Did you know that the most popular home improvement projects are carried out in the kitchen? That’s because the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where family and friends come together to discuss their day, cook meals together and breakfast before rushing off to school and work.

With that in mind, it’s no wonder that UAE residents are keen to renovate and remodel their kitchen into a more comfortable and inviting space. And if you’re someone who’s thinking about upgrading, we have 8 tips for your kitchen fit out that’ll be sure to make you the talk of Dubai.

1. Hire a fit out specialist

The first and most important tip we have for you is to make sure you hire a professional contractor to carry out all renovations on your home. It can be tempting to think of your fit out as an easy DIY project – especially if you’re handy with a hammer and paintbrush – but trust us, it’s always best to hire a company that specialises in kitchen fit outs. Avoid taking matters into your own hands and save yourself a lot of time and money in the long-run by hiring a professional contractor from the start.

If you need help finding a reliable and trustworthy contractor who can bring your kitchen fit out vision to life, then let Contractors.Direct do the hard work for you. Our curated database can connect you with thoroughly vetted, quality contractors who can deliver your project on time and on budget.

2. Plan thoroughly and stick to it

The best thing you can do before commencing work on your project is to take the time to properly plan your fit out. This process will be made significantly easier by following the first suggestion and hiring a fit out specialist.

By coming up with a design and 3D model, you can figure out what works for your kitchen and what’s impractical – creating the perfect blueprint for your brand-new kitchen. Not to mention, by coming up with a thorough and detailed plan, you’ll be able to map out how much your renovation will cost (residential fit out cost), what materials you’ll need, the different labour skills needed, and how long the project will take.

Once you have a final plan, please don’t make the mistake of deviating from it. This is how many projects end up taking a wrong turn for the worst – so make sure you’re happy with it the first time around.

3. Use all of the space available

The kitchen is not typically a huge room in even the biggest of homes. Therefore, you shouldn’t let any space go to waste. Utilise every nook and cranny to your advantage and maximise the space wherever possible.

Remember, everyone in the house will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen, whether cooking or relaxing, so make sure that it’s a functional space with comfortable seating and plenty of surface space.

4. Choose your island wisely

The island is often a key feature in any kitchen remodel. And although it should be an aesthetic, eye-catching piece, your island should also be functional. Choose an island that is practical and can be used by everyone in the house, from being a place to eat quick meals to using at as your main cooking station.

The best course of action would be to go over a few options with your contractor and work out which option would suit you best.

5. Get rid of unnecessary storage

When it comes to storage, it’s often thought that you can never have enough of it. Sure, this is true to a certain extent. However, if you have 5 empty cupboards in your kitchen that are hardly ever used, this might be excessive.

If you have this problem, consider rearranging your storage to free up empty spaces that could be put to better use. For example, you could swap out some empty cupboards for more surface space.

On the other hand, if the opposite is true and you don’t have enough storage, then its best to add more cupboard space into the new design of your kitchen.

6. Material choices matter

There’s no denying that we’re all guilty of having extravagant dreams for our ideal kitchen. We all want every surface to be made of luxurious marble and our cupboards to be crafted from cherry wood. Unfortunately, these indulgences tend to rack up a hefty bill.

Thankfully, you can still get an amazing kitchen design with more affordable materials. Once you’ve set your budget, your contractor will be able to create a beautiful design without breaking the bank.

7. Pay extra for fitted appliances

If you’re planning on decking your kitchen out with fitted appliances, be sure to spend the extra money on high-quality goods and workmanship. Skimping out on fitted appliances will cause you trouble further down the line – like when your fridge door won’t sit right against the cupboard, or the dishwasher breaks down and the repairman can’t access it.

8. Make use of lighting      

We mentioned earlier that the kitchen tends to be one of the smaller spaces in the home. This doesn’t have to be a problem though, as you can still create an inviting and comfortable space with good use of light.

Choose a light colour scheme and materials rather than darker colours – this way, you’ll create the illusion of a bigger, more open space. A clever design paired with plenty of light – natural sunlight through big windows is best – will achieve the same effect.

Get in touch with Contractors.Direct and we’ll connect you with the perfect fit out specialist who can bring your vision to life, on time and on budget.