What to consider before renovating your kitchen

A kitchen renovation must be planned thoroughly, and before you get into the detail there are some broader issues to consider.

If you are renovating the kitchen in a rental property, you may want to restrict the spend and opt for a finish that's functional and hard-wearing. When the kitchen you are renovating is your own, it's wise to consider your future plans – maybe it's not good financial sense to over-capitalise on a kitchen renovation if there is a chance you may be moving house in the shorter term. 

On the other hand, if you do intend to sell the house, a kitchen makeover may just be the factor that clinches the sale. However you have to be confident that the benefits outweigh the costs. Once the approach to kitchen renovating is decided, you can progress to working out exactly what needs to be done.

Determine the scope

For many homeowners, cost is a fundamental consideration. It's possible to do a partial kitchen renovation and achieve a great result. This may involve simply replacing cupboard and door handles, or changing the doors and bench top, re-tiling, putting in a new sink and taps, replacing old kitchen appliances or any combination of these options.

When your decision is a total kitchen renovation, this usually involves the whole package – bench top, cupboards, replacing appliances, sink and taps, new tiles, re-painting and perhaps new flooring and lighting. It can be a very expensive exercise. 

The next steps

Once you've settled on the extent of your kitchen renovation, it's time for further research and more decisions. Check out local kitchen showrooms, talk to friends and neighbours who may have had kitchen renovations done and see if you can pick up any useful recommendations or referrals. It's always useful to be able to see an example of the end result and the quality of the work.

Work your way through the substantial amount of information on kitchens on the Web. Look at different designs, materials, appliances and finishes. Arrange for quotes and listen to the ideas and options that the kitchen specialists can offer – they will generally be able to provide suggestions to give you the optimum outcome for a stylish and practical kitchen. They will also let you know whether your own ideas are workable. 

Armed with all the relevant information, you can then make the final decision to achieve your dream kitchen.