6 Kitchen Remodeling Projects to Increase Your Home's Value

If you're ready to remodel your kitchen, you have plenty of affordable options for flooring, cabinets and other aspects of the space. Before you get started, be sure that your plans match your budget as well as aesthetic preferences. 

 
Here's a look at how you can remodel your kitchen for results you and your guests will love.



Reface or Replace Your Cabinets
 
Cabinets are the centerpiece of any kitchen, and they also present a great opportunity for getting started with kitchen remodeling. However, new cabinets can cost as much as $50,000.

Fortunately, you don't have to replace your cabinets to change the look of your kitchen. By adding features like soft-close doors, you can dramatically increase the value of your cabinetry. 

Painting is another option for enhancing your current cabinets:

• First clean them with soapy water, then sand them with fine sandpaper. 
• Coat with the appropriate primer and use a sprayer or paintbrush for the paint of your choice. 

For convenience and reliability, pay a contractor to handle your cabinet installation - it may pay for itself with the time and headaches saved!

Install New Flooring

If your kitchen floor needs to be replaced, consider changing it out for laminate, linoleum or hardwood. Each option has advantages and limitations, so take your time and choose carefully. 

While hardwood may be the best overall, it can cost quite a bit for materials and labor. Laminate will be less expensive for visually similar results. In many cases, laminate can be installed easily, without professional help, thanks to interlocking technology. 

Sheet vinyl is another budget-friendly option that is easy to install without assistance from pros.

Install New Countertops

Countertops are often the first detail people notice about a kitchen, so they're a great place to add home value. Counters made of granite and other stone are durable, but also expensive compared to other options. To find a countertop that meets your tastes as well as your budget, look into dark granite, as many varieties are strong and stylish and affordable. 

As soon as you've decided on a countertop, call a contractor. The work involved in installing heavy countertops makes professional labor essential.
 
Put In New Lighting
 
Lights have a profound effect on the room they're installed in, and this is especially true in the kitchen, where options abound for placement that offers practicality along with aesthetic appeal. For example, many homeowners are placing lights underneath their cabinets to ease food preparation and brighten the counter top area. 

Lighting isn't generally a project that homeowners should attempt on their own. The expertise required for working wire through walls and into fixtures is high for the sake of safety and long-lasting results. Call an electrician for new installations as well as lighting modifications, such as dimmers.
 
Expand Your Kitchen
 
Decades ago, most homes contained separate kitchens and living rooms, but many contemporary houses combine the two. This enhances the flow of natural light and creates a warmer social atmosphere. For a project this large, speak with a contractor who is familiar with this type of work.

Add a Tile Backsplash

A tile backsplash is a great project for expressing your own tastes and adding durability to your kitchen. Be sure to get all your materials and tools together before starting. 

• First, prepare your walls using 80-grit sandpaper and wipe it clean using soapy water. 
• Coat the wall with mastic, then apply no more than eight tiles at a time so that the mastic can dry properly. 
• Depending on your design, you might need to buy or rent a tile cutter for fitting the tiles around the edges of fixtures and cabinets. 
• After the backsplash has dried overnight, apply grout, then caulk the lines and clean the tiles with soapy water.