Redesigning your kitchen is an exciting project, but it is easy to make mistakes along the way.
A successful kitchen renovation combines aesthetic design with practical application. Get it right and you can add significant value to your home, while also increasing your enjoyment of your property.
Below is a list of the issues that can trip you up, but which are easy to avoid when forewarned!
- Forgetting small appliances
It’s fashionable these days to keep your benchtops clear of clutter. So, that means you need accessible storage for items such as the toaster, breadmaker and coffee-maker. If they’re challenging to get to, you’ll either leave them on the bench or stop using them.
- Failing to plan for powerpoints
We all use standalone appliances in the kitchen, and it can be frustrating if there’s nowhere convenient to plug them in. Power points are not an afterthought. Make sure they’re integral to your plan.
- Going glossy
Avoid a shiny finish on cupboards. It looks awesome in the showroom but once it’s installed at home, all you’ll see is fingerprints and smears of grease and soapy water. You’ll spend your life wiping everything down.
- Not checking benchtop height
Usually, 84cm will be good enough. But if you’re in a house full of tall or short people, then you might want to adjust this measurement. If you’re thinking of selling once the kitchen is finished, then stick to the average height.
- Buying wrong stools
It’s easy to forget when purchasing stools that they need to be of a height suitable for your benchtop or free standing bar. There’s nothing worse than trying to jam your legs under the breakfast bar!
- Installing static shelving
It’s cheaper, but sliding shelving and drawers will give you more space and enhance the aesthetic. And they make your cupboards more practical as you can change the heights if you need to based on what you’re storing. So, dig a little deeper in your pocket. It’s worth it.
- Putting the fridge next to the oven
There’s a design principle with kitchens that involves placing in a neat triangle your cooker, fridge and sink. Avoid placing these elements of your kitchen together however. If you put your fridge next to a stove, you’ll put stress on its cooling system.
- Limiting wall cabinets
These are a great storage ally, and it’s a lot easier to access them than those at floor-level. Hanging cabinets will also enhance the look of the kitchen.
- Overdoing open shelving
These are fine if used sparingly, otherwise your kitchen will immediately appear cluttered and disorganised. You’re giving yourself a bigger cleaning job, too.
- Force-fitting furniture
Oversized furniture is unwelcome in any room but especially in a kitchen. A large dining table can wreck the aesthetic and flow that you’re seeking with your new kitchen.
- Picking oversized handles
It’s amazing how handles set the tone for the kitchen. If you go too big, all anyone will see in your kitchen are the enormous handles. If in doubt, go for smaller handles.