Where do you spend most of your time when you’re at home? If you’re like most people, you probably spend more time in your kitchen than anywhere else. We eat three meals a day, plus snacks in between, and when you think about how many waking hours you actually spend in your home, a lot of that time is centered around meals. It should come as no surprise, then, that the kitchen is the “money room” for any house on the market. An attractive kitchen will do much more for your home’s market value than a nice living room. So where does most of that kitchen value lie in the eyes of your buyer?

1. Open Layout – Nobody wants to feel isolated in the kitchen. Considering how much time people actually spend in this room, a winning kitchen should have space for socializing. So, an open kitchen layout ready for entertaining is a big selling point for homes in today’s market. If your kitchen doesn’t look just like this one, don’t fret. Add gathering space by creating a breakfast bar at the counter. Consider removing one of the walls to a living or dining room. Or maybe you’re feeling cramped in a galley kitchen – create a half wall, or a pass-thru (an opening in the wall above the counter) to connect the rooms and allow for conversation. Both options also create the illusion of a larger kitchen.
2. Counter Space – A kitchen with ample counter space will put buyers at ease. Everyone knows that cooking is messy, and we all like plenty of room to move the mess around during the process. If you’re selling your home and don’t feel confident in your kitchen’s counter space, be sure to tidy it as much as possible for showings. Remove all unnecessary appliances and decorations to show off as much as possible the counter you do have. As for counter material, granite is still king with today’s buyers. It carries a simple aesthetic, can withstand beatings from hot pans and sharp knives, and is easy to clean because it’s not porous like wood or marble.
3. Energy-Efficient Appliances – Energy efficient appliances rule the kitchen scene. Buyers are often concerned older appliances require maintenance, look outdated, and aren’t efficient. If you find yourself selling a home with older appliances, be sure to scrub them until they are spotless. Consider replacing or adding new accessories – new coils and drip pans on an electric range, replace worn knobs and handles, etc. And yes, in case you were wondering, stainless steel is still king.
4. Storage – Buyers want cabinetry that is ample and functional. Everything should be convenient to locate and easy to reach. If your cabinets are older, have no fear! Installing roll-out drawers is a simple way to increase storage functionality and space efficiency. If your cabinetry needs a facelift, a simple coat of paint and/or new hardware can make a huge difference.
5. The Work Triangle – If you draw a line from your kitchen sink to your stove to your fridge and then back again, what shape does it make? If it’s a triangle, you’re in luck – “the work triangle” is perhaps the most important kitchen design rule. In a kitchen where these three hallmark kitchen stations create a triangle shape, whoever is preparing food in the space will be moving about between the three in the most efficient way possible. Buyers prefer this layout over one that could be annoying or detrimental to their kitchen routine.

Just because the kitchen is the “money room” doesn’t mean you have to drain your savings to update it. Buying and installing new cabinet hardware, dressing up old appliances, knocking a hole in the wall of a galley kitchen, or installing roll-out drawers are all inexpensive options for improving the space. More than any other room in your home, money spent on the kitchen will add value to your home. Ultimately, a great looking and functional kitchen will help you sell your home more quickly and for more money.