One of the best modelings or remodelings involves the kitchen. There is so much you can do, but there is also a lot of things that you should not do to your kitchen. Kitchen design mistakes happen every day and a lot of people miss them after their project is too far gone. You might be off in the cloud somewhere thinking about your kitchen. But, you need to listen up to this!
A lot of the mistakes come in the form of layout designs, textures, colors, materials, and so much more. Do not just take our word for it. Read on to see if you have any of the top-10 mistakes in your kitchen design that you should look to fix.
Top 10 Common Kitchen Design Mistakes
#1 – No Getting The Right Exhaust Fan/Range Hood
When you work towards having a great kitchen, you must get the right kitchen exhaust fan or range hood. This may seem like a ridiculous thing to think about. But, there are a lot of reasons you need to get the right fan.
First off, an exhaust fan does a great job of taking heat away from your kitchen. Your kitchen can heat up quite fast when you start using your stove, oven, microwave, or a collection of them all at once. With an exhaust fan, you also can take the smoke out of the area, as to not get a false alarm from your smoke alarm.
Lastly, a true exhaust fan adds value to your kitchen and home. There are many to choose from. But, if you get a quality exhaust fan, you will surely see the money you put in benefit you in the long run.
#2 – Unawares To Circulation Space
Did you know that circulation is few and far between in the kitchen’s these days? It is important to have the appropriate space to meet, cook, clean, etc. all in your kitchen. If you do not have appropriate space, you can feel cramped like you never thought possible. With this in mind, do not have poor circulation space. Have your appliances out of the way to make room for more is a big deal here.
When planning out your circulation space, here are a few things to consider. Will you have dining in your kitchen? Some people like to have a breakfast area with high countertops and stools. However, some people want none of this in their kitchen. The choice is yours here.
The second thing you should consider is having at least 4 feet in between your countertops and other things in your kitchen. When you do this, you will have plenty of rooms to do activities. And the activities are really fun. At the least, make sure that 39 inches separate countertops, so you can use your space to the best of your ability.
#3 – A Lack of Measuring Appliances
You may be surprised to hear that a lot of people go into kitchen work without actually measuring their appliances. This is a serious matter that needs to be taking care of, so nip it in the bud. You may not think that this is a big deal, but think again?
Imagine you just got this brand new refrigerator. You are excited to start putting food and drinks inside. But, when you open it up for the first time, you notice a big problem. What is it you make ask? Well, you will notice right away that your doors hit your countertop.
But, this cannot be. You picked the perfect kitchen items and they need to fit. Well, if you do not do your due diligence, then there is no way you are going to have the exact kitchen down to the ideal measurements. With all this said, measure equipment like food processors, blenders, microwaves, fridges, ovens, and cutlery that you will have on the countertops or pushed into an area.
If you pick appliances way before install, you can double and triple check. This way, you will ensure the layout of your dreams. Do not forget pans and pos either. They need a place to go as well.
#4 – A Poor Placement Of Light
It is important to see, would you not say? When it comes to kitchen work, having the right light is non-negotiable. You got to have it, need to have it, and should have it. However, a big mistake that many people make is putting a light where they do not need it.
For example, wherever you are planning to clean, work, prep, stir, wash, etc. needs to have adequate light. Do not end up being the person that works in the shadows. This is certainly not fun and surely not safe for your well-being or the well-being of others.
You may want to have an aesthetically pleasing kitchen, but you also need one that functions appropriately for you and your lifestyle. That being said, position your lighting out in front instead of directly overhead. Also, do not have your lighting behind you. With this appropriate positioning, you will be well on your way to success.
Also, considering purchasing downlights. This type of lighting, along with sconces or pendant lights gives you great control of your situation. Along with a beautiful atmosphere, you will get the light you need for your perfect kitchen area.
#5 – Wasted Island Space
Most people want a kitchen island at some point in their life. However, if the island does not work for you, you will not want to work on it. Normally, having a kitchen island is excellent for storage and prep. But, if you are working with a smaller kitchen, the island may hurt you and not help you.
Placing your island is more important than you might think. You could obstruct traffic in your kitchen causing a bottleneck of epic proportions. Instead, find an island that works for you and your lifestyle. Some islands are quite narrow.
Look for an island that still gives you about 40-inches all around your kitchen. Ideally, 47-inches would be your best bet. But, not everyone has that kind of space to work with.
As a last rule of thumb, if you are not going to put a stovetop or sink in your island, you want a narrow width island. 24-inches would be a perfect design there. The alternative for you having an oversized island will make for space that only collects dust or junk, instead of what the island was born for.
