Solve today's challenging NYT Games Strands puzzle (#311, January 8, 2025)! This puzzle presents a letter grid and the clue "Time for an Upgrade," requiring you to identify the theme and six themed words within the grid. This one's tougher than it looks, so read on for assistance.

The puzzle's clue, "Time for an Upgrade," hints at the theme. Six words, including a pangram, await discovery.

Need help without spoilers? These hints point towards the theme without revealing specific words:

General Hint 1

Hint 1: Refurbish a home area.

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General Hint 2

Hint 2: Renovate your cooking space.

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General Hint 3

Hint 3: Potential cooking space improvements.

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Prefer a little more guidance? Here are two solved words with their locations:

Spoiler 1

Word 1: Backsplash

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Spoiler 2

Word 2: Oven

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Ready for the complete solution? Uncover the theme and all word placements below:

The theme is Kitchen Remodel. The words are Oven, Island, Sink, Backsplash, and Countertop.

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Still puzzled? The explanation below connects the theme, words, and clue:

"Time for an Upgrade" perfectly describes replacing kitchen elements during a remodel. Each word represents a replaceable kitchen component.

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Play Strands today on the New York Times Games website! It's accessible on most devices with a web browser.