Things To Consider Before You Renovate Your Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the central hubs of the home. It is where meals are prepped, food is stored, and where we go to grab our late-night snacks. Due to the high amount of activity occurring there, the kitchen needs to be designed optimally for function and durability.

If you are moving into a new home or are thinking of remodelling your kitchen, here are some factors to keep in mind when doing up your kitchen:

How you use your kitchen

Every household would have different needs for the kitchen. If meals are cooked daily, the kitchen needs to be optimised for heavy usage. Or you may happen to be a home baker – in which case, you would need to pay extra attention to your baking wares and oven. The types of meals you prepare also affect what you have in the kitchen. Asian cooking and Western cooking have different needs, so if you predominantly cook in one style, this could determine your kitchen layout, appliances, and storage system.

Your workflow

Consider how you usually operate when you are in the kitchen. The ‘kitchen triangle’, consisting of the sink, cooking stove, and fridge, should be optimised to your working style. These are key areas for cooking, and once fixed, they are immense trouble to adjust. So, make sure the layout contributes to the efficiency of your cooking instead of hindering your workflow. Don’t forget to make space for other work areas you may need like countertops, food preparation areas, oven, dishwasher, kitchenware storage, and drying rack.

Plan for your space

You may have a list of everything you need in your kitchen and are wondering how it will all fit in! Singapore’s apartments have pretty compact-sized kitchens, so prioritise, and scale-down on things that you can. For example, fridges come in various sizes, so choose one that won’t overwhelm your kitchen. This also helps you control the amount of food you stash in your fridge, avoiding a hoarding problem later on.

Your kitchen needs to be able to store all your kitchenware and food items. Reusable food packaging supplies are convenient ways to store your goods. Your storage system should allow you to reach your most-used items readily, and find less-used items at a glance. Disposable lunch boxes in Singapore are typically transparent, making them great for storing items that you can locate easily later on.

Style of the kitchen 

Kitchens these days come in two forms: the open kitchen, or closed kitchen. An open kitchen enables hosts to entertain their guests while preparing food for them. A closed kitchen is for cooks who do heavy-duty cooking and want to keep the oil and fumes away from the rest of their house. Other than these practical reasons, you may prefer an open or closed kitchen based on the aesthetics it gives off. Ultimately, it is your choice how you want to strike a balance between style and functionality.

Be realistic

Let’s be honest, renovations and makeovers are expensive affairs. While beautiful kitchenware and high-tech kitchen appliances may tempt you, a word of advice is to stick to your budget. Assess your needs and make realistic choices on the furniture, appliances, and renovations you will require. Only if your budget permits can you splurge on extras and accessories for your kitchen. Otherwise, that money might be better off used elsewhere!  

Pick an aesthetic

Of course, we can’t forget about the aesthetic details of your kitchen. The most pragmatic homeowners may find it frivolous to have to pick colours and finishes, but just a little effort will show through and make your kitchen look more appealing. Your kitchen needs to look presentable, especially if you often welcome guests to your home. If you cook frequently, you also want to make sure you feel comfortable and happy being in your kitchen daily. A colour scheme that is easy on the eyes is recommended for universal appeal. 

Making over a kitchen can be a very exciting but also confusing process. Proper planning will go a long way to help you achieve the kitchen of your dreams!