7 Pro Tips from Kitchen Remodeling pros

We asked top-rated Angi pros to share their tips for kitchen remodeling. Here’s their advice for putting your plans in motion and successfully completing your project:

1. Choose quality materials for the best results.

The choices you make now play a big role in both the end-product and the longevity of your kitchen design. You’re already making the investment, so make it one that will last. “When clients pick out good-quality materials, that’s what I like best,” says Jeff Nash, Principal at Nash Remodeling in Denver, Colo. “When they pick out good-quality appliances, good-quality plumbing fixtures and good-quality cabinets—and they use good color schemes—that makes our projects look great.” And you’re left with a kitchen you’ll love for decades to come.

2. Your new kitchen should “move forward.”

Remodeling a kitchen isn’t just an opportunity to switch it up or upgrade the basics. It’s your chance to enhance. “It’s what they should try to incorporate into a kitchen that they often overlook,” says Jeff Leclerc, owner and founder of Leclerc Remodeling, LLC in Glenbeulah, Wis. “I’ll tell them, that’s not bad, but we’re really not moving forward with that.” Your kitchen remodeler can help you to see these potential improvements, such as a pantry or recycling center, and design them into your space. “I always encourage them to move forward, to something better, nicer,” says Leclerc. “The kitchens I do, they’ve been waiting for years. It’s their dream to do this.”

3. Look at the big picture before you start.

In order to get the most cohesive design, take a look at how the colors, textures and materials work together and in your home. “It’s important that you select all of that before you move forward,” says Leclerc. “So you have a good picture with some samples and some colors – of the tile, the paint, the flooring, the cabinetry, the countertops.” You may like certain things separately but, when combined, they might clash.

4. Be patient if the timeline grows.

Your remodel may go into over-time and, if it does, it’s important to practice patience. “Be prepared for your remodel to take as much time as necessary,” says Nash. “The last week is crucial in terms of the important details.” Know that your contractor is working to give you the highest quality results.

5. Expect to pay more for quality.

This is one of the most important tips. “Be wary of the contractor who says he can do a kitchen remodel in the shortest amount of time for the least amount of money,” Nash says. “Chances are, you’ll end up paying more and extending your schedule. Or, it’s not going to be good quality.”

6. Do things in order.

When you skip important upgrades in favor of the more glamorous features, you may end up spending more money down the road. “If I’m only doing a partial kitchen [and] we’re not doing the floor, I let them know how much more that’ll cost them eventually,” says Leclerc. “I encourage them to do things in order; a lot of times plumbing can add $5,000-$10,000 to the project and they have no idea.”

7. Be prepared to get creative with dishes and cooking.

This may be the last thing on your mind, but a kitchen remodel is a lengthy project and eating is a basic human need. Nash warns, “Be ready to set up a temporary kitchen—and consider remodeling in the warmer months, when you can barbeque.” Set your temporary kitchen up in an out-of-the-way spot and remember to factor in a dishwashing station.