#6 – Bad Spacing Between The Stove And Sink
Most of the work done in any kitchen involves the stove and the sink. As the main preparation area, the world is your oyster here. However, this should be a practical, conscious decision placed in your mind.
So, think through what your day-to-day is like in a kitchen. Where do you normally prep your food, cook, and clean? Is your space ideal for your set up? Think about what you would want for this creation. Would you like an area for prepping, with a cooking area next, and then the cleaning area?
The biggest mistake here is that the sink is on one side of the room, while the cooking area is opposite of that, causing issues with prepping to, which is not friendly either. Make it easier on your self and go for it.
#7 – Not Using Your Wall Space
Who needs wall space? You do, of course, The #7 issue on our list involves the need for your walls to be used. You might want to feel the walls up with cabinets, appliances, and more. You should! Every single bit of real estate that you have in your kitchen should be used. If not, you are wasting your time in what you are calling a kitchen.
As an essential storage space, your walls can take on cabinets up to the ceiling tiles. With this maximized plan, you will have rows and rows of cupboards and the best open shelving. Just remember if you are filling up the way above the cooktop, some rules apply here. There is a 2-3 feet rule to put cabinets above that measurement from the cooktop. The reason is to help make sure your cabinets do not catch on fire and burn your house down, due to a kitchen emergency.
If you are not sold on more cabinet space or appliances, why not put up art in your kitchen? There are simple ways that you can add value, but not make your kitchen look tacky. One way is a safe saver and cool to look at. With the help of a cutting board, you can hang the beautiful wood up on the wall. When you are ready to use it, simply take it off and go to work. Clean, dry, and hang the board back up when you are finished.
#8 – No Expert Assistance
Please do not think that you have to create a kitchen all on your own. This is certainly not a task that you need to worry about. Sure, you may have some great ideas to build your kitchen. But, think how much better they may become with an expert.
Since the kitchen is the most difficult room to put together, getting help is not a bad thing. Not to mention that a kitchen will cost you an arm and a leg, you surely need to fork out a little money for visionary purposes. Who knows? You may even have an interior designer who can help you out for little to nothing.
Ultimately, you will be less stressed with an expert helping you out. Also, you will save more money in the long haul because you have a plan, not buying a variety of things to see what works for your kitchen. Avoid cost mistakes is something you can get ahead of when a lot of people make this major mistake.
#9 – Being Too Keen On Trends
Trends are awesome, do you not think? They set standards for homes, communities, and countries. However, do not get all wrapped up into them. Some people do and this is mistake #9.
Being too connected with trends can be to your detriment. Here is why. First, trends cost a lot of money. Since a kitchen design is already the most expensive room in the house, picking a brand new trend will only add to the money problem. However, you need to think about the future as well.
Many people want the trend now and do not care about future repercussions. Well, here is the truth. On average, homes only get a kitchen to remodel every decade. If you are looking to see your home during a 10-year window, the style will already be out of style. What does that mean for you?
You may lose value to the home because people will not want an old trend that is not even good in the new time. Stick with a layout that is safe, timeless, and inexpensive. Do yourself this favor and you will not make a miscue in this area.
#10 – Going Over Your Budget
Most people are not surprised by this last one. It is probably because you live in the United States of America, where the country is constantly going into debt. Well, the country functions, but you might not if you do not stick to your budget.
This common error usually happens because people do not do their homework down to the penny. Instead, they estimate and do not get the facts. With a project as big as a kitchen, the money adds up more and more. A $10,000 project may balloon into a $15,000 or $20,000 project before you know it. Then, you have to take a loan or leave parts of your kitchen unfinished until you are ready.
With this in mind, you can imagine the stress and frustration at this moment. Do not be this person and account for exact it is that you want to do with your kitchen. One thing to help your budget is to think about the value of your home. You should never spend over 20% of what your home is worth in a kitchen.
Lastly, it may be a safe idea to keep money in savings just in case you are wanting to put your kitchen over the top. A 10% fund of what your budget is worth with a little extra may do your project right. Even consider keeping a savings fund with $500-$1,000 if that is more your roll. But, remember that quotes from a profession are your best friend here.
Final Note
Well, we have come to the end of our kitchen mistakes. We hope that you have learned a few things from others. Some of these things may seem silly and others very serious. However, they are all important if you are looking to succeed as a kitchen layout person.
When push comes to shove for you, do not feel bad if you spend less in the end. A remodeled kitchen can be done inexpensively. You do not have to drain the bank to make this happen. As you do come to a close on your design, be proud of the fact that you put in the time you need for a great kitchen. Then, you can reap the benefits for years to come. Happy prepping, cooking, cleaning, and whatever else you do in your brand new kitchen. It may be closer than you ever thought possible.