In many ways, deciding to move forward with your kitchen remodel is the toughest decision you have to make during the project. It’s the decision to proceed that commits you to such a significant project. And while setting your budget, figuring out the materials you want to use and the contractor you want to hire can be challenging, they don’t have to turn your big project into a big headache. Here’s what you can do to ensure your kitchen remodel goes as smooth as possible.

What don’t you like about your kitchen? Odds are there are quite a few things. Maybe it’s as simple as replacing your appliances, cabinets, and counters. Or maybe it means gutting the room and changing the layout. Your goal here is to figure out exactly what would make the space work best for your home and lifestyle, which, if you’re like 49 percent of homeowners, is to make your home more comfortable and livable. Going Here for more information about kitchen remodeling.

While the planning phase can be the longest phase (don’t be surprised if you spend months planning your kitchen) it’s also one of the most enjoyable. This is the time when you can let your imagination run wild as you try to define the design direction you want to go. And while it can be hard to nail down the exact style you want, it’s easy to find inspiration, especially with all of the online resources that are now available. One design tool that we happen to really like is our very own DesignMine. Whether you use DesignMine to find and save photos that inspire you, or prefer to clip images from magazines or other online resources, saving the images and showing them to your contractor is the best way to articulate your vision.

Step Two: Budget

Defining your budget is important enough to warrant its own step, but there’s a good chance that you’ll start hammering out your budget during the planning phase. In fact, some folks prefer setting their budget before they get too deep into the planning, since knowing how much they have to spend affects the scope of their remodel and the materials they choose. However you choose to go about budgeting, we recommend checking out our Cost Guide to get a better idea of how much others in your area are paying for their kitchen remodels. When budgeting, it’s important to remember that you’ll have to factor in the cost of obtaining permits. Each municipality handles the permitting process differently so be sure to do your research.