Kitchen Design: Should You Go DIY?
Maybe you’re planning to sell your home and increase its value, updating an old kitchen, or doing a complete remodel. There are lots of reasons why you’ll want to change your kitchen’s look, but one thing’s for sure: it won’t come cheap. But what makes it costly isn’t just the décor and materials—it’s also the labor and installation. For the homeowner on a budget, the solution is simple: roll up your sleeves and go for a DIY kitchen.
Of course, there are pros and cons to going the DIY route. On the one hand, doing the work yourself can cut down your spending by at least 50%, and you’ll have full control of everything. But there’s also the risk of making one wrong choice and causing costly damage, which pretty much beats the purpose.
So how do you do DIY kitchens and avoid common pitfalls? Here are some tips to help you get it right.
Do your homework.
It’s probably cliché, but it’s worth stressing the importance of getting informed. Before taking any steps, read up on anything and everything about kitchen design. Even if you think you know enough, you don’t want to take chances—and the more you know, the smaller your chances of botching the job. You can find kitchen design artices online, but you can also check out magazines, newspapers, and other publications. If you’re armed with the right information, you can better plan out the project and make more informed decisions.
Another thing you can do is talk to people in the field. Maybe you know someone who’s just renovated their home, or someone who’s a good DIYer. These people can give you firsthand advice you may not find in the books, such as where to get the best deals and how to make the work easier. After all, you’ve got a big job in your hands—you may as well get all the help you can!
Plan your installation.
Unless you have a really elaborate bath, your kitchen probably has more installations than any other room. That’s why it’s important to plan it all out. Kitchen installation requires everything to work together efficiently, especially the things that need a power or water source. In most cases, you’ll need some basic knowledge in plumbing, wiring, tiling, and carpentry. If you don’t, don’t hesitate to ask for help—it’s better than taking chances!
Before buying anything major, take a measurement of your kitchen so you know what size you’ll need. Refrigerators, dishwashers, and stove ranges take up considerable space and need to be chosen carefully. Most of them come in predefined sizes, so check out the standards used in your area before heading out to the store.
Make a good floor plan.
In a kitchen, the first thing consideration is always work efficiency. Even a luxury kitchen is no good if you can’t work properly in it, or if it doesn’t put people at ease. Look at a kitchen photo gallery and notice how the work areas are set apart from the dining and sitting areas. Defining these spaces can help you make a floor plan that works for the whole family.
One simple solution is to use the kitchen work triangle. This means putting the three main components of your workspace—the stove, the sink, and the fridge—in an imaginary triangle with each station occupying a point. The triangle is designed so that each one is easily accessible from the other, allowing you to work more efficiently. This concept has been used since the 1950s and hasn’t grown out of style, because it always works.
Get good lighting.
It’s probably not the first thing you think of when it comes to kitchen design, but it’s more important than it seems. Remember, the kitchen is primarily a work area—and a poorly lit room isn’t very conducive to long hours of work. Again, you can get kitchen lighting ideas from online articles and magazines, but it’s best to get advice from professionals or people with firsthand experience.
Each kitchen has its own requirements, but the ideal lighting setup is a combination of ambient and task lighting. Ambient lighting is the general lighting in the room, usually provided by an overhead lamp (although wall sconces may work better). Task lighting is more concentrated, focused on the work areas to improve visibility. These are usually placed over the sink, counter, and stovetops.
Choose colors wisely.
Colors are more than a visual element in the kitchen. You may not notice it, but they can affect your productivity, mood, and even your appetite. But since it’s mostly a personal choice, go ahead and choose your own colors—just make sure it’s something you can live with for a long while. If you’re not sure, you can play it safe by choosing neutral colors such as white, beige, or brown, and simply accenting it with a brighter color of your choice.
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