A lot of home activities; cooking, cleaning, eating, drinking, and socialising take place in the kitchen. That’s why the space must be both beautiful and functional. So, if you are at the beginning of your journey to designing a new kitchen and you want to ensure you do not make any errors we have some tips just for you! So, avoid these common kitchen design mistakes and you’ll be sure to have the kitchen of your dreams.
1. Not Thinking About the Overall Picture
A kitchen remodel is a significant expense, but it will last you for years to come, so it is always worth it! A kitchen remodel can also increase the overall value of your home when done right. Therefore, when it comes to designing your new kitchen you need to consider your family, and your lifestyle and then plan your kitchen accordingly so that you can get the most out of your space.
You should ask yourself the following questions to understand what you would like from your kitchen. Do you enjoy cooking and baking? Do you and your family spend a lot of time in this space? Do you use the space for entertaining? Is storage a problem for you now? These are all questions to keep in mind when designing your new kitchen to ensure you avoid the common kitchen design mistakes many make!
2. Wasting Storage Space
Another common kitchen design mistake is not including enough storage space. Almost every kitchen has wasted space, but this can be minimised with adequate planning and forethought. Opt for pantries and larder cupboards to increase your kitchen storage efficiency, and choose to have internal utensils and cutlery organisers to ensure that no space is wasted. We have a wide variety of storage solutions for you to choose from, so you don’t have to waste storage space ever again!
3. Inadequate Worktop Space
One of the biggest complaints about kitchen design is the lack of worktop space. Think of all the kitchen activities that require a worktop, as well as appliances that are permanently located in these areas such as toasters. You must make room for these things and have some space left over because you never know when you may need it.
For more worktop space try clearing your kitchen and storing appliances in your pantry or larder cupboards. Alternatively, kitchen islands make great additions to any kitchen, not just because they provide more worktop space but more storage and seating space too!
4. Too much Open Shelving
Open shelving is gorgeous, but be honest with yourself: Do you want odd mugs and branded cans always on display? Think carefully about what you would like to showcase on your shelving and limit it to only the best; open shelving and what you choose to showcase have the possibility to ruin your kitchen design and aesthetic, so choose wisely!
5. Poor Choice of Worktop
Your worktop material matters, too. Wood or stone, composite or metal? The choice of material for your kitchen worktops can seem never-ending, but it’s worth taking the time to get these hard-working surfaces right.
Your kitchen worktops will be used for preparing, serving and, potentially, dining and will need to withstand regular, intensive cleaning. It is worth spending a little more to ensure you get the right one for you and your kitchen.
6. Poor Lighting
The kitchen is one room where you can’t afford to have poor lighting. Rooms generally need three types of lighting: general lighting for overall illumination, task lighting and accent lighting. For your kitchen, evaluate the work areas and focus on providing each spot with the light it needs.
7. Poorly Planned Electrics
Make sure to choose your appliances first and the voltage needed for them. We always advise that you should choose cabinets and countertops to fit appliances like your refrigerator and dishwasher, rather than the other way around.
You’ll probably need to have some appliances permanently located on the worktops. This may be a toaster, food processor, coffeemaker or a host of other gadgets. Having outlets where you need them and choosing what appliances to place in specific locations will help you plan your space.
To help you avoid these common kitchen design mistakes, why not pass over the design to us and our talented kitchen designers? They’re highly skilled and have years of experience between them to ensure they create the perfect kitchen for you! To find out more about our design services, give us a call at 01604 435835 or get in contact with us via our online contact form. We would love to help make your dream kitchen a reality!