These days, we find that the kitchen is not only a place to whip up meals or bake; families can sit and bond over meals, you can entertain guests, and the worktops or island can serve as your workstation.
The layout is the most crucial part of the design process, and to a large extent, it determines the kitchen’s functionality. It is also necessary to pay attention to details because omission can mar the design plan and pose issues later.
Here are some mistakes homeowners are likely to make when designing a kitchen:
1. Inadequate Circulation Space
Not only is it inconvenient, but it also limits the number of people who can use the kitchen at the same time. Insufficient space for circulation will have people running into each other while cooking or cleaning.
During the designing process, ensure that there is enough walkway and sufficient space allocated for countertops because the workspace is very important.
2. Poorly Positioned Cabinet Doors and Drawers
This is mainly caused by poor planning. Fixing cabinets and drawers at wrong positions can obstruct the walkway. The doors of the cabinet should not be in each other’s way when open.
It is important to properly plan and outline your kitchen design to avoid inconveniencing those working in the kitchen.
3. Insisting on an Island
Island is a terrific addition to the kitchen because it doesn’t only create more prep space; it also provides more storage room. However, if your kitchen already lacks adequate space, an island would be unnecessary.
You can go for a narrow island, or better still, ignore and settle for a compact arrangement with sufficient worktops and drawers. This will cancel out obstructions and make workflow more efficient, giving you more room to walk around the kitchen.
4. Inadequate Storage Space
You cannot think about having a kitchen without considering ample storage space. From little spices to big appliances and kitchen utensils, everything needs to be kept in strategic positions for easy access. We use so many tools in the kitchen, so placing them just anywhere after use can make the kitchen look untidy and disorganized.
Always keep in mind that you can never have excess storage space in the kitchen. Cabinets, open shelves, tray racks, drawers, and roll-out carts serve different purposes and help reduce clutter while granting you easy accessibility to your tools and spices.
5. Forgetting about Function
Creating a triangle arrangement between the sink, fridge, and cooker allows for maximizing workflow. These are the busiest and most important features in the kitchen. There should be ample space between them for people using the kitchen.
The kitchen layout should outline and ensure easy accessibility to the cooker, sink, and refrigerator. The sink should have enough width and depth. The refrigerator and cooker should not protrude in a way that causes obstruction or danger.
6. Poor Lighting Placement
It is not enough to install bulbs in the kitchen; proper placement is necessary to avoid cooking in the shadows. It is important to have direct light over your worktops and cooking area. Different types of light can alter the mood in the kitchen.
Spotlights can be placed over counters and cookers. This provides brighter and direct light. Ensure that there are multiple light sources with different brightness intensities for better control during the day and night. Also, be careful when choosing light designs, bulb holders, chandeliers, etc. Picking aesthetics over functionality is likely to pose problems later.
7. Don’t Neglect Ventilation
Proper ventilation is essential in every kitchen. While cooking, the aroma of the food circulates. Although you`ll enjoy the pleasant smell, at some point you’ll need clean air. Also, exposing trash cans can emit a foul odor at any point
Investing in a sound ventilation system is worth it. Ventilating systems ensure that the air in the kitchen is free of pollutants that can harm us. Another alternative is to leave the windows open to allow the free flow of air.
8. Not Measuring Appliances
Your layout should also account for how appliances will be placed. If you don’t map out areas for the refrigerator, cooker, microwave, and dishwasher, you’ll face problems like protrusion and doors getting in the way of each other.
Be intentional about selecting appliances that fit into the layout without looking odd and cluttered.
9. Not Maximizing Vertical Wall Space
Wall spaces don’t only offer more room for storage. The arrangement of utensils on the wall can further beautify the kitchen or not.
Consider wall cupboards/shelves and make a step stool to climb and reach the upper cupboards.
10. Finishing Touches
After planning towards a functional kitchen, next is to add elements to make your space visually attractive. This is an opportunity to show off your style.
You might spend extra time shopping for decorative accessories to beautify your kitchen. If you’re getting decorative lights, make sure they provide adequate lighting. You can hang artworks for more effect, meanwhile don’t miss the chance to add some color to the kitchen through colorful cabinets, drawer handles, etc.