If a house is like a human body, then the kitchen is its heart. It’s the room where family members convene to prepare and consume food, as well as discuss the events of the day with loved ones. For this reason, a great deal of time and attention should be paid to kitchen remodeling, as it is arguably the one room of the home that most influences the attitudes and behaviors of the people who reside inside it.

With that in mind, we will briefly review a few key tips to keep in mind if you’re starting a kitchen remodeling project. We also invite you to check out the kitchen remodeling photo gallery on the Home Remedy website for additional remodeling ideas that can be applied to your own home kitchen.

1. Set a budget and stick to it.

According to the website ImproveNet.com, the average cost of a kitchen remodeling project is $17,000. Your remodeling budget may be lower or higher, but it’s important to have at least a general idea of how much you’d like to spend on your kitchen before meeting with contractors. In setting your kitchen remodeling budget, you should not only take into account your current finances but also how long you plan on living in your current home. If it’s a short-term stay, focus on making alterations that will improve the home’s resale value; alternatively, if you’re there for the long haul, feel free to remodel your kitchen with an eye toward what you will please you most.

2. Prioritize the most important fixes first.

As you assess your kitchen remodeling needs, you’ll find that some needs are more pressing than others. The trick is figuring out where your remodeling priorities will lie and taking care of those items first. For instance, let’s consider countertops for a moment: most people prefer countertops made of granite or marble because both are very attractive. But they are also among the most expensive, so you’ll have to consider whether you have the funds in your kitchen remodeling budget to afford them. Therefore, we would advise you to look into countertops made of materials like ceramic tile and laminate because they’re more cost effective and easier to install. This will leave enough room in your budget to handle other kitchen concerns that may require more immediate attention.

3. A little paint can go a long way.

Let’s say you hate the cabinets in your kitchen: you find them to be too old fashioned or too newfangled, too basic looking or too ornate. But because cabinets are among the most expensive items in any kitchen remodeling project, your best bet is to work with the ones you have until you can afford to replace them. You can refresh the appearance of your cabinets with a creative application of paint or wallpaper, or even by replacing the knobs or hinges. If you’d still prefer custom-designed cabinets for your kitchen, contact Home Remedy to order cabinets made at the warehouse.

4. Be on the lookout for savings.

Thanks to the Internet, great kitchen remodeling deals are plentiful if you know when and where to find them. Finding kitchen cabinetry and appliances can be a painstaking process, but also very rewarding in more ways than one. Keep your eyes peeled to deals from a variety of sources, including garage sales, vintage sales and sites such as Groupon and Craigslist. Don’t be afraid to pounce if you see a deal you like—the chance may not come around again.

5. Let the sun shine in.

If you have a kitchen that looks drab and uninviting, it may be because there isn’t a lot of light coming into the space. One way to remedy this problem is investing in ceiling lights to brighten up the dark corners of your kitchen. Another bright idea is bringing in lighter curtains, tablecloths and other kitchen fabrics, particularly if the kitchen doesn’t have access to natural sources of light from the outside.

For more information on kitchen remodeling, we invite you to consult with our Happy Handyman for minor repair and maintenance issues. And for all other home remodeling concerns, Home Remedy in Houston would be more than happy to be of assistance!