Pro Tips for Updating Your Kitchen

When planning a remodel, it’s easy to get caught up in the big, transformative choices like selecting the perfect quartz countertop design, choosing your favorite paint color, or deciding on a cabinet style. But just as important are the subtle, functional elements that shape how you’ll live in the space day after day. These seemingly smaller decisions can often define both comfort and convenience. Overlooking the small stuff can lead to frustrations. So, here is a checklist of a few details you might want to give closer consideration:

🗹  A single overhead fixture or even a grid of recessed ceiling lights can leave shadows right where you need brightness most. Task lighting fills in those gaps with focused illumination, balancing function and atmosphere in ways general lighting can’t achieve. So, be sure to include under-cabinet lighting and other task lighting to illuminate your countertop work areas. And add dimmer switches to the dining area and above-island lighting to allow for atmosphere adjustments for eat-in kitchens.

🗹  A kitchen backsplash protects your walls from splashes and spatters, but it’s also a great way to add a beautiful design element. Consider Cambria quartz surfaces for a gorgeous and continuous look that is maintenance free.

🗹  You’ll want plenty of electrical outlets for plugging in small appliances. Consider adding outlets under upper cabinets for discreet access, inside drawers to create hidden charging stations, or on the ends of islands to make them more functional for everything from mixers to laptops. Pop-up countertop outlets can be convenient, but might be susceptible to trapping spills and accumulating crumbs. Whatever you do, be sure to verify your local code requirements for kitchen outlets.

🗹  A sink that is flexible enough for food prep and washing large pots and pans.

🗹  Enough countertop space at the right heights for food prep, dining, doing homework, and entertaining guests. Countertops for cooking or sitting at are typically 35- to 40-inches tall. Bar height counters are around six inches higher, around 41- to 43-inches tall, and are mainly used for seating since bar-height counters are too high for most people to prepare food.

🗹  Touch or motion-sensored faucets for easier food prep and handwashing.

🗹  Soft-close drawer hinges and cabinet doors to prevent slamming and reduce noise. These also add a subtle sense of luxury.

🗹  Pullout pantry and cabinet shelves for easier access to canned and dry goods.

🗹  Easily accessible appliances. You could relocate your above-the-range microwave so you don’t need to reach up to place or remove food items. And you could raise the height of your dishwasher so you don’t need to bend down as far to load or unload it. Other appliance amenities could include a lift system for your heavy kitchen mixer or an appliance garage on the countertop to reduce visual clutter.

🗹  Cooking can contribute to poor indoor air quality. So, don’t skimp on adequate kitchen ventilation to effectively remove smoke, steam, and cooking odors from your home.