7 Mistakes to Avoid When Designing a Kitchen

7 Mistakes to Avoid When Designing a Kitchen

a kitchen with white cabinets, a kitchen island, and pendant lights above

Whether you’re whipping up a five-course gourmet feast or just a bowl of pasta, everything tastes better when prepared in a well-equipped kitchen. After all, we all know that even the most functional areas of our homes deserve to be presented in their finest light. However, it’s more challenging than it seems to design a kitchen that serves your needs and looks good at the same time. A mistake here could drastically affect its efficiency. Or, even worse, your kitchen may become outdated before you can say “al dente.” To help you avoid this from happening to you, we’ve consulted experienced interior designers from Long Island, NY, and here are the top 7 mistakes to avoid when designing a kitchen. Trust us; your setup will resemble a Michelin-starred masterpiece with this advice.

The biggest mistakes to avoid when designing your kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house and is often referred to as the “heart” of the home. How we live in and appreciate our kitchens can be profoundly impacted by a few simple but all-too-common blunders in the planning and design stages of a remodel. Here are the seven most common mistakes to avoid when designing a kitchen to ensure that your dream kitchen doesn’t quickly turn into a nightmare.

An unfinished kitchen renovation is one of the mistakes to avoid when designing your kitchen

#1 Forcing an island at all cost

Forcing an island into a kitchen layout is one of the most common mistakes people make. Even if you’ve seen a stunning kitchen with an island, that doesn’t imply you have to get one for your own space. If there is sufficient counter and cabinet space, it may be an excellent addition to a kitchen. If the opposite is true, it will only serve to clutter your cooking space.

Even if your kitchen is large enough to accommodate an island, it may still impede circulation and make it difficult to move around. The space in the middle of your kitchen may be better utilized by installing a peninsula. It can help you improve traffic flow, provide extra counter space, and accommodate extra people.

#2 Neglecting the work triangle

Experts in kitchen design emphasize the importance of the “work triangle” as it’s essential for your kitchen efficiency. The “work triangle” consists of the stove, the sink, and the fridge. Everything necessary for efficient food preparation and washing up is here. 

If the kitchen’s work triangle is too big, you’ll spend more time running back and forth to collect ingredients. However, if the kitchen’s work triangle is too cramped, multiple cooks will be unable to operate in the space at once without constantly bumping into one another. Having a kitchen island could be useful here. However, you need to make sure it will fit in your kitchen before you buy it.

#3 Not installing adequate lighting

Another typical oversight when designing a kitchen is insufficient lighting. Not focusing on this can be an issue when cooking. There should be three primary sources of light in every kitchen: ambient lighting, task lighting, and decorative lighting:

  • The term “general lighting” or “ambient lighting” refers to a type of lighting that provides a uniform glow throughout an area (overall illumination).
  • Pendant lights and track lights are common examples of task lighting, which eliminates shadows and shines a light on food preparation areas.
  • With the help of accent lighting, you can highlight the beautiful details of your kitchen, such as artwork or architectural aspects.
A large kitchen island with two pendant lights hanging above it in a modern kitchen

#4 Not choosing the right countertop

Although marble and natural stone kitchen countertops are beautiful, who has the time to wipe up every spill immediately to prevent etching? Furthermore, the genuine stone will quickly show indications of wear and tear if you frequently place bowls, plates, pots, and pans on top of it. Instead of wood, you may use laminate, granite, or manufactured quartz

#5 Choosing the wrong color and the type of paint

It’s not bad to have a colorful kitchen but remember that trends change. Therefore, it’s best to stick to neutral colors for your kitchen’s permanent fixtures, cabinets, and appliances. You can add pops of color with throw pillows, art, or other kitchen accessories. 

Also, keep in mind that it’s crucial to use the proper paint while redecorating your kitchen. Walls and cabinets painted with regular emulsion paint might lose their luster after a while. Choose a paint made specifically for kitchens. You need paint that is durable, won’t show fingerprints and is waterproof. 

Given that paint jobs can easily get messy, you should empty out the space and find a safe place for your items. After all, you don’t want to risk any damage. If you don’t have space in your home, consider renting short-term storage during renovation. It’s a cost-effective way to ensure your belongings are safe.

#6 Inadequate storage

Another common oversight in kitchen layout is a lack of adequate storage space. These issues include not having enough room to open appliances and drawers, having cabinets that take up too much room, and having appliances that are too large for their designated areas. So, here are some suggestions for maintaining appropriate distances between elements:

  • Don’t waste any space in the room’s corners by putting cabinets there.
  • Measure and make sure you have plenty of space between the sink and the stove (remember the work triangle!).
  • Maximize vertical wall space, especially in tiny kitchens (take your cupboards up to the ceiling).
  • Make sure there’s enough room to open appliances and drawers without bumping into anything (like another open door or appliance).

#7 Too much open shelving

While open shelving is beautiful for displaying a cherished stoneware collection or color-coordinated teaware, it isn’t really functional for day-to-day use. An ideal kitchen has a balance of closed and open cabinets and drawers. This kitchen allows for the concealment of the items used frequently and then hurriedly stowed away (often in a mess). The open display of the items is used only occasionally and can be easily maintained in a neat state.

Kitchen with large windows, open shelves with red dishes on them, and a large kitchen island with a stove

Wrapping up

Now that you know the biggest mistakes to avoid when designing a kitchen, you can confidently approach your remodeling project. However, to be entirely sure you’ll end up with the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of, reach out to a reliable interior design team. They’ll make sure your dream kitchen quickly becomes a reality.