A well-planned kitchen remodel can make your home a more productive, convenient, and enjoyable place to live. Whether you’re planning a major renovation or simply updating your cabinets, these tips will help you create the perfect kitchen for your lifestyle.

Stainless-steel appliances remain a popular choice and are proven to add value. Smart storage solutions, like a hidden platform that raises to hold a mixer, also add convenience.

Layout

When you remodel your kitchen, the first thing you need to think about is the layout. It’s important that the new layout works for your family’s needs and lifestyle. You need to be able to maneuver easily in the space without bumping into someone or getting caught up in a bottleneck.

Consider whether your current floor plan needs to be modified or if you can add an extra room to make the space more functional. A new kitchen layout can eliminate bottlenecks, improve storage and lighting and help your home function better than ever.

A galley kitchen layout works well in narrower spaces, providing an efficient ‘golden triangle’ of cooker, fridge and sink. However, a long run of wall cabinets can feel oppressive in these small rooms and you may need to consider installing shelving instead.

Lighting

The kitchen must work hard, but it also needs to be beautiful. Even functional priorities like crown moulding and elegant faucets can elevate the aesthetic of your space without jeopardizing usability.

Invest in quality recessed lighting to provide ample task lighting, but consider adding dimmable pendants or lamps that can transform bright ambient light into cozier accent lighting when it’s time for a family dinner. Choose bulbs with a high CRI for accurate color representation.

Few modern island or peninsula units feel complete without some form of stylish lighting above. Balance oversized kitchen pendants with sconces or small lamps above cooking hot spots to illuminate the entire room. Glass-fronted cabinetry and a mirrored ceiling can also help brighten darker areas of the kitchen by reflecting natural or artificial light.

Appliances

Whether you prefer sleek, modern appliances or a more traditional aesthetic, it’s important that all your kitchen components work together to create a cohesive look. This includes not only the color of the appliances themselves but also the design details, like knobs, touchscreens and lighting, that elevate functionality and beauty.

For example, refrigerators, dishwashers and ovens can become seamless additions to your kitchen when clad in matching cabinetry. And a large range hood can become a beautiful focal point when topped with an aesthetically pleasing cover that hides unsightly venting and adds another element of style to your kitchen. Similarly, open shelving offers a stylish storage solution that allows you to showcase your favorite cookware and heirlooms. And a custom platform that tucks a stand mixer away for storage and raises it for use can free up valuable counter space.

Countertops

Countertops take a lot of abuse, so you want to choose a material that can stand up to heavy use and cleaning. Quartz, marble and wood are all durable choices that work well with most kitchen designs.

If your budget is tight, consider a thinner countertop that’s just as functional as one that’s thicker. This unexpected design choice can make a big visual impact and save you money, too.

To keep countertops looking pristine, find creative ways to organize your tools and utensils. NEAT Method added a wooden tray to this kitchen island to corral a toaster, wooden fruit bowl and plants. It also serves as decor that’s pretty enough to leave out.

Cabinetry

Cabinets take the most punishment in a kitchen so they should be made from strong, lasting materials. Solid hardwoods shrug off years of abuse and can be refinished many times over to refresh their appearance.

Wall cabinets are typically installed first. You’ll need to register them against your level line on the wall and shim beneath and behind them as necessary.

The next style of cabinet relates to what’s called the “cabinet box.” Cabinet boxes can be constructed with either face frames or frameless construction (also known as Euro-style). Framed cabinets feature a supporting face frame and cabinet doors mount onto the frame. Frameless cabinets feature a smooth front face, freeing up a bit more space within the cabinet. Both offer their own unique aesthetic.