Free printable checklist

Kitchen & Bathroom Remodel Planning Checklist

Selections are the biggest part of a remodel schedule you control. Choosing cabinets, countertops, tile, fixtures and appliances early lets your remodeler order materials before they're needed, so nothing waits on a late decision. Use this checklist to get ready before your first consultation.

Before you call a remodeler

• Write down what bothers you most about the room today (storage, layout, lighting, dated finishes).
• List how you use the space: who cooks, who gets ready at the same time, kids, pets, entertaining.
• Decide what has to stay (layout, plumbing locations, a window, the tub) and what can change.
• Set a budget range you're comfortable with. Our cost calculator gives a ballpark to start from.
• Save photos of kitchens or baths you like, and note what you like about each one.
• Measure the room and note ceiling height, windows and doors.

Kitchen selections

• Cabinet style (shaker, slab, inset), wood or paint color, and hardware.
• Cabinet layout: drawers vs doors, pantry, trash pull-out, appliance garage.
• Countertop material (quartz, granite, quartzite) and edge profile.
• Backsplash tile and how high it runs.
• Sink, faucet and garbage disposal.
• Appliance package, with model numbers so cabinets can be sized to them.
• Lighting: recessed, pendants over the island, under-cabinet.
• Flooring, and whether it runs under the cabinets.

Bathroom selections

• Shower size, glass (frameless, rectangular or custom) and niche locations.
• Shower wall and floor tile (smaller floor tile gives more grip when wet).
• Tub or no tub. Keep at least one tub somewhere in the house for resale.
• Vanity size, single or double sinks, and countertop.
• Faucets, shower valve and showerhead, all in one finish.
• Toilet, mirrors, lighting and exhaust fan.
• Extras: heated floors, grab bars, a bench in the shower.

Before demo day

• Confirm every selection is made and ordered. Late decisions are a common cause of delays.
• Plan where you'll cook or get ready during the remodel.
• Clear the room and nearby hallways; protect anything fragile.
• Agree on work hours, parking and how the crew gets in.
• Ask how you'll get schedule updates and who your point of contact is.

How long will it take? See how long a kitchen remodel takes. What will it cost? Try the remodel cost calculator.

McKelvey Designs · Family-owned remodeling since 1991 · (281) 499-0581 · mckelveydesigns.com