’s recommended that you go with a minimum width of around 1200 millimeters, but it could be narrowed down to 600 millimeters if no sink or stovetop is installed.
- You can choose to add drawers for additional storage, or an open shelf to your island if the goal is to boost your display options.
- Invest in custom-designed solutions to maximize the space of your drawer that can accommodate everything from your plates, cutleries, to glassware.
- Maximize the available storage space
Buyers are always looking into adequate storage space, so if you’re renovating your kitchen, make sure to utilize all potential storage. Install some cupboards that will run the entire length of the entire walls, from the ceiling to the floor, and have them as wide as possible.
Good to know: Only install open shelving in spots that can easily be cleaned and styled as they’ll need it from time to time. Have closed cupboards installed in high spots to use as storage for items that are only seldom used, such as storage boxes and platters.
- Upgrading your kitchen benchtop
One of the first things that will capture the attention of your buyer as they see your kitchen is your benchtop, a great reason to upgrade it to a quality style. If you’re on a budget, hard-wearing laminate is very much recommended. It is affordable but it can mimic a variety of other sumptuous materials that are also used for benchtops such as marble and timber. Choose to upgrade into a luxurious and durable kitchen benchtop material if you can afford to do so, such as granite or quartz.
Good to know:
- Choose a material for your benchtop in neutral, undated, color.
- Pay more for a hardy, heat-resistant benchtop laminate because it is more durable, and is worth the price.
- Make sure that your benchtops are resistant to stain, heat, and water because over time, they will take a lot more beating, and that they are easy to clean.
- Wise color choices
Make sure to align your tastes to that of your potential buyer when you are renovating your kitchen. Despite your love for bright and vibrant colors, you have to consider the likes of your potential buyer. You can stick with neutral colors for your walls, the ceiling, and the floors that are undated, like white, grey, or beige.
Good to know: If you want to add color to the mix, you can do so in your accessories, such as the barstools, or coffee machine, a weird-looking chandelier for these are easily replaced, and the buyer can change whenever they want.
Find the right look by browsing through contemporary kitchens.
- Purchase quality appliances
Another way to instantly lift and boost the value of your kitchen in the eyes of your buyer is to invest in good-quality appliances. It is also functional if you are using your kitchen, saving you hours on the cleaning and cooking.
Good to know: Have a stylish, coordinated look by purchasing appliances from the same brand and range for a stylish.
- Make use of a smart lighting scheme
Prospective buyers will appreciate it if you invest in a carefully considered lighting scheme. Having good lighting will make it easier to work in the kitchen and allow you to alter the mood for you, in an entertaining and ideal kitchen with an open-planned space.
Good to know: Be sure that areas, where you will mainly chop ingredients or cook, is adequately lit, such as the benches and above the stove of your kitchen.
Make sure you’re working in your own shadow, so positions the light in front of you, not overhear or behind.
It’s easier to control the level of the lighting and atmosphere, you can install downlights and pendant lights on separate circuits.
Be sure to carefully think of the position of your pendant light when it is installed over the dining table because it is likely to be there for the coming years.
How to choose your kitchen lighting?
If you are on a tight budget, you could also…
Upgrading your hardware: To give the cabinets in your kitchen a different look in an affordable manner.
Have your cabinets refaced: New cabinets are expensive, so if you have ones that are a bit dated but are still in decent condition, you can just reface them. Sand, remove grease, and stain, or paint the face of the cabinets to give your kitchen a dated, sleek, affordable, and up-to-date kitchen.
Pick up your paintbrush: The quickest and easier way to transform any room in the house, the kitchen included, is to paint them. There are special paint that they offer for tiles, and appliances, to your walls and benchtops.
How to Refresh Your Kitchen on a Budget
Regardless if you spent $100 or $10,000, you can make your kitchen more stylish and functional using the right tools.
Kitchen refresh is also a thing especially if you are still unsure whether you want to renovation the room fully, or just change a few of its components. This is a likely situation and kitchen refresh is just the right thing for you.
There are a lot of things that you need to consider even for the reconfiguring of the layout of the space. You may introduce changes, from small items to major ones. Your budget could be around $100 or $10,000, it will be challenging for you to know which ones to prioritize, and which ones to put aside, in the meantime.
You can update your kitchen cabinets as a starting point, and you can work around it to suit your space and budget.
A budget of around $100
Changing the color of the wall. Kitchens are more likely to have limited space so painting the area won’t take much.
It’ll only cost you a tin of paint, around four or so liters, and other basic painting supplies if you want to do it yourself. But be sure to measure the space in order to work out the right amount needed.
Decorate your freshly painted wall with a new art print that you can just pop into a ready-made frame if you still have some budget left.
A budget of around $300
You can change the color of your walls, a new art print, or swap a light fixture. Just one swap of tired lighting in your kitchen can make it look and feel a huge difference. You can choose from a variety of options to choose from that are budget-friendly, making it look trendy. But you can also replace all the kitchen lights, especially if you have the budget, or you can splurge on a fancier pendant over the island.
A budget of around $500
Use paints, hanging art, change lighting, or add open shelves. Open shelving is not always for everyone, but it really does magic for small spaces. Replacement of your cabinets, even the small ones, can give your kitchen a feel that is more spacious and has more opportunity to display your favorite dishes and other accessories you want to show off.
Solve your Kitchen Woes with Open Shelving
A budget of around $700
You can also consider having a new tap next to having fresh paint, art, lighting, and open shelves. It will cost less to replace tapware than to redo the entire sink, and it can be done all on your own.
A budget of around $1,000
You can also get a new sink to go with your new tapware if you have the extra budget to spare. There are additional costs for installing the new sink if it has a different style than the old one, for it to fit into your cabinetry and benchtop.
A budget of around $1,500
Adding paint or any art, has new lighting, open shelves, a new sink, or a makeover for your cabinets. Buying new cabinets is among the expensive items to renovate in your kitchen. You can just repaint your cabinets if they are still in pretty good shape, you can follow the needed steps for preparation, then have the knobs and pulls replaced.
To reface a cabinet means you need to replace it and not just repaint the doors, and it will cost more than expected.
A budget of around $5,000
Another change with the biggest impact made to your kitchen is that of the installation of new benchtops. Look around and canvass materials that you can use, see the difference in the prices from the wide variety of choices that are available to you. After comparing the prices you can choose from the selection you have for ones that will fit your budget.
A budget of around $10,000
What else is there aside from paint, lighting, open shelves, a new sink, refreshed cabinets, and new benchtops?
You can choose new appliances, especially if there’s still some remaining budget. Avoiding extra installation costs will do the trick, so pick ones that can fit in the same space the old ones occupied.