A glut of recent prime time renovation shows is inspiring Australians across the nation to renovate and create our dream kitchen - despite the fact that for many of us, the process of transforming this space can be a real nightmare.

To help you plan a stress-free kitchen renovation, Harvey Norman Design & Renovations has the following suggestions.

Tip #1: Be prepared
Get your house ready for the renovation before you even think about knocking out a wall or unscrewing a kitchen cupboard. “Remove items that you don’t want to use in your new kitchen and put things in boxes and label them,” suggests Harvey Norman Design & Renovations. Remember, you’ll need a room in the house for your microwave and food requirements while the reno is underway, so prepare this beforehand.

Tip #2: Consider appliances
These can be some of the biggest cost centres of your kitchen renovation, so think about which of your existing appliances you may be able to retain. The average life span of appliances is around seven years, so don’t hold on to under-performing items just to save a few bucks, as it may cost you more in the long run to replace them if they break down a few months after your upgrade is complete.

Tip #3: Give thought to flooring
When choosing your flooring options, make sure you consider comfort and safety as well as style and finish. Kitchens are the site of many slips and falls and the correct flooring choice will make your new kitchen enjoyable as well as safe and practical.

Tip #4: Look for the “wow factor”
There is no limit to the added extras you can incorporate to personalise your kitchen – and considering the amount of time we spend in it, it makes sense to boost the features on hand. “Adding a mini stereo to your kitchen design will allow you to listen to your favourite music while cooking,” suggests Harvey Norman. “You could also add a flat screen monitor, TV or internet connection so you can surf the web for your favourite recipes.”

Tip #5: Power up
Go overboard on powerpoints: with toasters, kettles, mixers, blenders, coffee machines and microwaves all vying for bench space, you can never have too many of them in the kitchen.

Tip #6: Go green
With a shortage of water on everybody’s minds right now, saving as much water as we can is of primary importance, so be sure to choose water efficient tapware where possible.