How to add value to your home through your kitchen renovation

Author: Naomi Findlay on Houzz

The kitchen is the heart of today’s home, and it’s the room buyers are most focused on when they step inside a property for sale. If a kitchen reno is on the cards for you, renovation expert Dr Naomi Findlay reveals where to spend and where to save so you can get the biggest return on your investment.

Investing a bit of time and money into upgrading your kitchen can result in increased buyer interest and a higher sale price when it comes time to sell your home. And the good news is that you don’t always have to go all out and re-do the whole kitchen to reap the rewards. If your kitchen is in decent condition, sometimes all you need are a few small, sharply focused upgrades to bring it up to date and boost its value. Here are the upgrades that are likely to give you the best return.

Add an island
This is an instant value booster. Not only will a new island provide another work surface, but it will give you a serious storage boost.

Introducing a kitchen island is also a great way to draw the kitchen out into an open-plan living or dining space.

Good to know:

• You’ll want to leave around one metre on either side of your island unit to allow for traffic flow. But if space is tight, you could go as narrow as 850 millimetres.
• Deciding how big or small your island unit should be will depend on what it needs to house, and the proportions of your kitchen. I recommend a minimum width of around 1200 millimetres for islands, but if you don’t plan on installing a sink or a stovetop in it, you could go as narrow as 600 millimetres.
• If you’d like to boost your display options, add some open shelving to your island. If storage is a priority, add drawers.
• Maximise your drawer space by investing in custom-designed solutions. These can be made to accommodate everything from cutlery and plates to glassware.

Take storage from floor to ceiling
Adequate storage is one of the most important things buyers are looking for. If you’re re-doing your kitchen, maximise your storage potential by installing cupboards that run the full length of walls from floor to ceiling, and take them as wide as possible.

Good to know:

• Open shelving will need cleaning and styling from time to time, so only install it in spots you can reach. Install closed cupboards in high spots and use them to store items you only use occasionally, such as storage boxes and platters.

Upgrade your benchtop
Your kitchen benchtop is one of the first things buyers see when they step inside your kitchen, so it’s well worth upgrading to a quality style. Hard-wearing laminate is one of my favourite options for benchtops, particularly if you’re on a budget. It can be made to mimic a variety of sumptuous materials, such as marble and timber, and it won’t cost you the earth. If you’re prepared to splash out on a benchtop, I’d suggest upgrading to one in a luxurious and durable material such as granite or quartz.

Good to know:

• Choose a benchtop material in a neutral colour that won’t date.
• If you’re buying laminate for a benchtop, it’s worth paying a little more for a hardy, heat-resistant variety.
• Benchtops take a lot of beating over their lifetime. Whichever material you choose, make sure that it is stain-, heat- and water-resistant, as well as easy to clean.

Choose colour wisely
When renovating your kitchen, be mindful when choosing the colour palette for your finishes. While you might love a bright red splashback and yellow tiles, ask yourself if that’s something buyers are likely to appreciate. For walls, the ceiling and floors, stick with neutrals that are unlikely to date, such as white, grey and beige.

Good to know:

• If you hanker after a bit of colour, add it in your accessories, such as funky bar stools, a brightly coloured coffee machine or an eye-catching pendant light. These are easy enough to change if they’re not to your buyer’s taste.

Invest in quality appliances
Good-quality appliances will give your kitchen an instant lift and boost its value in the eyes of buyers. While you’re still using the kitchen, new functionality on the latest appliances can also save you hours on cleaning and cooking prep.

Good to know:

• Look to buy appliances from the same brand and range for a stylish, coordinated look.

Introduce a smart lighting scheme
A carefully considered lighting scheme is a smart investment and a detail that prospective buyers really appreciate. Good lighting not only makes it easier to work in a kitchen, but allows you to alter the mood for entertaining – ideal for kitchens in an open-plan space.

Good to know:

• Make sure you adequately light parts of the kitchen where you will be chopping and cooking, such as over the kitchen benches and above the stove.
• Position lighting in front of you rather than solely overhead or behind, so that you’re not working in your own shadow.
• Installing downlights and pendant lights on separate circuits makes it easy for you to control lighting levels and atmosphere.
• If you want to install a pendant light over a dining table, think carefully about positioning. Once the light fixture goes in, it’s likely to be there for years to come.

And if your budget is really tight, why not just…
Upgrade hardware: This will give your kitchen cabinets a whole new look for very little outlay.

Reface cabinets: New cabinets don’t come cheap, so if yours are in decent condition but just a little dated, why not reface rather than replace them. Sanding, degreasing, and staining or painting the cabinet faces will make a dated kitchen look sleek and up-to-date for a fraction of the cost of all-new cabinets.

Reach for the paint brush: There’s no quicker and easier way to transform a dated kitchen (or in fact any room) than with paint. And it’s not just for walls – you’ll find specialist paint on offer for everything from tiles and appliances to benchtops.