Designer Tip – Kitchen Remodels Add the Most Value to a Home

In a previous post titled Master Bath & Kitchen Add Value to Homes, we shared the idea that a master bath remodel was a good way to help your clients make their home more appealing to potential buyers, with five important areas to consider. Of course, this is not to suggest that the kitchen is just, if not more, important to the value of a home. So, for today’s designer tip, we offer a few ideas on how you can help your clients boost the appeal of their home by making changes to their kitchen.

First, let’s look at the cost versus return on investment (ROI) of remodeling a kitchen. According to various sources, the ROI for a kitchen remodel will most likely be in the range of 60% to 80% of the cost. Yet, depending on location and the marketplace, some remodels may return 100% or more.

For the sharp interior designer, though, there is more to the appeal of a kitchen remodeling project than boosting value for the homeowner. Since we’re talking about the essential room in most homes, making the kitchen more appealing to the current owners is a significant feature for investing in a remodeling project, with added value as a side issue and bonus.

In other words, don’t merely focus on ROI. Instead, make it clear to your client that a new and improved kitchen will add to their own lives in ways they may not have considered: comfort, efficiency, and even increased intimacy.

Best Ways to Add Value to a Kitchen

It should go without saying that remodeling a kitchen present numerous opportunities for improving such an important space. From appliances to cabinetry and countertops to flooring, and even the simpler things like paint pulls, and knobs, there are dozens of improvements to be made to any kitchen – from the most basic to the most advanced.

So, where should you, as a designer, focus your attention when working on a kitchen remodeling project?

Kitchen island – Virtually every expert opinion we can find suggests that, if space is available, adding a kitchen island is one of the most significant improvements you can suggest. Even a mobile workstation adds flexibility for food prep and cooking, as well as helping the kids with homework.

Brighter is better – Whether natural or artificial, kitchen lighting is an essential element in a remodel. After all, the cook needs to be able to see what they’re making for dinner, and the family rarely needs mood lighting at the dinner table (although using dimmers for special occasions make sense).

Cabinet upgrades – Regardless of room size, it seems space is nearly always an issue for the homeowner. New kitchen cabinets can usually resolve the problem, adding additional storage where needed but, cosmetics can also be an issue. If budgets are tight, a new finish or paint job, along with new hardware, may be the best solution.