How Long Should A New Kitchen Last?

*This post may contain affiliate links* or products that have been sent to me for review. You can find out more in my Privacy and Cookie Policy*

This is a collaborative post

The kitchen is one of the most expensive rooms in the home to renovate. When your kitchen has seen better days and you need to replace all of the units and the appliances, as well as the flooring, countertop and fixtures, the cost quickly adds up. However, a lot of people waste money because they keep renovating the kitchen when it doesn’t really need it. 

On the other hand, you don’t want to leave it too long because the kitchen gets a lot of use and it’s frustrating to cook and eat in a kitchen that is outdated and run down. So, knowing how often you should renovate your kitchen is crucial if you want to keep your home in good condition and save money. Here’s how long your kitchen should last. 

Kitchen Units

The durability of kitchen units generally depends on the type of materials they are made from. If your units are low level and you can’t see a lot of them, it’s not going to affect the general look and feel of the room too much if they fall apart. So you could get away with renovating every 10 years. However, if your units consist mostly of upper and wall cabinets, you need to take a closer look at how long they’re going to last.

Upper cabinets are usually made from solid wood or hardboard and laminates and may require re-facing once every five years to 10 years. The good news is, replacing kitchen doors is easy, so you can do it yourself. When it comes to the actual body of the units, they are very durable and if they are looked after, they will last for decades. So, don’t spend money on replacing the entire units when you could just make do with putting new doors in. Home in the Pastures has some great tips on easy ways to get a beautiful kitchen.

Appliances

Some of your kitchen appliances will last a long time, while others have shorter life spans. However, there are some that should be replaced regularly to avoid any accidents or other problems. For example, a faulty fridge can present a number of safety hazards for you and your family as well as costing far more to fix than it would to simply replace it. You should replace your washing machine and dishwasher every 10 years, roughly, and your oven will last an average of 15 years. 

However, you should also take energy efficiency into account. An appliance that is 10 years old is likely to use a lot more energy than a modern one, so you could save money by upgrading them.

Worktops and Flooring

If you want to brighten up the kitchen, you should look at the worktops and flooring. When they start getting worn and scratched, they will make the room look very run down, so they need replacing. The longevity depends on the material that is used. For example, natural stone countertops could last a lifetime as long as they are cared for properly. But marble tops will only last around 20 years. Countertops made from artificial materials are far less durable and will need to be replaced more often. 

Keeping your kitchen for as long as possible will save you a lot of money, and if you take care of it properly, you can increase its longevity so it still looks new and fresh.