Ensure your next kitchen remodel goes smoothly

The kitchen is one of the most remodeled areas of any house. Kitchen remodels, no matter the size of the space, can either be minor or major remodels.

According to a survey from Houzz, homeowners with a small kitchen spent approximately $11,700 on a minor remodel, while a major project cost $29,400. Those numbers go up if the kitchen is larger and if a professional contractor is used.

A kitchen remodeling project is a big endeavor. Before you start tearing out the old cabinets, you want to a have a sturdy plan in place that will help guide along every step of the way. This is especially important if you will be completing the project by yourself or with the help of a few friends and family members.

When creating your plan, you will want to keep a few tips in mind to ensure the entire remodeling project goes as smooth as possible. After all, you don't want to run into any surprises along the way.

Settle on a design

A kitchen overhaul can lead to several different outcomes. You may prefer a more classic "homey" feel, or maybe you want to incorporate more modern and minimal design philosophies. Before you go out and buy those sleek kitchen appliances, first examine your house. It has an identity that you should work with, not against, Trulia advised.

Ideally, you don't want to overhaul your kitchen into a minimalist's dream if you live in a 1950s-era ranch home. By settling on an appropriate design, you will avoid a final product that clearly doesn't belong.

Additionally, steering clear of a kitchen identity crisis will help keep you budget in check. Keep the results from the Houzz survey in mind, and be prepared to spend anywhere from $2,000 to $42,400 depending on the scope of the project.

When creating your budget, don't go off the cheap end. Yes, saving money should be a goal, but for door knobs, an extra finish or touch can add a lot of character to any kitchen space. The same goes for appliances because you want to find the right balance between affordable, but still trustworthy. Stoves or microwaves that constantly break will cost you in the long run.

Plumbing and floors are important

If you're gutting the entire kitchen, you might have the urge to remove everything - including the plumbing. Maybe you want to switch the location of the refrigerator and dishwasher, however, it's generally unwise to mess with a room's plumbing.

Reconfiguring water and gas lines can lead to unintended results, in addition to higher costs because it's an expensive task. Furthermore, if by chance you do have the pipes moved, you will then have to have a home inspection company come out to ensure your house still meets building codes and regulations.

If you are considering moving appliances around, make sure you follow the kitchen's floor plan. Some areas have a specific flow to them. For example, some kitchens utilize a triangle floor plan, where the three points are the stove, sink and refrigerator. Other essentials, such as the dishwasher, are then next their complementary appliances, which in this case, would be the sink.

A kitchen's flow will make everything feel smoother, even if you don't see immediately see it.

Don't trash everything

A kitchen remodel may lead you to believe you have to completely get rid of everything, from countertops to the cabinets. Depending on the quality of some of these items, you actually don't have to throw them away.

Cabinets that are still functional and made of quality wood should be held onto. You will save a lot of money because cabinet frames are some of the most expensive components of any kitchen.

Face-lifts represent a cost effective approach to fixing cabinets. You can either repaint them, or add new doors or drawer fronts. You shouldn't have to spend unnecessary money on something that can be fixed up in no time.

Kitchen remodels are an expensive and time consuming project. Make sure you have everything planned out to stay on budget while achieving the kitchen of your dreams.