A kitchen renovation is one of the highest-ROI home improvements, typically recouping 60-80% of costs at resale. Projects range from minor refreshes ($12,000-$20,000) to full gut renovations ($40,000-$60,000+).
10 steps across 1 sections
1. Steps Guide
- Define your goals and priorities — Create two lists: must-haves (more storage, better layout, updated appliances) and nice-to-haves (island, premium countertops, custom backsplash). This guides des...
- Set a realistic budget — Research costs for your area and project scope. Allocate approximately: cabinets 30-35%, labor 20-25%, appliances 15%, countertops 10%, flooring 5%, lighting 5%, and contin...
- Hire design help — A kitchen designer ($2,000-$5,000) helps optimize layout, select materials, and avoid costly mistakes. Many cabinet companies offer free design services with a purchase commitment.
- Choose a layout — Consider the kitchen work triangle (sink, stove, refrigerator). Common layouts include galley, L-shape, U-shape, and island configurations. Moving plumbing and gas lines significa...
- Select materials early — Cabinets (stock, semi-custom, or custom), countertops (quartz, granite, laminate, butcher block), flooring (tile, LVP, hardwood), backsplash, and hardware. Custom cabinets ...
- Order appliances — Select appliances early due to potential supply chain delays. Ensure new appliances fit existing spaces or plan for modifications. Energy Star appliances save on utility costs lo...
- Hire a contractor — Get 3-5 detailed bids. Verify licensing, insurance, and references. Sign a comprehensive contract with scope, timeline, payment schedule, and change order procedures.
- Pull permits — Your contractor typically handles permits, but verify this. Kitchen renovations involving electrical, plumbing, or structural changes require permits and inspections.
- Plan for the disruption — Set up a temporary kitchen in another room (microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, cooler). Budget for increased dining out. Construction typically takes 6-12 weeks.
- Manage the project — Conduct regular walkthroughs, address issues immediately, document progress with photos, approve materials before installation, and maintain open communication with your contra...
Common Mistakes
- Underestimating the budget
- Poor layout planning
- Not ordering materials early enough
- Skimping on cabinet quality
- Ignoring lighting
Pro Tips
- Keep the existing plumbing layout
- Maximize storage
- Invest in countertops and hardware
- Plan for electrical
- Consider a phased approach
Sources
Picking one
Somewhere in the steps above you have to actually buy the mats that go back down. Rankquant ranks the Kitchen Rugs Non Slip Washable, 17.3"x30" Cushioned Scalloped Rug Kitchen Mats for Floor against the rest of its Home & Kitchen catalogue by re-centring every review on the reviewer who wrote it — 6 calibrated reviewers on this one — rather than averaging raw stars, which is why a four-star product with tough reviewers can outrank a five-star one. The full product rankings are built the same way.