Your kitchen – the battlefield of breakfast burritos and the champion of evening soiree meals. All is well with your kitchen space unless it is poorly designed. True, those glossy magazine kitchens look dreamy. But will they work for your everyday life?
Many overlooked mistakes can ruin your kitchen design and make cooking even more tedious. A poorly designed kitchen can turn your cooking experience into a frustrating mess. These mistakes could be little things like buying 8-gallon trash bags for a 10-gallon garbage can or a design choice error like a difficult-to-clean countertop material.
These mistakes are often easy to correct. However, it is best to avoid them from the start. In this article, you’ll learn some common mistakes that can ruin your kitchen interior, so you avoid them.
1. Ignoring the Work Triangle
There is a golden rule for every activity. For your kitchen, the rule is – the kitchen triangle. It refers to how you place your stove, sink, and refrigerator in your kitchen. Their arrangement should follow a pattern that prevents you from crisscrossing the kitchen haphazardly while cooking.
The distance between these three essentials in your kitchen should neither be too short nor too long. It helps establish a good workflow while enhancing your efficiency as you easily glide through your kitchen space.
2. Overlooking Storage Needs
When you love your kitchen space, it’s easy to go overboard with utensil purchases. You have a questionable collection of spatulas and enough Tupperware to start a yard sale. But where do you store all these?
Overlooking your storage needs will have you fumbling for a spatula while your sautee chars like barbecue. Let’s be real—no one has ever complained about having too much storage.
Cabinets crammed full and countertops cluttered with appliances are a design disaster. Think about your storage needs from the get-go and plan accordingly. Use pull-out shelves or drawers to maximize every inch of your kitchen.
Another area that contributes to a good workflow in your kitchen is your counter space. This is where most of the magic happens anyway. From ingredients prepping to holding appliances, you should not skimp on counter space to avoid clutter.
3. Poor Lighting Choices
Lights! Camera? No Action! Kitchens need layers of lighting. In addition to natural lighting, you should add some artificial lighting as well. A mix of task, ambient, and accent lighting will create a warm, inviting space where you can see what you’re cooking and still feel cozy.
Under-cabinet lighting is great for food areas. For your dining area, a pendant light not only illuminates the area, it also adds personality to your space.
4. Ignoring Ventilation
Ventilation is very important in the kitchen. Cooking up a storm is fun until the smell of fried fish lingers for days. Or the smell could spread to the other rooms in your home.
Proper ventilation is necessary to keep your kitchen smelling fresh with cleaner air. Invest in the right size hood with enough clearance. If you can help it, make your kitchen window large so steam can easily escape while letting in cleaner air.
5. What About Cohesiveness?
Stainless steel may be sleek, but a jungle of mismatched appliances looks chaotic. Mixing styles can be charming, but too much mismatch can make your kitchen look cluttered. Yes, a bit of personality can transform the look of your kitchen. But remember that your kitchen should be functional and not a space for Instagram photos.
Consider paneling your fridge and dishwasher to make them blend seamlessly with your cabinets. Plus, it will give your kitchen a more streamlined look.
Final Thoughts
Designing your dream kitchen should be an exciting process. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a space that’s not only beautiful but also functional and enjoyable to use. Who knows? It might even be Pinterest board-worthy!
