Guest Blog: 5 Most Regrettable Kitchen Design Mistakes To Avoid

When designing your new kitchen, you want to build one that functions exactly as needed. Though there are plenty of choices and important decisions to make, there are also a couple of possible pitfalls along the way which can spoil your plans for a dream kitchen.

The best way to avoid these pitfalls is for you to be open and honest with your designers and consider their advice. Though you cannot be forced to listen, the best kitchen designers are there to help you understand why there are some things that simply won’t work.

Here are some of the common kitchen design mistakes you must avoid.

1. Compromising quality
When choosing the best material for your new kitchen, you should not scrimp on quality. If you compromise quality to save a couple of bucks, problems may occur later on and your kitchen won’t last as long as it should.

You should consider how many times a drawer or door is opened and closed. This way, you will realize the need for durable and strong hinges and cabinetry. Even when the quality of the kitchen will initially cost more, it will be worth it for a robust, low-maintenance kitchen.

Remember, kitchen qualities differ from one manufacturer to another so it is recommended that you perform a thorough research about the different suppliers prior to making a purchase.

2. Inappropriate and insufficient lighting
Kitchen lighting is both decorative and highly functional. Achieving the right lighting for your kitchen is crucial for your ease of use, and for protecting your eyesight. Therefore, your kitchen must include ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. Such a combination will help bring your kitchen setting together. However, this should be planned carefully so you can achieve a beautiful, practical, and functional kitchen space.

3. Underestimating your storage needs
With any kitchen, storage is a must. This includes storage for utensils, pots, plates, small appliances, and food. These different items and where to put them must be considered when planning for a new kitchen.

How much storage space is required will depend on your lifestyle, habits, and personal circumstances. For instance, if you’re a keen cook and you have more goods to store than someone who rarely cooks, your storage needs will be greater. Make sure that the storage solution you opt for is appropriate for your intended uses.

Insufficient storage is frustrating and inefficient. In fact, this is among the biggest reasons for homeowners wanting to redesign their kitchen.

4. Neglecting proper rubbish disposal
Though garbage disposal is not the most glamorous aspect of designing a kitchen, neglecting how to dispose of rubbish is a common kitchen design mistake that you must avoid. Rubbish must be disposed of regularly, especially when your family has the tendency to accumulate a lot of rubbish in just a day. You need to have a reliable and easy means to dispose of your garbage.

Make sure you have enough rubbish space. Allow a clear path from the bin to the exterior. Having an internal bin will prevent you from having to carry your garbage from your kitchen to the bins outside. If you often have to do this, liquids and grease can splash upon your flooring. More importantly, make sure that it is in line with your home’s layout to prevent smelly rubbish from spoiling the ambiance of your kitchen.

5. Forgetting kitchen workflow
In designing your kitchen, consider the busiest areas – stove, sink, and refrigerator. An excellent kitchen layout will allow fluid movement between these areas, which facilitate good kitchen use. Also, create separate kitchen zones for diverse activities, whether for washing up, eating, or preparing food.

If you neglect to do this, you might experience frustration later on. For instance, you may experience removing food from the hot oven only to find out that there is barely any surface left to place it on.

A kitchen that is poorly laid out can be an annoyance to all users while an efficient working layout will be beneficial to everyone. Habits, lifestyle, social interests, and the number of people living in your house are important considerations when designing the working flow for your kitchen. Thus, you must share such important information with your designer.

Kitchen design mistakes can be avoided if you work with an experienced kitchen designer who can help and advise you at each design stage. Remember to always be realistic about what works well and what doesn’t.

About the Author:

Toby Walker is the Director and Operations Manager of Zesta Kitchens. With over 30 years of industry experience (having previously operated Nobby Kitchens and Bunnings Warehouse Kitchen Centres), Toby's passion is providing a unique customer kitchen renovation experience, and this filters through the business to ensure a quality product with an on-time kitchen renovation.