Does spending time in the kitchen bring you joy or does it drive you crazy? A kitchen serves many purposes beyond just cooking, even if you’re not very good in the kitchen. There, loved ones can bond and make memories that will last a lifetime. You would like that these kitchen design blunders not be a hindrance when you think back on those times.
Making an effort to imitate a kitchen from a magazine rather than living your own life is a grave error. A well-designed kitchen serves its purpose while also showcasing your personal style. Other typical kitchen design blunders include disorganized countertops, dim lighting, insufficient storage, and jarring transitions. Avoid settling for an inadequate sink or an island that won’t fit.
You want your kitchen to serve its purpose while still looking nice and reflecting your personal style. Great design always starts with form after function. Kitchens are often the most used rooms in the house, so these considerations are of utmost importance there.
Some Of The Most Frequent Kitchen Design Errors
You are not alone if you have noticed a few of these design flaws. This kind of thing happens in a lot of kitchens. Some are there when you purchase a home, while others are neglected throughout the planning stages.
The bright side, though, is that with little adjustment, a lot of these culinary faux pas are easily remedied. Some, like reinstalling top cabinets or updating the lighting, may be more costly and time-consuming, but they are definitely worthwhile.
See whether you’re guilty of any of these typical kitchen design blunders by reviewing this list.
1. Forgetting It’s Your Kitchen
Having a kitchen that appears like it came out of a design magazine is an appealing goal to strive for. On the other hand, the approach isn’t exactly practical.
Those perfectly staged kitchens you see in magazines and on social media don’t always stand up to the rigors of real life. Your kitchen should be a reflection of your personal style. In a similar vein, get it configured such that it serves your needs and streamlines your workflow.
2. Countertop Clutter
It is not a good idea to let things pile up on your kitchen counters. Having a disorganized kitchen not only makes it harder to find what you need, but it also makes you seem bad.
As a result, the aesthetic and practical value of your kitchen will suffer if you pile too much stuff onto the countertops. Clutter, in other words, is the mother of all kitchen design sins.
Maintain a minimum of 75% clearance of counters. Put a small appliance in a cupboard, the pantry, or some other hidden spot if you don’t use it every day. Simplify your kitchen equipment and supplies, and make use of any available storage space to make the most of your counter top. Spending only a few minutes each night tidying up can go a long way toward preventing clutter.
3. Ignoring Seating
People often congregate in kitchens for purposes other than preparing and eating food. In the kitchen, people gather to chat, share stories, finish homework, and sometimes even play games. Inviting guests and making these moments more pleasant can be as simple as adding chairs to your kitchen.
While a table and chairs may be present in your kitchen for eating meals, a couple of stools placed along a peninsula or island could be just what the doctor ordered. Is there not even a desert? Perhaps a couple of additional chairs that can be readily pulled up to the table or a pair of corner stools would be enough. Be sure the seating you choose complements the style and size of your kitchen.
4. Insufficient Lighting
There is nothing worse than poorly lit kitchens. Because you’ll be doing a lot of work here, the illumination must be right. Make use of a variety of lights, including both job and ambient lighting as well as overhead sources.
A common choice is under-cabinet lighting, but in-cabinet lighting is also an option for cabinets with glass fronts. Putting a little lamp on the kitchen island or counter is a popular design choice right now, provided you have the room. In addition to being a fashionable accent, it serves as job lighting, making it easier to read recipes or write down bills. Pick up light fixtures that not only illuminate your kitchen but also enhance its overall decor and reflect your personal style.
5. Not Optimizing Storage
Keep in mind that your counters are not a place to store things; hence, failing to make the most of your storage space is another common kitchen faux pas. Make the most of the space you have by storing things wherever possible. To make the most of the vertical space in your pantry, install shelves, arrange items beneath the sink, and put drawers and pull-out shelves inside deep cabinets.
6. A Sink That’s Too Small
You can’t possibly imagine the misery that comes with a poorly planned kitchen sink if yours is too tiny. Water everywhere and splash-back at every turn means you’re always wiping down surfaces. Furthermore, no matter how small the amount of dirty dishes, they constantly appear to be piling up.
Look into getting a sink that is a bit deeper than your current one if a bigger one is not available. There will be a noticeable change with just a few additional inches of depth.
7. An Island That Doesn’t Fit
In the middle of nearly every designer kitchen you’ll find a large island. On the other hand, you can see chic islands made from repurposed chests of drawers or old vanities. Beautiful as they are, the issue arises when homeowners attempt to cram an island into a kitchen that isn’t big enough.
An island is not necessary. An island is even worse than none at all when it comes to cramped kitchens. A mobile bar cart might be a lifesaver when you’re short on storage or extra counter space. Another option is to add a peninsula if your kitchen’s layout allows it.
8. Weird Transitions
Keep an eye on the materials and their progression through your kitchen. Having a strange transition between surfaces, such as a backsplash and a wall, is a common problem.
In the space above the sink, for instance, your tile backsplash terminates a few feet from the ceiling. In this area, you can see a random portion of wall that is not covered. To avoid this awkward transition, why not continue the tiling up to the ceiling instead?
9. Ignoring The Details
Did you neglect the finer points in your kitchen design because you were too busy thinking about the larger picture? Make sure you put some thought into picking out the right cabinets, fixtures, and countertops. Hardware, lighting, a touchless faucet, and storage are all important features to consider.
Also, don’t forget to add things that make you unique. Put up some artwork, put up some of your grandmother’s teapots, or anything else that reflects your taste.
10. Getting Rid Of All Your Upper Cabinets
Open shelving is a common feature in many kitchen designs, but it’s also going out of style. A lot of folks quickly learned the hard way that removing all of the upper cabinets wasn’t the best option.
A lot more dusting and organizing is required when there are too many open shelves. Not to mention that you should be extra careful with the items you display on such shelves. Preserve the upper cabinets, or at least the majority of them, to keep the storage space and lessen the burden of carefully arranging all of your dinnerware.
Final Thoughts On Design Mistakes To Avoid In Your Kitchen
You can certainly find a way to fix these kitchen design errors. Truth be told, you’ll be able to remedy the most of them pretty quickly. Pick up items that complement your kitchen and enhance its functionality.
Make sure your kitchen reflects your personality and is functional for your daily needs. You are going to find a kitchen that suits your needs when you give serious thought to your design decisions and stop attempting to replicate a scene from a magazine. Now is the moment to take stock of your culinary failings and figure out how to turn them into triumphs.