Did you know that homeowners remodel 10.3 million kitchens annually? This means that roughly one in 10 American households invests in kitchen projects. Indeed, the kitchen is one of the most valued areas in a property.
If you’re undergoing a kitchen remodeling or renovation project, we’ve got you covered! Read on to learn about what to avoid when designing your new kitchen. You’ll know everything from choosing the correct design explore top brands, paint, and stainless steel undermount sinks.
Underestimating Your Storage Needs
When designing a kitchen, most homeowners focus on the kitchen’s appearance. Most homeowners work assuming that the kitchen tools and equipment they’ll install will remain.
This kind of thinking prompts homeowners to overlook possible additions to their kitchens. Hence, when new kitchen tools and equipment come, they pile up due to small storage space.
When developing a kitchen design, plan with storage space in mind. Think ahead and leave storage space for items you might buy later on. Allocate space for everything, even the minutest object, such as your spice jars.
To make the most of your kitchen, integrate smart solutions. You might want to consider using magnetic panels on your wall. You might also want to integrate pull-out corner storage.
Using the Wrong Paint
Most homeowners focus on the shade of their kitchen walls more than the kitchen paint itself. This is a rookie mistake as kitchen walls undergo constant hazing of spills and splashes.
Standard matt emulsion paints aren’t formulated to withstand the hazing that kitchen walls receive. This is why, when used on your kitchen walls, it’ll quickly rug down. Instead, use a paint finish that is durable, grease-resistant, and washable.
Not Utilizing Vertical Space
As we’ve mentioned, storage plays a vital role in the appearance of your kitchen. Hence, you have to maximize your compact kitchen to prevent it from looking cramped up. One area you should pay attention to is the vertical spaces in your kitchen.
You could anchor galvanized pipes, hooks, or railing on your kitchen walls to hang pots and pans. These kitchen wares take the most space in cabinets, so it makes sense to hang them instead.
Closed-door cupboards and open shelves can add extra storage too. Make sure, however, that these are deep enough so that they can accommodate large plates.
You may be able to add cabinets above your refrigerator or even high above your stainless steel undermount sinks. While you need a stepladder for these spots, they make great storage for seasonal items. By utilizing vertical spaces, you’re freeing up space on your lower cabinets for things that you use often.
Wrong Lighting
A strategic lighting plan is essential in the realization of a functional kitchen. In addition, kitchen lighting affects the productivity of those who’ll be using your kitchen. Too much can cause eye strain while having too little can make the room too dim to get any work done.
Adding one recessed light after 4 to 6 square feet of ceiling space is advisable. However, avoid flooding your kitchen with recessed lighting. Instead, accentuate by adding a pendant or sconces.
However, be careful, as many make the mistake of prioritizing aesthetics over functionality. For example, pendants and scones come in beautiful structures but with lower lighting capacity. Hence, choose pendants with bulbs that can emit enough light for easy maneuvering.
Choosing a Design That Won’t Last Long
The kitchen is one of the most expensive areas to remodel. As such, avoid choosing a kitchen design that is likely to age after only a few years.
Consider how the design can affect the resale value of your house. A trendy design might be eye-catching today, but what about in the next five to ten years?
It’s okay to go all out on the wallpaper, accessories, and paint job, as these can be easily altered as needed. Yet, permanent fixtures such as countertops and undermount sinks need deep consideration. Bright gloss tiles, for instance, can be aesthetic today but will you love them after ten years?
You should also go for a kitchen sink that doesn’t take up too much space and doesn’t look overwhelming. The best type to go for this purpose is stainless steel undermount sinks.
Doing Everything on Your Own
DIY project videos online make home renovation projects look like an easy task. Yet as you dive into the project, you’ll soon find out how complicated planning and implementing a kitchen design is.
A certain level of expertise is highly needed on matters such as kitchen wiring and plumbing. Not to mention the skills needed to make an effective ventilation system. These aren’t something to take lightly, as one wrong decision can lead to catastrophic results.
It pays to ask for the advice of experts to avoid costly mistakes. Seek the help of experienced electricians, HVAC experts, and kitchen designers.
It also helps to do your research and find out the exact size and model you want to install in your kitchen. With such knowledge, you’ll be able to create a more accurate kitchen plan and avoid costly mistakes.
Forgetting about Functionality
While you’ve maximized space, you might find your equipment and fixtures clashing. Your cabinet and fridge door, for instance, might bang with each other every time you open one. Your under-mount kitchen sink might also be too small that it’s hardly possible to complete tasks.
When designing a kitchen, always consider how the elements complement one another. Also, think about the possibility that you and your living mates might be using the kitchen all at once.
Will there be enough space to move around? If not, you may want to scale down your kitchen design.
Moreover, leave a decent space in the area between your sink and stove. This is the main food preparation area; cramming it up will leave no room to move around.
Finally, preparing and cooking produce irritants such as smoke, airborne particles, and faulty odors. With poor ventilation, these will spread throughout your house, which can irritate the eyes and skin.
In worst-case scenarios, these irritants may cause respiratory problems. Hence, install a kitchen ventilation system to help remove the irritants in the air and control temperature throughout the kitchen area.
The Best Stainless Steel Undermount Sinks For Your Kitchen
Stainless steel undermount sinks are some of the most neglected elements in kitchen design. However, durable and age-wise designed stainless steel undermount sinks make a huge difference in your property’s appearance and resale value. As such, pay more attention to it when designing your kitchen.
We’ve only mentioned the tip of an iceberg of information that you need to know about kitchen design. Keep browsing through our site if you want to explore the iceberg more deeply.
