The kitchen is the heart of any home. It is where the parent blends love and good thoughts with handpicked ingredients to concoct magical meals that will bring the family together around the dining table. Sharing a hot, freshly cooked meal with family is a special bonding, unlike any other. However, with real estate prices shooting through the skies and more families choosing the apartment route, kitchen spaces are often compromised upon. The ultimate guide to kitchen renovation from Self Storage India provides a comprehensive resource for anyone planning a kitchen remodel.
Small kitchens with insufficient storage racks and narrow countertops are the woe of any homemaker who spends hours in the kitchen cooking comfort food for the family. However, there is always the option of renovation and innovation! If you do not own the house, you may not be able to break down a wall or add an island, but that does not mean your options are limited. You just must think creatively. Likewise, just because you own the space you do not have to burn a hole in your pocket to give your kitchen a face-lift. You can make budget-friendly changes to your kitchen.
The 5 Must-Do’s of Kitchen Renovation
1. Declutter for More Space
Any home renovation project will bring to light cabinets and cupboards crammed with items and appliances that one seldom uses. The items are either seasonal, which means you use them only around festivals or specific occasions, or they are obsolete and just take up space. It is important to understand what items are necessary all year round, and what can be securely packed and stored away. Improperly stored appliances and cutlery will rust away and will end up in the trash. Instead, you can take them out, clean them, pack them appropriately and put them in storage. A self-storage space allows you to rent out a unit that is just the right size for your possessions. You will not be wasting money on extra storage, and you will also have more space to work with at home. Self storage units can be accessed at any time – you can add, remove, or replace items from your space as per your requirement. Our guide to kitchen renovation emphasizes the importance of decluttering for more space, providing tips and self-storage solutions from Self Storage India to help you create a functional and organized kitchen.
2. Assess the Layout and Available Space
From being a small room in the corner of the house, today most apartments and stand-alone houses choose open kitchens. This means the kitchen is not closed off and it usually leads to the dining space and the living room, without any walls cutting off the rooms. This model gives the house a more spacious appearance and even a small kitchen looks bigger. Before indulging in a redesign, it is essential to understand the layout of the kitchen. This includes the available moving space, storage compartments, countertops and placement of electronic appliances. Understand what needs to be improved upon.
– Do you have enough electrical sockets?
– Are the electrical sockets easily accessible?
– Can you improve upon the drawers?
– Can you add more shelves to the cabinets?
– Is there proper ventilation?
– Do you need broader, sturdier countertops?
3. Compliment Design and Functionality
Once you have decided that your kitchen needs a fresh look, you must decide on what exactly needs to be redesigned. While working with the interior designer you must keep in mind that looks alone do not matter. Your kitchen should be functional as well as good-looking. From modern and sleek to rustic and charming, our guide to kitchen renovation offers inspiration for a variety of design styles.
– Add more countertops if you are expanding your kitchen. This way you can spread out your things and they will not look cluttered.
– If you have a small kitchen and no scope for expansion, you can consider pull-out counters. These add a contemporary touch to your kitchen, while still being useful.
– Everything that is not tucked away on a shelf, needs to have its own place on the counter. Choose a spot based on functionality and how frequently you use the item.
– Ensure all electrical appliances are near an electrical socket. This minimizes the amount of exposed wiring.
– Choose tiles and countertops that are stain resistant because you know there will be spills and splashes all the time. Oils smears and curry stains are an eye sore. You do not want to spend hours scrubbing off stains.
4. Measure Equipment and Furnishings
It is not enough to just have an idea of the layout and the appliances that you are going to place in it. You must understand the nature of the equipment in terms of its size as well as any other specifications.
– Do they need special ventilation grilles?
– What type of electrical installation do they need?
– What is the minimum height of baseboards?
– Does it require a smoke exit?
– Is it safe to place it near a burner or a water source?
Before commencing the renovation, you must consider these points and make suitable arrangements.
5. Ensure Safety and Durability
No matter how big or small the renovation project, it is going to take up considerable time. During the project, you will not be able to use your kitchen, and this could make life chaotic. Keep your mind on the goal and trust in the process. Since you will not want to renovate multiple times, make sure the project progresses at an unhurried pace. The builders must carry out all changes taking all safety measures. Consider every design change carefully before giving the green signal. Choose materials that are durable and can handle wear and tear. The tiles, the panels, the electrical fixtures, the sinks, the chimney, the countertops, the handles, and the hinges – everything must be of the best quality and must be easy to clean. While you may want everything to be unique, should something get damaged, replacements must be readily available. When renovating your kitchen, it’s crucial to ensure safety and durability, and our guide to kitchen renovation provides expert advice and tips for selecting materials and products that will stand the test of time.
8 Innovative Ideas for Kitchen Renovation
You know your kitchen needs a redesign for better functionality and a more urban appearance, yet you do not know what to do. Before calling in the interior designer, here are some ideas that are suited especially for Indian homes.
1. Opt for Ample Lighting
Even though the kitchen is on considered the heart of the Indian home, it is the living room that gets all the natural lighting and fancy chandeliers. The kitchen is usually not taken into consideration while picking out lights. However, making provisions for ample natural light during the day and sufficient illumination at dusk is an important aspect of your kitchen’s ambience. The natural light helps cleanse the kitchen of microorganisms that might otherwise thrive in dark, dank corners. If your current design lacks natural lighting, consider putting in a window or a skylight to let the sunlight in. As for the artificial lights, pick designs that can be easily cleaned of smoke and oil deposits.
