Should You Remodel Your Kitchen Or Your Bathroom?

Most homeowners aren’t made of money, so the decision to improve the home with a major project like remodeling kitchens and baths is a serious commitment. For many, there’s only going to be enough money to budget for one, so which one should it be for you?

A lot of this depends on your needs, but here are some factors to consider when thinking about remodeling kitchens and baths and choosing one over another.

Sales Potential

If you are thinking of selling your home, then deciding to remodel the kitchen is one that has the most investment potential. A cost-effective kitchen remodel can significantly bump up the total property value of a home and create more sales appeal. New kitchens are something many home buyers are looking for, as it saves them the time and cost of having to remodel themselves, especially in cases where kitchens haven’t been updated in decades.

However, one particular kind of bathroom remodel can be equally appealing for sales potential, and that is a new addition. Even just adding a “half-bath” with only a toilet and sink still adds significantly to property value and sales appeal because many households value having more than one bathroom during busy periods like mornings for getting to school and work or entertaining guests.

Budget

Assuming you’re choosing fixtures, flooring, and other components of equal quality, a kitchen remodel will always be more expensive than a bathroom remodel. One of the most obvious reasons for this is the total area. Kitchens are just bigger than bathrooms. However, on top of this, kitchens also have many more appliances, such as stove range, dishwasher, and fridge. And finally, the kitchen has that most expensive component of all, cabinets, which often take up 30% of the kitchen’s total cost.

The smaller area of bathrooms often means a considerably lower cost, although this isn’t always the case with more elaborate master bathroom plans that include large tubs and other features. However, as a general rule, bathrooms are the way to go if you want a significant home improvement but costs less.

Use Case

Of course, the final determining factor is always going to be what you, as a homeowner, are looking for. If you’re just moving into a home that has recently remodeled its kitchen and are satisfied with the work, you may want to pay more attention to the bathrooms. If you’ve always dreamed of relaxing at the end of a hard week in a large, premium tub, then again, a bathroom is an understandable investment.

On the other hand, if you or another family member spends a lot of time in the kitchen and wants things to be exactly suited to your needs, then between kitchens and baths, the kitchen makes more sense, especially if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in this room, cooking socializing with family, or even helping children with homework.

Ultimately, deciding whether to go with kitchens or baths for remodeling depends on your life stage and where your home priorities are.