It is the Australian dream to own your own home. If you happen to be lucky enough to be in this position, it is highly probable that you have considered upgrading certain parts of it, especially if it was old when you purchased it. Your age and the specific point in your life which you are at will also determine how you will utilise your home and what your priorities are. Whether it be a young family in their first home, a new parent, or a retiree, your needs will be different.
The way in which we live seems to be changing faster than ever, other than the blip that was Covid-19. This caused many countries throughout 2020 to have put their population into some form of lockdown or isolation for varying periods of time. With this forced time spent at home, with people unexpectantly needing to spend close to 99% of their time indoors, many people have come to the exact realisation of what they like or do not like about their home.
One consideration that is consistent when it comes to upgrading your home is that the kitchen should be a priority.
There are several reasons the kitchen is the most important room in the house:
- It is the centre of your day-to-day activities.
- You prepare (and possibly consume) most of your meals here.
- It acts as a loading dock of sorts, for groceries, mail, and other items.
- It is a likely storage hub with so many cupboards and shelves.
- It is a place for entertaining (or just having a chat)
- It can also be where you do work (or schoolwork)
So, if you are looking to make improvements to your home, you really should start here.
What can you do to make your home more liveable?
Most house designs have moved to a more open plan, with the removal of internal walls where possible to make your dining room, kitchen, and lounge one large versatile space. The extra space created by removing these walls can easily give you the feeling like your house is much larger, by simply maximising the use of space, as well as improved natural light distribution.
The natural flow through between these areas will also give you the extra room to allow you significantly upgrade your kitchen. Gaining additional bench space to work on, as well as for meal preparation and the ability to manoeuvre around your oven and stove safely as well. You can also potentially increase the size of your sink finally giving you enough space to wash bulky pots and pans.
On average a breakdown via room use per person shows that close to 35% of most people’s time is spent in either their kitchen or main living area. So, what can you do to your kitchen to improve it?
Making your home more intelligent by the addition of items such as smart fridges, TVs and ovens have been increasing in popularity. Some of these devices can even learn your standard patterns of use and are significantly more power-efficient compared to most outdated models which are ten or more years old.
Over investing in a property is quite easy to do, but significantly less so with regards to updating your kitchen. An upgraded kitchen and living area can bring a significant increase in your property’s overall value, depending on how it is designed as well as the size and location of your home. While it is never smart to over-invest, A simple kitchen makeover can easily increase the value of your home, and when you finally decide it is time to sell it can make it far more appealing to prospective buyers.
If you are considering upgrading your kitchen there is never a right or a wrong time to invest. It essentially comes down to your needs, budget, and when you are ready to start the work. Kitchen renovation experts can help and guide you through the process.
