Renovating or building a kitchen is a big, expensive job, so you want to make sure that whatever changes you make avoid common kitchen design mistakes and add value to your home to have everlasting style.
While many of us have our own ideas about what we like and how we want things to look, there are a few mistakes many people make when designing a stylish kitchen.
Here’s a list of 7 common kitchen design fails to avoid.
Mistake 1: Not thinking about the splashback early
The right splashback can really make a kitchen pop. Think about it early on in the design phase so you can decide if you’re going for a statement material, an experimental finish or tiles, and if you want it to be tall, short or cover the entire wall.
Mistake 2: Too much colour
Having a colourful kitchen isn’t a bad thing, but it can date quickly. You’re better to go with neutral permanent fixtures, cabinetry and appliances, then inject colour via lighting, stools, art and accessories. These can be changed out and updated easily and without great cost.
Mistake 3: Choosing the wrong benchtop
You’d be hard-pressed to make any kitchen design mistakes using marble and natural stone – they’re both luxurious and gorgeous options for kitchen benchtops. But it’s important to be honest about your expectations of wear and tear on your workspaces. If you are less inclined to clean up every spill as soon as it happens to stop it staining a marble bench top, natural stone may not be for you. While many of us love the patina of a home that shows signs of the life lived, those who prefer an enduring pristine finish might opt for benchtop alternatives such as laminate, granite or porcelain instead.
Mistake 4: Not allowing enough space
If you’re installing a new kitchen it’s important to allow enough room between drawers, doors and appliances to cater to handles and knobs, as well as how much space you need to open a fridge or dishwasher drawer.
Inadequate space in a kitchen layout is one of the most common kitchen design mistakes and one that may haunt you for years if you don’t get it right. Ideally, you want enough space that every drawer and door could be open without any one hitting the other.
Mistake 5: Not extending cabinetry to the ceiling
Leaving a gap between the top of your kitchen cabinetry and the ceiling is one of those age-old kitchen design mistakes that not only creates a space that gathers dust and dirt, but can make your ceiling feel lower and the room more cramped.
For a more polished look that won’t create dust-catching nooks, extend your cabinetry all the way to the ceiling.
Mistake 6: Poor lighting design
Kitchens need excellent lighting for cooking and cleaning, so don’t skimp on it. If you’re going for a pendant light, bigger is better. If your kitchen doesn’t have a window (like some apartments) or is poorly lit, invest in some bright LED downlights or strip task lighting.
Mistake 7: Going overboard with the open shelving
While open kitchen shelving is a wonderful opportunity to showcase a beloved stoneware collection or colour-coordinated teaware, it isn’t particularly practical when it comes to the everyday use of the kitchen.
A good kitchen has an even mix of concealed and open shelving and storage, so all the things that are used often then hastily stuffed back away (often in a mess) can be hidden behind doors, while the things that are used for special occasions and easily kept tidy are left on display.
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