2. Use Ambient Colours
You may only be renovating the kitchen, but you must consider the colour tones and scheme of the rest of the house as well when settling on a palette. Soothing shades, contrasted with small splashes of bright hues, can make your kitchen pop without looking gaudy. Most urban homes these days have jewel tones, but the option of subdued colours such as beige or light shades of blue, yellow, or green, work well too. If you have an open kitchen, especially one that opens into the living room, then it is best to match the palettes of both rooms. It is not just the colour of the walls that you must consider when deciding on the colour scheme of the kitchen. You must coordinate the colour of your walls to that of your cabinets and any other furniture in the room. If you can get your appliances to blend in as well that would be perfect. Our guide to kitchen renovation recommends using ambient colours to create a warm and inviting space, providing inspiration and tips for incorporating colour into your kitchen design.
– Pick colours that work well together and complement one another.
– Avoid too many patterns or loud colours.
– Think about how the colours will look against several types of surfaces. For instance, dark wood floors will absorb some of the lighter tones, while white walls will reflect most of the colours.
Budget tip: If painting all the walls in the kitchen will over-shoot your budget, just adding a quirky, new backsplash will make all the difference.
3. Add an Innovative Backsplash
Given that our Indian cuisine requires a lot of frying and masalas, there is bound to be a considerable amount of oil splashes around the stove. This has made it necessary to add a stain-resistant backsplash to every Indian kitchen. This prevents oil smears and grime from ruining the wall. You could either go for a tiled backsplash or use high-quality laminates. You can either contrast your backsplash with the colour of the walls or choose graphics for a more dramatic effect. Consider installing a backsplash behind the sink as well to prevent staining your walls from water droplets and curry splashes while washing utensils. A backsplash is an excellent place to experiment and create unique looks. Experimenting with varied materials, shapes, and textures can help you find what works best for your space.
4. Rethink your Counter-tops
Adding more countertops gives you more space for our appliances and other items that you use frequently. Granite is a popular choice because it adds warmth and elegance to kitchens. It is exceptionally durable, though it requires regular cleaning. Granite counters look great, but they do take up space. If your kitchen already has a robust countertop that you do not need to improve upon, a high-polishing will make the space look cleaner and smarter. Marble and granite countertops require regular polishing. They must be cleaned thoroughly every day to ensure that they remain beautiful. The guide to kitchen renovation from us encourages you to rethink your countertops, providing options and tips for selecting durable and stylish materials that will enhance your kitchen’s functionality and aesthetic appeal.
5. Pick the Right Kitchen Flooring
Kitchen floors should always be made from hardwood or laminated flooring. This type of flooring is durable and easier to keep clean. Wood flooring is extremely versatile and can come in many diverse types, designs, and finishes. Laminate flooring is incredibly affordable and comes in many beautiful colours and patterns. Hardwood flooring is long-lasting and can last for decades if treated well. Floor Tiles can give off a warm, rustic feeling while still being inexpensive and easy to clean up.
6. Upgrade Appliances
Renovation is a suitable time to consider upgrading your kitchen appliances as well. Get rid of the obsolete ones or put the seasonal appliances in storage. Invest in modern appliances that have better functionality and suit your upscaled kitchen.
7. Opt for Modern Cabinetry
Indian cooking often involves a combination of various intricate methodologies, each calling for different kinds of appliances and several ingredients. The Indian kitchen must therefore be well provided with storage space for utensils of assorted sizes and uses, mechanical and electrical appliances and an array of spice jars. In other words, your best bet is a well-designed modular kitchen. The cabinets that are built into the design when you move into your apartment, may not have enough space to accommodate all your things. Contemporary designs can be used to make your storage space more efficient and accommodating. Pull-out shelves, larger drawers, hidden shelves, etc are some of the options you can choose from. Including a drying rack above the sink will give you more counter space and a neater finish. Modern cabinetry does not necessarily mean expensive materials like granite countertops. In fact, you can find plenty of affordable options that will complement your existing kitchen decor. Just remember to choose something that fits your budget.
Budget tip: If you are working on a tight budget a dash of colour could make all the difference. Give your old cabinets a new coat of paint.
8. Add a Touch of Green
If your kitchen opens out into a balcony you can convert that space into a small herb garden and grow your own spices, herbs, and microgreens. If you have space constraints, you could place small pots on the windowsill or install wall-mounted shelves. You can even add a few, small potted plants to the kitchen decor for a fresh look. There are several indoor plants that are good air purifiers, to pick from.
Budget tip: Look up DIY (Do-It-Yourself) ideas for decor and storage containers.
When redesigning or renovating your kitchen, you must ensure to improve its aesthetic appeal while enhancing its functionality as well. Appliances, utensils, and ingredients must be placed strategically enabling ease of access. More than anything else, kitchen hygiene is paramount. All exposed surfaces and hidden nooks need to be cleaned regularly and thoroughly. Keeping the redesign simple and open will make it easy for you to clean out your kitchen daily. Polishing, repainting, and regular deep cleaning will ensure that your kitchen looks impeccable long after the revamp. Whether you have a small kitchen space to redesign or a roomier layout, the key is to use the space effectively and creatively.
