Kitchen upgrades are the number one home improvement project for homeowners looking to improve the value of their homes. But even for owners not planning to sell their home, an upgraded kitchen means more happiness and greater pride in their home.

Kitchen upgrades are popular with buyers and owners for practical and not-so-practical reasons. The kitchen is the home’s social hub, where meals are prepared and sometimes eaten. It is a gathering place for the family and the room where guests are received. Kitchens also help to satisfy our vanity. They serve as a showpiece for the entire home.

Homeowners like to show off their kitchen as a display of their status and sense of style. For these reasons, we invest much money and emotions in the aesthetics and function of our kitchen. That is why you want to be sure the projects you choose can give you the maximum value when planning an upgrade for your kitchen. You don’t want to select your upgrades based on their popularity or just because you like them. Choose impactful kitchen upgrades.

In this regard, Tej Rentals says one of the most essential areas of the kitchen to pay attention to is the electrical components. Electrical upgrades don’t look like the kind of thing you want to focus on when improving your kitchen, but they are the small details that make other upgrades work better.

What kind of electrical upgrades should you be considering for your soon-to-be-renovated kitchen?

10 Top Electrical Upgrades for the Kitchen

-Outdated Wiring
Before adding new appliances and devices to your kitchen, ensure the existing wiring can handle them. Old wiring systems older than 50 years were not designed for today’s energy-hungry homes. If you are unsure how old the wiring is, get an electrician to inspect them.

-Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Plugs
This upgrade has been mandatory for new and remodeled homes since 2014. A GFCI plug is a safety device that cuts the flow of electricity to your home if it senses a fault. If your countertop surface is 12 inches or wider, it needs at least one GFCI receptacle.

-LED Lighting

Good lighting makes the kitchen safer and meal preparation easier. You need this lighting to be both decorative and functional. The lighting plan should include ambient, accent and task lighting. Critical places where you want a lot of light are under the cabinets, inside drawers, cooktops and sinks.

-Dimmers and Designer Switches
Dimmers let you control the brightness of your kitchen. Instead of only two extremes – an overly bright kitchen or a darkened room – they give you the flexibility to manipulate the illumination level. Also, in place of standard black and white plastic light switches, you can use designer switches which come in a range of colors and materials.

-Add More Outlets
Running cords around the kitchen is unsightly, inconvenient and unsafe. Install more outlets in the kitchen and not just on the walls. Key areas of the kitchen where power outlets make a huge difference are kitchen islands, under cabinets (multi-outlet strips), counter pop-ups or even inside drawers.

-Install Tamper-resistant Outlets
These types of power outlets – often marked with a “TR” sign in front are tamper-resistant and designed to protect children. Their inbuilt shutter will only open if two electrical prongs are pushed into the plug-in with sufficient force. They are a requirement in new and remodeled homes.

-Pop-up and Invisible Outlets
A pop-up electrical outlet helps you avoid a cluttered kitchen counter. It has several plug-ins and can be hidden out of sight under the counter when not in use. Invisible outlets are recessed about half an inch into the wall. Plugged-in appliances can be pushed up against the wall, helping you save space.

-Charging Ports
Charging points in the kitchen give you a place to conveniently charge your phone and other devices. You may opt for a dedicated charging station in the kitchen (with this option, you always know where your devices are), or you can install power outlets with inbuilt USB ports.

-Improve Ventilation

To prevent poor indoor air quality due to lingering odors, toxic emissions and stuffy air, you want to improve ventilation in your kitchen. A modern range hood will trap food particles from greasy or burning food. It also mitigates odors and helps you avoid a smoky kitchen.

-Install an induction stove
This brand-new innovation is a major upgrade from the normal gas or electric stove. Induction stove plates deliver heat with great precision to exactly where it is needed. They will only heat the bottom of the pot while the rest of the stove remains cool. They do not waste energy.

Whether you plan to upgrade your kitchen in readiness to sell it or you just want to make the space more enjoyable, these ten electrical upgrades will help you achieve your goals.