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When it comes to kitchen renovation, you’ll plan ahead, even if you’ve hired an interior designer as a helping hand. No need to be so overwhelmed, though–with some reading, you’ll be equipped to create both an aesthetically pleasing and functional kitchen.With this article, use us as a guide in helping you tick all the boxes on essential things for kitchen renovation so you won’t miss out on a single thing.

Kitchen Layout and Concept

The first thing to take note of when you’ve decided to renovate your kitchen is the layout. A kitchen layout serves as the foundation of the space according to your cooking habits.

Typically, there are 6 kitchen layouts that you can choose from, namely the one-wall kitchen, the galley kitchen, the L-shaped kitchen, the U-shaped kitchen, the island kitchen, and the peninsula kitchen. With space constraints, homeowners in Singapore may not have the luxury of choosing an extensive kitchen layout like the U-shaped. Most go for simple layouts like a one-wall, galley, or L-shaped style.

In addition, you may also need to take your lifestyle into account. If you consider yourself a heavy cook, the U-shaped layout will be a perfect choice to get the job done efficiently. Homeowners with baking as their hobby, or those who frequently host gatherings in their homes will find this layout appealing. On the other hand, if cooking isn’t your thing, a simple single-wall layout is all that you need.

And when it comes to the kitchen concept, you can opt for either a closed kitchen, an open kitchen, or a semi-open kitchen. In Singapore, the difference between these kitchen concepts is solely in the presence of the wall separating the kitchen from the rest of the communal area. A semi-open kitchen is a safe option if you’re likely to change your mind in the future.

Kitchen Storage

The choice of what types of storage best fits in your kitchen is another important matter to decide on. Basically, there are two typical storage solutions that come with your kitchen, that is, drawers and cabinets. You don’t need to stick to only one storage type; instead, go with both as each has pros and cons.

Drawers, for instance, are favoured by many homeowners due to easier access to stored items and are perfect to organise smaller items. However, drawers are more expensive and they are trickier to repair than cabinets. It’s also not a good fit for storing heavy items.

On the other hand, cabinets are perfect to store items situated higher up. They are more affordable and easier to repair, compared to drawers. Do take note of their downsides, too, though, as you’ll need some racks and organisational add-ons to organise your items with this type of storage. You’ll also have a harder time reaching items situated further inside.

Both have soft-closing options which are great for families with young children. However, if these two storage types do not suffice, there are still additional storage options for your kitchen, including corner racks, 2-3 tier drawers, and pull-out inserts.

Kitchen Materials

While you may lean on your designer to decide things for the renovation work, it’s important to have some grasp on the kitchen materials that they’re going to use for your kitchen countertop, storage, and wall.

Your kitchen countertop deals a lot with your food preparation, including rigorous chopping, food spills, or sizzling pot, so you have to choose durable materials which are also easy to clean. Some popular choices include quartz, sintered stone, and KompacPlus. Discuss with your ID to find out what is the most suitable kitchen material to suit your cooking workflow.

As for your cabinets and drawers, you can opt for laminates as they are loved by many for their affordability and durability. Homeowners can pick beautiful designs that laminates offer and they’ll perfectly fit into your interior design regardless of the style. Stainless steel is another choice to consider as it is antimicrobial and durable. Liquids and stains won’t stand a chance on your cabinets and drawers.

You also have to pick the best materials for your kitchen backsplash. Aside from the aesthetics, it actually serves a practical purpose to prevent splashes of water and oil from dirtying your kitchen wall.

The best Interior Designers for your kitchen renovation work

Now that you’ve wrapped up your mind around kitchen renovation 101, it’s time to discuss with your ID the further plan. Or, if you haven’t engaged one, browse through our list of top interior designers in Singapore to make your dream kitchen–and home–come true.