3 Kitchen Design Elements That Are Worth the Splurge

One of the most exciting parts of designing your kitchen is piecing together the various elements that bring your budget to life. But designing a kitchen isn’t all fun and games. Unfortunately, you also need to factor in which element works within your remodeling budget. Luckily, there aren’t rules on how you need to spend your remodeling budget — you get to decide which elements are most important to you and splurge on them as you see fit.

But how do you know what areas of the kitchen to splurge on? Are there areas where it is easier to cut costs? Ultimately, you need to determine what is most important to you with this remodel. Do you consider yourself a master in the kitchen? Maybe you’d enjoy high-end appliances so you feel like you’re working in the kitchen of a five star restaurant. Do you love hosting for friends and family? You may opt for elements that make it easy for entertaining large groups.

Once you’ve determined what’s more important to you, you’ll be able to confidently decide which design elements are worth splurging on (and which aren’t). If you’re still not sure how to navigate the selection process, we’ve put together a list of kitchen design elements that we feel are worth the splurge during your kitchen renovation.

What to Splurge On in Your Kitchen Remodel

With so many design choices, it can be draining trying to figure out what is most important to you. Along with considering how these design elements impact the future resale value of your home, you want to consider how you and your family interact with the space. Here are a few kitchen reno tips to use when determining what design elements to splurge on.

Appliances

Your kitchen appliances are one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make during the design process, as they can impact the overall floorplan of your entire kitchen. But are they worth splurging on or can you get away with a mid-tier or less expensive option? Keep in mind that you can think of each appliance as its own entity — just because you may want a deluxe range doesn’t mean you need to invest in an expensive refrigerator (although you can if that makes you happy!).

Depending on the needs of your family, a high-quality oven and range may be what makes the most sense for you. A dual oven will allow you to cook multiple meals for picky eaters. Or you may decide on a second dishwasher hidden in a drawer if you’re constantly entertaining and find yourself with a lot of wine and beer glasses at the end of the night.

One thing to keep in mind when selecting which appliances are worth the splurge is their warranty. Your appliances are likely going to be used every day, meaning they will experience a lot of wear and tear. You need appliances that can hold up to daily use (or have a warranty that backs them up if something were to go wrong).

Countertops

Many homeowners lean towards splurging on their kitchen countertops because they are often considered a major focal point within the space. Not only do high-quality countertops enhance the overall aesthetic of the kitchen but can increase the value of your remodel.

Before deciding on the countertop material for your home, you need to think about how your family will be using the space. Do you have children in your home? Do you spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking? Opting for a more durable countertop may cost more upfront but will likely leave you with less headaches down the line. No one wants to deal with cracked or stained countertops.

If you want to spend a bit of the budget on your countertops without completely splurging, there are plenty of mid-tier countertop options that will allow you to achieve the look you want without completely breaking the bank.

Cabinets

An area many people don’t realize they can invest in their kitchen cabinetry. Along with selecting the color and types of kitchen cabinets you want to showcase in your new kitchen, you need to decide if you want to take your cabinets to the next level. Instead of installing a standard cabinet, you can also add extra shelving, soft close doors and drawers, roll-out trays, built-in drawer dividers, or a Lazy Susan. You may even decide to extend the kitchen cabinets all the way to the ceiling for additional storage.

You can decide which of these elements would improve your experience in the kitchen. One of the most popular options is to include a waster-recycling center in your lower cabinetry so your trash can fits with the overall aesthetic of the space (allowing you to avoid having a trash can as an eyesore in the space!).

One area that we don’t recommend trying to save on your cabinets is by installing them yourself. You are going to rely heavily on your kitchen cabinets to safely store all your plates, glasses, and other kitchen trinkets. Ensuring that they are installed by a professional will give you peace of mind knowing that they’re secure and ready to hold whatever you place inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

What adds the most value to a kitchen?

Although planning for a kitchen renovation is a fun process that allows you to express yourself through the design, you want to consider how your decisions are also going to impact the overall value of the space. When allocating your budget, make sure you are spreading it across design elements that will increase the resale value of your home. Your kitchen countertops and appliances are going to have some of the biggest impact on the value of the kitchen.

What elements shouldn’t be forgotten when designing a kitchen?

When designing your kitchen, it can be easy to focus on the big picture instead of the smaller elements that help tie the entire space together. Along with focusing on the overall aesthetic of the space, we recommend you factor in both storage and lighting. Are there enough places to keep your tools and small appliances tucked away until you need them? Are they easy to grab or is the only storage in the kitchen overhead and requires a step ladder? If your kitchen doesn’t have a lot of natural light, you will also want to consider the lighting of the room. Are there enough lights in the ceiling? Do you need additional task or under cabinet lighting?

What is the biggest expense in a kitchen remodel?

This often comes as a surprise to homeowners, but kitchen cabinets are one of the biggest expenses in a kitchen remodel. In most instances, cabinets will take up around 25% of your remodeling budget. When possible, it can be a big budget-saver to keep the existing cabinets and to only replace the cabinet doors for a new look.

What is the most popular countertop for kitchens?

With so many different countertop materials on the market, it can be hard to determine which is right for your kitchen. One of the most popular options is quartz because of its durability — it is stain, scratch, and heat resistant and requires minimal maintenance to keep it looking great over the years.