When it comes to home improvement projects, few are as exciting as a kitchen remodel. After all, choosing new tiles, fixtures, appliances, and colors to give the room a whole new look is a lot of fun. But did you know that upgrading your kitchen can also benefit your home?

Benefits of Kitchen Upgrades

As a homeowner, you will likely have to replace a kitchen appliance at some point. If you are considering an upgrade, it can benefit you in several ways. Here’s how:

• Makes your home more appealing. If you’re tired of the outdated look of your old kitchen, then an upgrade is the perfect opportunity to explore not only new appliances but also new designs and colors. Just think about how much difference a nice fresh coat of paint or even something as simple as new cabinet doors can make. To make sure you get the kitchen you want, spend some time looking through interior design magazines and browsing websites that feature remodels. This is also a great way to get money-saving tips if you’re doing your upgrade on a budget.
• Add more space to your home. A lot of older homes have kitchens that seem smaller because of an outdated layout. For example, sometimes they’re in separate rooms; other times they have a wrap-around countertop/bar that takes up a lot of space. When you’re remodeling, you can work with your contractor to create a new layout that will maximize the available space. For example, you could knock out a wall to create an open plan kitchen and living room or remove an oversized countertop to create more space.
• Add more light to your home. If you have a kitchen that’s relatively dark because of small windows or windows that aren’t situated favorably, an upgrade is a good time to address this issue. You can replace small windows with larger ones, add new windows to catch more natural light, or even have skylights put in.
• Install better appliances. A kitchen upgrade should come with new appliances. You can select appliances that not only have the design you want but also the features. For example, you can get a smart refrigerator that not only keeps track of food but also shops for you and functions as an entertainment center. Moreover, you can purchase energy-efficient appliances — especially ENERGY STAR — to keep your energy consumption low and minimize your carbon footprint.
• Enhance your home’s safety. If your kitchen hasn’t been upgraded for 15 years or more, then there are likely to be things that are showing signs of wear and tear. Of course, your appliances won’t function as well as they did when they were new. In addition, things like your gas line, electrical wiring and plumbing might be showing signs of wear and tear — and this can place your home at risk of gas leaks, fires, and water damage. Upgrading your kitchen is the right time to have professionals check out all of these systems to ensure they’re up to modern standards.
• Increase the value of your home. An outdated kitchen can adversely affect the value of your home. Likewise, an upgraded one can significantly increase it. If you’re thinking about selling your home in the next five years, then doing a kitchen remodel now can bring you a significant return on your investment later.

It’s important to keep in mind that if you decide to upgrade your kitchen, it’s best to hire professionals to do it for you. That way, you can be sure that all of the work is performed correctly and you’ll not only derive the most enjoyment from your new kitchen but also achieve the best possible ROI.

By McHales Kitchen and Bath