I'm in the middle of remodeling my kitchen and living room, and I'm wondering about the best order to tackle the remaining tasks. Here's what I'm planning to do:
1. Paint the walls in both the kitchen and living room.
2. Paint the cabinets and cabinet doors.
3. Replace the flooring throughout the kitchen and living room.
4. Update the kitchen countertops.
5. Install a new backsplash in the kitchen.
Should I go through these tasks in the order I listed, or would it be better to rearrange them?
3 Answers
I suggest swapping your countertop and backsplash tasks. You don’t want to risk dropping any backsplash tiles on your new counter, or risk breaking anything while you work. Also, if your new countertop is a different thickness, doing the backsplash first can throw off the spacing. Just make sure the flooring is the last thing you do!
You definitely want to save the floors for last. You’d hate to have them scratched or damaged while doing everything else. It’s usually best to do your painting first, then change the cabinets and countertops, and finally, throw in the backsplash. Just keep the floor as your final touch-up.
The general rule of thumb is to work top to bottom. So, you’re on the right track with painting first. Finishing the floors last is smart to avoid damage – you’ve got to protect your investment!