Quality is key: Where you shouldn't scrimp on your kitchen renovation

Kitchen renovations can be expensive investments, but there are some things that are certainly worth investing in. The kitchen is one of the most used spaces in the house, with high levels of traffic and a range of uses.

While budgets may get stressed, and there are areas in which you may need to cut costs, you should also be aware that there are areas you really shouldn’t scrimp on if you want to get your kitchen right.

If you’re in the midst of home renovation, here are five areas of the kitchen where significant parts of your budget should be going…

Kitchen Flooring

The flooring of your kitchen is essentially the foundation of the space and needs to endure constant use, as well as withstand spills, stains and often dropped pots and pans! Therefore, investing in high-quality flooring such as porcelain tiles is a good option. Not only will the enhance the overall look of your kitchen, but they’ll also provide a durability that will stand the test of time.

Alternative options include ceramic tiles and solid hardwood flooring, both of which are easy to clean and maintain, as well as making for an attractive floor solution.

Kitchen Cabinets

Our cabinets are essentially the backbone of any organisation in a kitchen. You want quality cabinets to not only look better, but also offer superior functionality. Solid wood cabinets are among the most popular, with the highest quality coming from the likes of oak, maple and cherry.

Adding soft close hinges and drawer slides can improve your space more, upping the longevity of the cabinets and reduce wear and tear.

Kitchen Countertops

Poor quality countertops are going to get damaged, stained and chopped to pieces quite quickly so opting for a granite or quartz countertop can really up the durability and style of a kitchen. They are resistant to scratches, heat and staining, making them ideal for a busy kitchen.

Naturally, they are a bigger investment, but will pay you back in the long run, while the same can be said for materials like Corian, which are also long-lasting and easy to clean.

Kitchen Appliances

Of course, the appliances you’re installing in the space can make a significant difference to not just your cooking experience, but your lifestyle and finances. While budget friendly options may seem appealing, they’ll be less energy efficient and lower quality.

Look for energy star rated appliances that consume less energy, whether it be your cooker, fridge freezer or dishwasher. There may be a higher up front fee, but over time it will pay back in lower maintenance and lower energy bills.

Lighting

Finally, we often don’t think about the lighting of our kitchen too much, but you can really improve the functionality and ambience of the space by investing in quality lighting fixtures. Naturally, while cooking you want plenty of light to see what you are doing, but let’s not forget the kitchen is one of the most social areas of the house too.

Therefore, the ability to change the lighting can really reflect the mood. Consider the likes of under cabinet lighting, lamps and even things like festoon lighting to create more of an atmosphere, as well as enhancing the larger lights with quality LED lights, which are both energy efficient and long lasting. By effectively lighting your kitchen you really can transform the look and feel of it, making it a multi functional space that you can enjoy for years and years.

Of course, there are many other areas to look at investing in, but if you budget healthily for the five features above, you really will create a special kitchen space.