5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Renovated My Kitchen
Renovating a kitchen sounds exciting…until you’re living through it. What started as a plan to “just update a few things” turned into weeks of stress, delays, and unexpected costs. I learned a lot through the process, much of it the hard way. If you’re planning a remodel, here are five lessons I wish someone had told me before I started, along with what I’d change if I could do it all over again.
1. The Layout Matters More Than the Look
I focused too much on finishes and colors in the early planning stages, not realizing how much more the layout would matter in the long run. Pretty cabinets don’t mean much if your workspace is awkward. I’d spend more time mapping out how I move through the kitchen—cooking, cleaning, storing—before choosing any design elements. A kitchen should work hard for you, not just look nice in photos.
2. Cheap Cabinets Aren’t a Bargain
I went with lower-cost cabinets thinking I’d save money, but within a year, doors started sagging and hardware came loose. Replacing or repairing them now would cost more than investing in better quality from the start. Next time, I’d cut back on something less central, maybe the backsplash or lighting, and put that money toward solid, long-lasting cabinetry. It’s something you touch and use every day, it needs to hold up.
3. You’ll Still Need to Eat
We defninitely didn’t think enough about how we’d cook or eat during the renovation, which means a lot of last-minute takeout and frustration. A simple setup, even just a microwave or a hot plate, would have saved us both stress and money. If I could go back, I’d create a clear temporary kitchen space before anything got torn out. It’s not just convenient, it helps keep a sense of normalcy.
4. Timelines Are Not a Promise
We were told six weeks. It took ten. Delays came from backordered materials, surprise plumbing issues, and contractor scheduling. It’s frustrating, but it’s common. I wish I’d built more flexibility into our plans. Next time, I’d pad the timeline by at least 30 percent and avoid booking anything important right after the “expected” finish date. You can’t control everything, but you can give yourself room to adjust.
5. Lighting Makes Everything
I underestimated the importance of good lighting. Our old kitchen had one overhead fixture, so anything was an improvement—or so I thought. The new setup looks great as the fixtures are more modern, but they’re still casting shadows where light should fall instead. I didn’t think about how light would hit the counters or how the space would feel at night. Next time, I’d layer the lighting, adding ceiling, under-cabinet, and task light, then test it all out before committing to final fixtures.
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A kitchen renovation can be one of the most rewarding projects in a home, but it also comes with plenty of…let’s call them surprises. I’ve learned that smart planning is about so much more than just picking out what looks best. If you’re starting your own renovation journey, take the time to really think it through. A few thoughtful choices early on can save a lot of headaches later.
Daniel Mitchell
