What Not to do When Redesigning Your Kitchen – Six Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't let anything stand between you and your dream kitchen

A new kitchen is a huge but worthwhile investment for any home. Looks and functionality-wise, it will always add value to your property. But one thing you don’t want to do is forget the finer details. It’s often the most obvious thing that we simply forget when designing a kitchen. Such as where the bins go or how accessible the fridge is when you’re cooking.

The primary function of a kitchen is to cook and prepare food, so it has to be highly functional. It’s therefore important to always start the design process by looking at how you use the space when preparing and cooking meals.

But who says functional can’t be stunning? These days our kitchens can be the best-dressed room in the house. Here are some things to keep in mind as you embark on your design journey.

1. Don’t forget counter space

Planning every inch of useable space is a must. A very common mistake in kitchen design is not including enough counter space to work with. Remember to include enough space to prepare meals, display all your appliances, wash up, and potentially space to eat and socialize, if that is how you plan on using the kitchen.

2. Never underestimate how much storage you need

Plan accordingly and allocate a space for every single thing, from spice jars to cutlery-separating drawers. Although the temptation to keep adding to the list can be great, a clear initial index will keep you on track. By sticking to a clear plan, you also avoid the temptation to overcrowd your brand-new kitchen.

For bulkier items, you could consider pull-out corner storage. Designed to easily fit into the cabinets, pull-out storage helps efficiently store away items and make them easy to access when needed.

And don’t forget to take advantage of floor space by considering a trolley, which creates extra space when you’re preparing food, or could even be used for drinks when entertaining.

3. Don’t neglect ventilation

Good ventilation is key for any kitchen, especially when cooking up delicious dishes day in day out. Cooking can leave lingering smells that, if not ventilated, can drift throughout the home. While the smell of home-cooked food is pleasant at the moment, you don’t want the rest of the house to smell and ruin the atmosphere. Invest in a proper ventilation system that is efficient at capturing impurities, circulates air, and keeps your kitchen clean.

4. Don’t skimp on lighting

Like most rooms, it’s important to get the lighting right for functional use as well as the aesthetic look. Prepping food will require more direct, brighter lighting than that of a dining area. Spotlights concealed under wall cabinets and in the ceiling are still the most popular, practical choice to use throughout. Your lights can be grouped according to tasks and used with dimmer switches so you can change the atmosphere in an instant.

For areas of the kitchen where family and friends gather, consider living-room-style lighting. Pendants add a more focal light source and create ambiance, as do table lamps on a sideboard.

5. Avoid leaving out a power supply

It sounds obvious but before you commit to plumbing in all your appliances, think about how you will use your kitchen – with regard to getting the power supplies in the right place. Think about your workflow within the space. Where’s the coffee pot going to be? Is there another plug nearby for the toaster? Is the microwave integrated or do you need to allocate worktop space for this bulky appliance, too?

6. Don’t choose a design that will date

As tempting as it is to go for the latest trends, make your kitchen design a more classic choice. Avoid choosing a design that is likely to date and be old news in only a few years. Kitchens are not cheap to replace, keep this in mind when designing your dream kitchen.

You can go as “out there” with the paint, wallpaper, and accessories as you want because they can be easily and affordably changed at any time.  Brightly colored gloss cabinet doors that you can’t paint may seem like a great idea now, but will you love them a few years down the road? If you’re at all unsure stick to a timeless and classic choice.

Redesigning a kitchen is a big commitment. Do you have questions? Custom Kitchen & Bath Company is here to help. Contact us today and we’ll be happy to help.