The kitchen is the heart of every home, a favourite room for many, and therefore, one of the most exciting rooms to renovate. But with this excitement comes the challenge of combining the many ideas you want to implement with practicality and functionality.
As one of the most used rooms in the home, and often a spot for hosting, integrating beautiful designs with everyday pragmatism is a delicate balance, but not impossible. Keeping in mind how you want your kitchen to look and how you will use it on a daily basis, should help you to make the right choices when designing your dream kitchen.
There are many ways to do it right, but just as many to get it completely wrong. To help you avoid the common design mistakes, here’s a list of things you should not do when designing a new kitchen:
1. Ignoring the placement of furniture and appliances
This may seem like a no-brainer, but getting caught up in the aesthetic of the room, can mean you sometimes overlook the practicality of the kitchen layout. Taking into consideration simple tasks, such as how you would prepare a meal or even grab a quick breakfast in your new space, can help you to figure out the placement of the key appliances and furniture that you may want side-by-side or far apart.
This is especially true when it comes to the kitchen work triangle consisting of the stove, sink, and refrigerator. Keeping these points equally spaced out and within three to nine feet of each other, without any obstructions in its path, ensures a smoothly flowing layout that makes the kitchen easy and convenient to use.
2. Creating a cluttered space
Yes, you are excited and want it all. But trying to cram all the beautiful Pinterest ideas into a single space makes for a cluttered and encumbered room.
Listing down your must-haves should help narrow down and prioritise the features or furniture you cannot do without. Dedicating cabinets for trash and recycling helps further cut down the clutter.
Think about the appliances you will use on a daily basis, and only keep them out to ensure more countertop space. Try to minimise the clutter around gas hobs and cabinets, while optimising on the workspace available. You will be thankful for it every time you prepare a meal.
3. Underestimating storage space
The rule is simple. You can never have enough storage space. And cutting down on it is a costly mistake.
Consider storage for every item and plan accordingly. Having cabinets that do not accommodate bulkier items does not resolve anything. So, factor in the right type of storage as well. From small, easy-to-reach cabinets for cereals and spices, to large units that store hardly-used appliances and big platters.
Using the dead space above the refrigerator for ceiling-high cabinets, installing carousel units within hard-to-reach kitchen cabinets, and opting for pull out cabinets to store bulkier items, can all help to drastically optimise your storage space no matter the size of the kitchen.
4. Using the wrong materials
Considering the extensive use and bustling foot traffic your kitchen endures, choosing the right materials is vital. This includes all its surfaces; flooring, countertops, and even splash backs.
Ideally, the materials should be within your budget and hardwearing. Tiles or modern vinyl are the most popular options for kitchen floors. This is because they are durable, moisture-resistant, and easy to clean and maintain.
Granite, quartz, or even concrete countertops are durable, heat-resistant, and cost-effective. While tile or stainless-steel splash backs are perfect for withstanding the grease, protecting the walls, and adding a pop of colour to your kitchen.
5. Poor lighting
For the multi-functional kitchen, investing in multiple light sources is a smart way to optimise the space.
Think about lighting in terms of both an aesthetic feature and a practical necessity. Having a general overhead light source, paired with task lighting underneath the wall cabinets, provides sufficient illumination for safe food preparation. The addition of accent lighting helps create a beautiful ambience to suit any mood.
6. Incorrect measurements
Another obvious but overlooked aspect of designing the ideal kitchen is to measure twice and even thrice. This applies to everything from the height of the worktops, to the appliances, and even the door clearances.
Consider the counter height you are most comfortable with. Chances are you may be in this space for many hours each week. Also, take into account how any new appliances and equipment you have ordered will fit in to avoid the complication of protruding angles. This is especially important if you have decided to integrate your equipment.
Another significant aspect is the positioning and measuring of drawers and cabinets to ensure you have room to safely open them without colliding with other cabinets or appliances. Switching your hinged doors for sliding ones can be a useful way to maximise a small kitchen.
7. Installing fittings of poor quality
Staying within a budget doesn’t necessarily mean you have to opt for low quality fittings for your kitchen. In fact, low quality fittings may cost you more in the long run when dealing with repairs and replacements.
In order to get the most out of your kitchen, choose fittings and cabinets that are able to withstand the daily wear and tear by all the members of your family. Not only will they prove their worth in durability, but will also add to the appearance and character of your kitchen.
Conclusion
Kitchen extensions and renovations are wonderful opportunities to recreate and redesign an incredibly important part of your home. They are also worthwhile investments, as a well-done kitchen renovation can increase the value of a property by up to 20%.
However, it is not a fool-proof exercise. Designing a new kitchen can become complicated and costly when not planned and created with care. This is why it is crucial to get the right help and expert advice.
A trusted builder and designer can help you to maximise on this investment by not only advising you on the best ways to upgrade your kitchen, but also by helping you to understand the common designing pitfalls, and how you can avoid them.
Hoping to create a beautiful space that is both functional and seamlessly integrates with the design of your home? Contact the kitchen experts at Good Design and Build today!
With decades of experience, unmatched expertise, and a passion for excellence, we are the ultimate specialists who can help you make your dream kitchen a reality!
