Kitchens are one of the most crucial aspects of any home. They’re where everyone goes to cook their meals and prepare for the day. They also tend to be the main area for people to gather and catch up on life.

Unfortunately, they’re also full of ways to become quickly outdated. What is stylish at one point can rapidly turn into an eyesore, plus the continual advancements in appliance technology leave older generations in the dust.

And that’s why a kitchen renovation can be well worth the effort. It’s also one of the best investments you can make into your home, adding value and, in most cases, a significant selling point.

If you’re ready for a kitchen renovation, you’re in the right spot. This article takes you through everything you need to know about renovating your kitchen, starting with some small, inexpensive changes and ramping up to the complete luxury overhaul.

Kitchen Renovation: Minor Updates

You don’t have to go all-out to bring a nice facelift to your kitchen. By taking on a few, relatively inexpensive projects, you can transform any kitchen into a more inviting space.

Usually, when people are talking about minor updates, they leave the footprint of the kitchen alone. Cabinets stay where they are, as do most countertops and flooring.

Cabinet Faces

For many kitchens, cabinet surfaces are the first area to get attention. You can create a more modern look by painting over dated wood finishes. Or do the opposite by removing paint and uncovering the masonry or wood grain hidden underneath.

If all else fails, replacing the cabinet faces can do wonders.

Tile Backsplash

Adding a tile backsplash is another great idea to give your kitchen an update with a prominent impact. Putting tile in the space between your countertop and upper cabinets adds a layer of depth and new design elements. It also makes cleanup easier.

New Appliances

Finally, a simple update to existing appliances is an essential and routine way to renovate your kitchen. Appliance technology improves over time, becoming more energy efficient and offering more cooking options that make your life easier.

Perhaps these changes will do it for you and your minor kitchen renovation, but if you want to think bigger, we’ve got you covered.

Major Kitchen Renovation


Sometimes an old kitchen needs more work than a little facelift. If that’s the case, then you’re looking to complete a major kitchen renovation.

This can be an intense project that ties up your kitchen space for weeks or months, costs tens of thousands of dollars, and requires significant effort and decision-making.

But the results can be well worth every moment and penny.

Footprint Changes

The first step to a major kitchen renovation is to decide if you keep the existing footprint or if it’s time to shake things up.

If you’re already happy with the amount of storage space, the location of your appliances, and the general flow of your kitchen, you can probably leave the existing footprint.

But if you see more potential in your kitchen by moving or adjusting cabinets, countertops, or appliances, this is the moment to take action. However, changing the footprint and location of things like sinks, appliances, and electrical outlets will add to the cost and complexity of the kitchen renovation.

Cabinets, Flooring, and Countertops

Once you’ve decided on a footprint and general layout for your newly renovated kitchen, the next aspects to figure out are the cabinets, flooring, and countertops. And there are a million different ways to go.

Cabinet Selection

Cabinet options include prefabricated units which you put in place or hang. Semi-custom units allow some modification but are mostly pre-constructed. And finally, wholly custom cabinets made by specialized cabinet makers to your exact specifications.

Selecting the face and style of cabinets is one of the most challenging aspects of any kitchen project. You’ll need to find something that meets your storage needs while also looking good.

Flooring Style

Kitchen flooring is a bit more straightforward. Most people choose to stay far away from carpets in their kitchens, instead opting for hard surface materials that are durable and easy to clean.

On the low end of the price scale is vinyl flooring, which can come in whole sheets or smaller sections. More affordable vinyl is not as durable as other surfaces but can still provide a decent look at a low cost.

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring is a more durable type of vinyl surface that doesn’t have the same cheap quality as other vinyl sheets can have. It can also look like wood, tile, or nearly anything you want.

Tile is another option for kitchen renovation flooring. Of course, you can choose all sorts of tiles for your new kitchen floor, but modern ceramic tiles can mimic specific woods and unique options. It’s also durable and easy to clean.

Finally, you can go with hardwood flooring. This is generally a more expensive route but provides an unparalleled look and timeless quality. Some woods are more durable than others, but most can be sanded down and refinished if they become overly damaged.

If you have an existing wood floor, consider having it professionally resurfaced before replacing it.

Countertop Choices

And finally, countertops are the last major piece of your kitchen renovation design. While laminate-covered particle boards or small tiles used to be common on kitchen counters, they’re now incredibly dated.

In their place are solid-surface countertops.

By using large pieces of stone, poured concrete, or wood, your kitchen countertops can become a lovely focal point of your kitchen. It’s also nice to avoid grout lines where food and debris can get stuck, and replace them with a smooth, easy-to-clean surface.

Some solid-surface counters are still susceptible to staining and water problems. This is why it’s critical to select your countertop surface carefully.

Butcher block counters have become somewhat widely used in kitchens, providing a wooden solution. They are relatively durable and can be easy to refinish.

The downside is that butcher block counters are delicate like most woods and require frequent oiling to ensure it doesn’t dry out, just like wooden cutting boards or utensils.

Appliances Updates

The framework of your kitchen renovation is one crucial component, but the appliances are nearly as essential. They’re the things you use daily, use to store or heat your food, and help you get things done.

There’s no one right solution to kitchen appliances. Consider your needs and personal tastes to select the right appliances for your kitchen renovation. The budget also has a lot to say in this decision.

You’ll need to decide what look you want your appliances to have. It’s usually best to try to match your appliances to one another. If you get a stainless steel refrigerator, you probably want to stick with that look across the entire kitchen renovation.

Many decisions will come to the table with appliances. Refrigerators are the most important kitchen appliance and can be split side to side or top and bottom. Ranges can come in many different sizes and shapes of burners, and they can use different heating methods, such as gas flame or electric.

Induction stoves, a type of electric technology, have become quite popular because they can rapidly change heat like gas stoves but have the convenience of electricity.

Finishing Touches: Sink, Lighting, and More

The finishing touches to a kitchen renovation still include many critical details. Your sink and faucet selection helps determine the usability of your kitchen, with many going for oversized and deep kitchen sinks with tall faucets to maximize sink space.

Having enough light in your new kitchen is vital. Sometimes existing ceiling lights are enough, but more often, it’s a good idea to investigate adding some lighting fixtures over specific areas, adding task lighting under the cabinets, or over high-traffic areas.

For many people, an excellent addition to a kitchen renovation is a water filtration system. While most US households have tap water that is safe to drink, you can improve the taste and purity of your water by treating it at your home.

But that’s far from the end of what you can do with a kitchen renovation. There is an entire world of more luxurious appointments you can add during this transition.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to have around a dedicated ice maker for those big parties or to have on hand for daily use. Perhaps you live in a cold area where a heated flooring system can be well worth the effort. Or maybe you want to go all out with your appliances and use commercial-grade products that will allow you to cook up a feast.

Whatever the case, now is the time.

Wrap Up

Renovating your kitchen can liven up your home and create an inviting space that makes you look forward to cooking. You can start small with a minor kitchen renovation and a quick facelift, or choose to go all out.

You can change up the floor plan and layout, bring in new cabinets, flooring, and countertops, then fill it out with the perfect appliances and small touches to transform the space into your dream.

Kitchen renovations can be an intense project. One that’s almost certain to be well worth the cost and energy.