The kitchen is a crucial selling point and can make or break a sale. During my time flipping for the last decade, I have become familiar with what the common concerns are and what buyers want. I believe I have mastered kitchen design to account for storage, style, functionality, and value.
I will share eight tips for your house flip kitchen design to meet and exceed buyer expectations. These tips are doable and require No formal education. This list only requires simple, practical, and thoughtful planning. Think of it like the kitchen is yours. Plan the kitchen layout and features as if it was your home, and is functional for cooking for your own family.
Align With the Home Value
My first tip is to make the space fit the home’s value. Small, efficient kitchens work well in smaller homes. When the overall square footage starts to increase, then a small kitchen doesn’t fit with the house. That’s when you need to consider ways to expand the kitchen’s footprint.
Opening it up to access space from other rooms or shifting the use of it into an adjacent room where it won’t be missed is a great opportunity.
Include an Island
When possible, include an island. Not only is an island a great focal point for your kitchen design, but it is also functional. If a kitchen is large enough, islands are expected.
Your island should also be added storage by adding extra cabinets on the sides. Large workspaces are a desirable aspect of kitchens even for amateur chefs and busy parents. I like to add sinks into islands when possible as well to free up space in other areas.
Adding extra cabinets on both sides
Peninsula
If you’re not able to include an island, a peninsula is also a functional option. Peninsulas aren’t as popular, but it is a useful addition that you can add cabinetry into as well. Also, the additional countertop space can work for informal dining or as a serving area for an adjacent dining room.
Count Cabinets
Before I finalize a kitchen design, I count the cabinets. Imagine yourself filling up and using your own kitchen. Where would you put things, is there enough storage?
Count how many upper vs. lower cabinets. Is there sufficient space for all items that need to be stored in the kitchen? Think about a mix of both cabinets and drawers. Pots and pans usually are stored in lower cabinets and dishes in upper cabinets. Storage for canned goods is also something to consider. Perhaps not a ton of room is needed in the immediate kitchen. Is there a pantry or another place for these products or tools can be stored?
Review the Work Triangle
Functionality is just as important as asthetics. I recommend reviewing the work triangle. Take the time to map out how someone will work in a space and how functional things will be in each location.
There’s a couple places you can “fudge it.” For example, the refridgerator. If it’s a bit outside of the triangle you can work with it if there’s a large island that would make setting items from the fridge down fairly easy. Alternatively, if the kitchen sink is across from the dishwasher than would be a definite no.
Use the Dining Room for Storage
If you’re lacking cabinets in the kitchen for storage consider the dining room. One of my best strategies for gaining cabinetry is to install some in the dining room. By selecting a narrower, upper level cabinet and installing it along the lower wall you not only gain the room for those “not as often” used items but it acts as a built-in buffet for displace and serving area too.
Install a Pantry
My next design tip that gets major points from buyers is installing a pantry next to the refrigerator. From an appearance standpoint, an unfinished refrigerator side isn’t necessarily appealing. So adding a pantry the height of the refrigerator not only creates a finished side but also adds valuable storage space and frees up other cabinets. It also helps to allow for workspaces on countertops near the range and sink.
Under the Counter Microwave
Consider an under the counter microwave. With an open kitchen the traditional micro hood may not have the same visual appeal that a vent hood does. In most high end homes, you won’t see the microwave. Even if your project isn’t high end, this is a detail that can be easily added for a relatively small expense that will make your space a standout.
Kitchen Design Tips for a Better Flip
Implementing these tips will level-up your flip. Keep in mind, getting people through the door will hinge on the photography and features that can be shared in the description of the home. These tips ensure buyers will see the key parts of a functional, beautiful kitchen, and keeps it clean with more storage and a hidden microwave.
Ready to Put these Tips to Practice?
Checkout my Find Your Flip Course to learn the key steps I use in my business to find best houses to flip. The course will teach you how to spot potential, and aid you in determining your needs and wants in your flip business.
Additionally, I have these helpful resources:
Make sure you have the Fixer Upper Checklist, so you know which areas are critical to added value in a home.
If you are interested in learning more about the House Flip Blueprint course, go here!
There are several videos on finding houses, renovations, and funding on YouTube. Check out your favorite flipping topics and new videos weekly.
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