You can increase the equity value of your home by installing a gleaming new kitchen, and it's a great way to make your home more attractive. You can even host social gatherings in the kitchen and make it the center of family life. Fully remodeling a kitchen is a worthwhile investment in money, time, and effort. If you know exactly how the process goes before you start, you will be able to avoid being overwhelmed.

1. Establish Your Kitchen Goals

Your current kitchen may need to be changed for many reasons, but if you know the number one reason for changing it, you can plan and budget for it accordingly. Whether it's to enhance ergonomics, update the decor, create more dining space, alter the kitchen's layout, or help sell your house, what is the purpose of your upgrade? The answers will help you determine what you need and how much you can afford. Goals are crucial to success. The more specific and clear they are, the more likely you are to achieve them.

2. Evaluate Your Needs and Wants

With your reasons for renovating identified, you can begin narrowing down what you expect in your new kitchen. How you define this will vary from person to person. To help you discover precisely what your unique kitchen needs, here are a few questions and things to consider;

• When you cook, what type of food do you most often prepare? Are you a gourmet chef or more of a microwave person?
• What are the most common kitchen appliances and equipment you use? Could you use things like kitchen islands for prep areas?
• Do you do other things in the kitchen besides cooking? Many people have turned the kitchen into a home office.
• How much counter space do you need, and where? What about new kitchen cabinets?
• Are you in need of more storage? 
• What is the ease of accessing the trash? What about recycling?
• Which features of your current kitchen will you keep, and which will you change?
• In your kitchen, how would you like to incorporate your own ideas?
• How would you like your kitchen to look? What color and style would you like to include?

A thorough approach pays off. Your designer and contractor will be able to follow your plan more quickly if you can clearly explain your wants and needs. This kind of planning will also help with your budget and make it easier to distinguish luxury conveniences from dire kitchen renovation needs.

3. Establish a Reasonable Timeline

Establishing a realistic timeline is difficult because everything depends on the size and scope of your project and your ability to access the right products and contractors. As most people are unfamiliar with what is involved, removing your kitchen will require the expertise of designers or contractors.

The amount of time homeowners can devote to their projects will determine how quickly they can complete them. When you're just getting started, you might want to set a benchmark for yourself of about nine months. For planning your project (seeking, shopping, designing, preparing, and ordering products), allot about five months, and for implementing it, four months. Depending on the project's size and schedule, you can get better advice when you work with a designer or contractor.

Do not disregard the value of time; shopping and researching can take a longer time than anticipated. Be sure to plan ahead for your kitchen renovation if you wish to have it completed in time for the holidays or an important event.

4. Research Before You Buy

Renovating or remodeling your kitchen will likely be one of the most important purchases you make for your home, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to do it right. An interior designer or contractor can guide you toward products they know will meet your expectations and look good in your home if you work with them.Purchasing your own kitchen appliances is a big decision and should not be taken lightly. Here's a quick list of the top products you should consider and spend some time considering:

• kitchen cabinets
• countertops
• kitchen islands
• backsplashes
• sinks and faucets
• lighting
• appliances.

Learning much about the different materials, installation methods, warranties, maintenance, and care requirements within these product categories is possible. Keep a list of your options or construct a spreadsheet to keep track of them.

After you complete your research, you will determine how much particular items, features, and upgrades cost and how much you value them for your own use. Try to reduce your options to a maximum of one or two items by eliminating products that do not work.

5. Plan Your Budget

What kind of budget do you have? Most renovation professionals ask this question. To establish a budget, you should consider what you have, how much you are willing to spend, and your financial situation. Before you set a budget, you may wish to wait until you have shopped and compared different product options. 

According to HomeAdvisor, kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects are the most likely to generate a return on investment (ROI).

6. Call in the experts

A skilled and reputable kitchen designer can assist you in making your ideas and thoughts into an actionable plan which is feasible within your budget. Work will be coordinated with the designer's plans by a contractor. Contractors usually schedule electricians, plumbers, tile setters, and carpenters, among other trade professionals.

Get professionals involved early and in a proactive manner. It is common for contractors to have month-long wait lists for the most reputable pros. By making an early appointment, you will ensure you have a spot on their schedules. Their expertise will guide you in making better remodeling decisions.

How Can An Online Kitchen Planner Help?

Often, visualizing the exact design concept and upgrades you want can help bring these aspirations to fruition. Oasis Kitchens has a state-of-the-art program that can help.

You can get instant live pricing updates on your cabinetry and kitchen island design within the Oasis Kitchen Planner Tool, whether you do your design yourself or work with an Oasis Design Curator.

Curious about the material options available? Homeowners can talk to one of our professional Design Curators about creating the kitchen of their dreams through the online kitchen planner. Owners preparing to remodel their kitchens are invited to visit the Oasis showroom to see and feel the unique materials that will go into your dream kitchen or request a complimentary sample box from a Design Curator.

Throughout the design process and before anything is sent to production, Oasis Kitchen's professionals will be with you every step of the way to ensure that every detail is in order and that you are happy with the end result.

Based in Cloverdale, British Columbia, Oasis Kitchens' local production team has over 30 years of experience turning dreams into reality! Your dream kitchen will not only be realized but will also be installed correctly from the start.

Benefits of Oasis Kitchens Online Kitchen Planner

The Online Kitchen Planner is a valuable tool for those who want to design and visualize their kitchen and get an instant estimate instead of waiting two weeks for their designer to prepare a 2d drawing. These kinds of delays, while natural, can delay project milestones and make the entire kitchen renovation process tedious and lengthy. You need to know as soon as possible how your designs will (or won't) work within your kitchen. Like those found in the online kitchen planner, Instant drafts and estimates will help keep your kitchen renovation project on time and on the right track.

When you work with Oasis Kitchens to create your dream kitchen space, certain advantages are offered to all customers. Unlike Ikea, which requires payment for access to its kitchen planner, Oasis Kitchens is different. Not only will you get to work with design professionals, but access to the online kitchen planner is free.

A reliable online kitchen planner can lend a hand when you're planning a kitchen renovation. For customers living in the lower mainland of Vancouver or on Vancouver Island, please contact Oasis Kitchens.

The goal of Oasis Kitchens is to provide customers with high-quality products and outstanding customer service. Our team is dedicated to bringing your dream kitchen to life, and we will work hard to make it a reality.

Contact us for a complimentary design consultation by calling us at 604.670.9588, or clicking here.