The kitchen is the hardest working room in your home. This is where meals are made, homework is finished, and friends and family gather. If you’re looking to update your kitchen soon, beware of these top seven remodeling mistakes so you can avoid them.
- Lack of counter space: When thinking about where to install new counters, consider how traffic flows through the kitchen. You want enough counters that you have room to work without impeding your ability to move around the room. Consider that you may want to permanently store some small appliances on the countertop as well.
- No work triangle: The “work triangle” links the three areas of greatest activity: the stove, sink, and refrigerator. These should be laid out in a neat triangle with no obstructions between them—it makes for an extremely efficient space. Forgetting the work triangle is one of the most important kitchen remodeling mistakes to avoid in the early design process.
- Lack of storage: Ample kitchen storage is essential to a successful kitchen remodel. To help utilize every inch of storage and ease accessibility, consider investing in pull-out shelves. A Lazy Susan is also a great use of corner storage space.
- No island: If you have a big enough kitchen, there’s no reason to overlook an island. This desirable feature provides more storage space and another surface for food preparation. To judge whether you have room for an island, measure to see if there would be at least 42 inches of open space on all sides once the island is installed.
- No task lighting: All kitchens have general lighting, which is usually provided by a large overhead light fixture, recessed lighting, or natural light from a window. However, many kitchens lack task lighting, such as dedicated lights above the stove, near the sink, and above the island—as well as under-cabinet lighting. Decide where you want to add task lighting beforehand so you can have the proper electrical work done to accommodate it.
- Not enough ventilation: If you’ve ever walked into someone’s home with the smell of last night’s fish tacos still lingering in the air, you know how important proper ventilation is. Not only does it freshen up the air, but ventilation also helps keep your kitchen cleaner, extends the life of your appliances, and lowers air conditioning costs in the summer. Make sure the stovetop has a hood that vents stale air to the exterior.
- A focus on being trendy: While trendy designs are fun and stylish now, they may not last more than a few years. Are you prepared to redesign your kitchen again when your bold color choices are no longer in style? If not, stick to classic designs, colors and materials for big-ticket items. Keep countertops and cabinet doors a natural tone and stick to well-accepted finishes such as stainless steel appliances. Then you can add accessories in your favorite plum purple or lime green to reflect your personality.
