In most Australian homes, the kitchen is considered the heart of the home, so it needs to be functional, but also aesthetically appealing. The kitchen is also one of the most highly regarded features of a house for homebuyers looking to buy.

Kitchens are unsurprisingly one of the most renovated spaces in Australian homes. When renovating your kitchen, it’s very easy to get caught up in making sure your new kitchen matches the latest design trends – all while forgetting other important factors such as function.

But before diving into it, it’s important to make sure that a kitchen renovation is right for you and your family. It also needs to be right for your home in terms of function and style and completed to the best standard possible within your budget.

What to consider when renovating your kitchen?

Once you’ve committed to renovating your kitchen, the first step is to consider how you use your kitchen. Do you regularly prepare large dinners for family and friends? Do you have a small family and make simple home-cooked meals? The answers to these questions will determine the size of the key appliances, like your cooktop and oven, the amount of bench space you require and even the layout.

When considering the design, you need to strike a balance between function and appearance. Otherwise, you could end up with an impractical kitchen that looks great, or an effective workspace that doesn’t suit the style or character of your home.

You also need to consider whether your kitchen needs a complete overhaul or smaller alterations. Modifications could include upgrading appliances, benchtop replacement, or replacing joinery and lighting. A new cooktop, dishwasher, toaster or fridge can give your kitchen a real aesthetic lift and be a pleasure to use.

If your current kitchen joinery is in reasonable condition, you could consider just replacing the benchtops, which are the most visible and most used features of any kitchen.

You could also consider replacing the cupboard doors and drawer fronts for an immediate visual lift, as well as the benchtop. Updating the lighting will modernise the kitchen and can be used as a design feature.

In many cases, it will be better to completely remove an old kitchen and start again. If you’re in this category, there are a few essential things you need to consider. It all starts with the layout.

Get the layout right

The footprint of your kitchen will be dictated by where it’s located and the size of your home, but there are many different ways it can be laid out within those constraints.

The key to laying out any kitchen is the concept of flow. If, for example, you’re cutting up food, then you need the bin compartment close by, but also the sink so you can wash ingredients. And you’ll want easy access to the fridge as well.

A lot of kitchen designs revolve around the “work triangle”. The idea is to position your fridge, sink and cooktop within a few steps of each other so movement between each element is contained yet fluid. The idea has evolved over many years, but the basic premise remains that your work areas should flow together well.

When thinking about the flow of your kitchen you should consider how many people will be working or moving through the space at meal times and how it will work for your family.

Kitchen trends for 2021

If you are keen to keep up with the latest, here are a few 2021 home kitchen trends, featuring warm metallics, luxurious marble, black accents and splashes of colour.

Trend #1: Warm metallics

Warm metal fittings are one of the latest looks. By this, we mean rose gold, copper and brass for tap fittings and handles. These warm coloured metals bring a chic look to a kitchen, while copper and brass are also known for their antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities.

Trend #2: Marble

Marble for benchtops and splashbacks are also very current and are predicted to be a trend for many years to come. Marble makes a great statement and is also non-porous, easy to clean and requires almost no maintenance.

Trend #3: Go black

For several years there’s been a strong trend to all-white kitchens, but many are now adding black as an accent. Black can look very luxurious and inviting, as well as rustic and chic.

Trend #4: Colour accents

If black isn’t your thing, then you’ll be pleased to know that colour accents are also popular in 2021, with deep blues and greens alongside other ocean colours.

Who do I need to hire to renovate my kitchen?

There are several options for kitchen renovations, including professional builders, kitchen renovation specialists and the chance do the work yourself as a DIY project.

Revive Building Solutions is a unique business in that we provide a comprehensive suite of professional building and trades services under one roof. These include carpentry (including cabinet making), plumbing, tiling, electrical, and cabinet making – all of which are required for kitchen renovations.

At Revive Building Solutions we can work with you to redesign and modify any part of your existing home to make it more functional and aesthetically pleasing, including the heart of your home – the kitchen. Whether you’re a home owner, a property manager, or a facilities manager, we can help with your kitchen renovation. Contact us for a free quote.