3 Kitchen Design Trade-Offs to Mull Over for Your Remodel

Compromises are a regular occurrence for most, if not all, remodels.

Most of us don’t have unlimited funds and unlimited space, so we must decide what’s most important to us. What you choose will determine how you use your kitchen, so be sure you’re making smart choices that suit your lifestyle.

3 Common Kitchen Design Compromises You’ll Have to Make

The way you want to use your kitchen versus the way you do use your kitchen may not match up. The key to kitchen design is finding the right balance between the two.

1. Initial Cost vs. Long-Term Value

In your kitchen design, where should you spend the extra money and where should you save? That all depends on what’s important to you.

If you hate your kitchen cabinets, and a lower-budget option won’t solve the problem, upgrading can give you a lot of value. This is especially true for optimizing storage and space. Similarly, if you loathe hand-washing dishes and would love to save time and energy, a new dishwasher could be a huge value to you.

Then again, maybe your cabinets are sturdy and just need a coat of paint. Or, maybe you don’t mind hand-washing dishes. In these cases, you can skip expensive upgrades and direct the money toward what will give you more value.

2. Practicality vs. Looks

Making a choice between looks versus practicality can be tough, but, again, this depends on what’s important to you.

Do you not cook much, but still desire a beautiful kitchen? Spend the money on finishes and go for cheaper appliances.

If you entertain regularly and need double ovens, you can scale back on aesthetic finishes. Go cheaper for countertops and cabinets to afford that top-of-the-line style that will let you bake two Thanksgiving turkeys and four pies at the same time.

3. Daily Use vs. Hosting Guests

You need to design your kitchen for how many people live in your home, first and foremost, but you may also need to consider entertaining space.

How many people would you ideally like to fit in your kitchen? Do you want to accommodate guests while you cook? Would you prefer a layout that keeps guests out of your way while you prepare? Do you host big holidays and need to be able to cook for 20 people as well as four?

Some people like to plan for entertaining first. Others prefer to design their kitchen for their family. Most like a compromise. Decide what works best for your lifestyle and preferences.

Kitchen Design Compromises Help You Create the Perfect Room

When you compromise, you’re not giving up anything – you’re arriving at the best balance possible for how you’ll use your space. Carefully considering exactly how you’ll use your kitchen is the smart way to approach your design. You’ll end up with a space that works in every situation for years to come.