When potential homeowners go house shopping, one of the first things they consider is the kitchen. That’s no surprise. People spend a lot of time there cooking, cleaning, and eating, so it’s an important area to remodel. The design decisions you make should ensure comfort and functionality, both for yourself and for any potential buyer.
A typical kitchen remodel can cost up to $30,000 and $40,000. Remodeling might include upgrading all appliances, replacing cabinets, and countertops, painting walls, and ceiling, installing new lighting and replacing the flooring.
Making Your Small Kitchen Appear Larger
Because of all the activity that takes place in the kitchen, larger is better. So what do you do if your kitchen is small? With a kitchen remodel, you have the opportunity to make changes that will enhance the current space and make it look and feel bigger. You can make the kitchen less cluttered by installing a built-in microwave and oven. White paint is your best bet to give the appearance of more room. Instead of installing standard cabinet doors, replace them with glass doors. If you have a wall separating the kitchen from the rest of the house, consider knocking it down to open up the space.
Maximizing Your Small Kitchen Design
Keep in mind that when you remodel, you're not just designing for yourself. Someday, you might want to sell your home, so design with buyers in mind. You can make your small kitchen more appealing to buyers by using modern, neutral paint colors instead of loud or exotic colors. You should also consider installing energy-efficient appliances, which can help homeowners save on their monthly electric bill. A word of caution-don’t design such a fancy kitchen that you price your home out of the market. Your upgrades should be in keeping with the design of the rest of your house, and it shouldn’t be much more elaborate than the kitchens of other homes in the neighborhood.
Financing Your Small Kitchen Remodel
Your small kitchen remodeling project will cost thousands of dollars, but most people don’t have that much cash on hand. You may be able to qualify for a home equity loan, which is a second loan that you take out against your house. Home equity loans are popular for home improvement projects. You can typically borrow approximately 80% of your home’s value, minus the remaining balance on your mortgage. You will often qualify for a lower interest rate with a home equity loan because it’s essentially a secured loan. If you will be remodeling in stages, you might consider a home equity line of credit. Instead of getting a lump sum up front as with a home equity loan, you get a line of credit. You can then use as much or as little of that credit as you need, when you need it.
A kitchen remodel can give your house a much-needed face-lift. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to unleash your creativity with style and flair. Your kitchen design choice can be the difference between making the sale and losing the sale, so keep that in mind as you explore your options. If you make smart kitchen remodel decisions, you can earn a 70% return when you sell your house, which makes it a great investment.
