Prepare for Fall Cooking with a Kitchen Remodel

With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, fall marks the beginning of the holiday season. If you’ve hosted before, you know how hectic and fast-paced prepping can be, especially if you have a large family to cook for. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the US consumes 68 million turkeys every year. Thankfully, you won’t have to prepare that much food. However, it may be a good idea to do some remodeling in the kitchen to give yourself adequate space and hardware to cook the best meals and memories this holiday season.

Set a Budget Limit

Making upgrades to your home is exciting, but make sure you’re not getting too carried away with how many things you want to upgrade at once. Make a budget and stick to it, never spending more than you can afford, especially if you have existing debts. If you’re able to consolidate your debts, that’ll lower your monthly payments, freeing up more of your money to spend on the things you want to upgrade. Sometimes the best way to make upgrades is one project at a time instead of a full renovation. Start with a couple of things, perhaps just the cabinets or installing a new oven. Then plan out what you want to upgrade next and start saving.

Storage Upgrade

One of the first projects you should consider is upgrading storage. This will ensure you have enough space to store all the food, ingredients, and tableware for your holiday events. If you have a pantry, consider upgrading the shelving to accommodate more items. If you don’t have a pantry, you could convert a closet in your home into a custom pantry. Also, think about upgrading your wine storage if you need more storage space. You can have wine stored in multiple places with smaller wine racks if your current storage is limited. Your cabinets are probably where you store most of your plates, pots, and pans, so upgrading these might make organization a little easier. If upgrading your cabinets doesn’t give you more space, it’ll at least provide a fresh new look to your kitchen.

Upgrade Appliances

Holiday cooking requires many different appliances and utensils to get the job done. Think about whether it’s time for a new refrigerator, oven, microwave, etc. Depending on the state of your appliances, they may just need a thorough cleaning. Ovens tend to get dirty from grease and burnt food throughout the year, so always make sure to clean regularly for cleanliness as well as safety. The last thing you’ll need is a fire to happen during a holiday party.

Next, you can go through your tableware and consider upgrading to a new set, or purchasing more of the same kind. Also, if your family is growing, think about upgrading your dining room table to accommodate a larger family. You might need to expand beyond the common 8-10 person dining table.

Upgrade the Atmosphere

Lighting can make a huge difference in terms of the overall atmosphere of your kitchen. Creating a bright and open space will keep you alert and motivated as you spend hours preparing food. Make the room look large and lively with upgraded lighting. Also, consider some seasonal decorating to put yourself in the holiday mood. A festive centerpiece, tablecloth, and garland to hang around the windows are all great holiday touches to bring out the festive spirit. Pairing these with some holiday music will help you have the best cooking experience this holiday season. If you’re hosting a dinner party, perhaps include a festive cocktail or mocktail bar cart to offer to your guests. Everyone loves a good holiday inspired drink, such as a hot toddy, gingerbread martini, cranberry sangria, or spiked eggnog.

By following the tips above, your home will be ready for your next holiday party in no
time!