Designing a new kitchen requires you to make thorough plans. If you want to get great results, you need to know how you’ll address every last detail. Unfortunately, it can be easy to get lost in the process and make some big design mistakes.
Here we will examine the top 5 things to avoid in your kitchen design, and how you can effectively prevent these common blunders.
1. Lack of Functional Lighting
Kitchens that are too dim can be inconvenient at best and hazardous at worst. From chopping vegetables to tending hot pans on the stove, typical kitchen work calls for ample lighting. Yet many kitchens lack the illumination that’s truly needed.
You can avoid this by strategically planning your lighting based on your kitchen’s layout. Think about where ingredients will be prepared, where the cooking is done, where pans will be set to cool, and where food will be served. Each zone needs to have sufficient lighting for how it will be used.
Varying your lighting types and installing multiple light sources is one of the most effective ways accomplish this. For example, a combination of recessed lighting, hanging pendant fixtures, and under-cabinet lighting could ensure that every space has the appropriate level of illumination.
*Extra Tip: Make sure that your light switches are placed in useful and logical places. For optimal comfort and flexibility, set them up so that each light source has its own switch. This will give you have the option to select the specific level of lighting you want, which is great for setting a relaxed mood.
2. Not Accommodating Entertaining
Of course the needs and dining habits of your household should be prioritized when envisioning a new kitchen design. But that shouldn’t cause you to ignore how well your kitchen accommodates entertaining.
Even if you don’t entertain often, the ideal kitchen should be able to function well on the occasions that you do. This will prevent overcrowding, disfunction, and undue mess when it comes time to cook for your guests.
Islands with seating; ample preparation space, and even dedicated storage zones for the items only used when entertaining are all common features used to make kitchens guest-friendly. Consider giving your kitchen an open plan, or setting up a designated area especially for entertaining.
3. Storage Inefficiency
Far too many kitchens waste storage space. Either spots are left empty, or the cabinets and drawers themselves aren’t designed to maximize storage capacity.
You can sidestep this problem with some careful planning. Evaluate where you need storage, what you actually store, and what you access most. This will shape what types of storage you choose, where you place them, and what organization systems you should add.
To make the most use of your kitchen’s space, there are some simple rules you can follow: Always install cabinets in the space over your refrigerator. And unless the tops of your cabinets will be used as shelves, make sure that your cabinets reach up to your ceiling or crown molding.
4. Forgetting Practical Essentials
It’s certainly the most fun to concentrate on the glamorous elements of kitchen design. Finding elegant light fixtures or the perfect statement backsplash is great, but you should put just as much effort into sorting out all of the “boring” details. This includes planning how and where you will incorporate garbage cans, electrical outlets, ventilation, and other essentials into your design.
One effective way to deal with this is to make a list of your kitchen annoyances. Maybe there isn’t an ideal place to plug in your food processor, or your current kitchen doesn’t have a good place for a trash can. Perhaps smoke and smells linger in the air long after cooking. In any case, writing down these problems will help you figure out what practical solutions you’ll need to include in your new kitchen design.
5. Design that Doesn’t Match Your Lifestyle
One common mistake made by homeowners is designing a kitchen that doesn’t reflect how they actually live. For example, they may have planned their kitchen to be set up for large formal dinners, but in reality, their family prefers to eat quick and casual meals at the breakfast bar. Or, they don’t have much time to clean, but their design is too high maintenance (featuring open shelving that acquires dust).
To counter this, ask yourself some questions about how your household normally interacts with your kitchen. Your kitchen’s design should take your answers into account.
- How do you prefer to take your meals? Is this practical for your schedule?
- Do you entertain often?
- Do you have the time and desire to work regularly in the kitchen?
- Is your cooking style simple, or elaborate?
- Is your kitchen space used for any activities not related to cooking and eating?
Build Your Flawless Kitchen
Avoiding common kitchen design mistakes is easy when you have experts to guide you. Our team specializes in helping homeowners plan beautiful kitchens that are perfectly suited to their needs. If you need help with your own kitchen renovation, get in touch. We’re happy to lend a hand.