Avoid Kitchen Design Mistakes

Are you tired of working in your outdated kitchen? Do you feel that a remodeling project is needed to transform the interior design of this room? Do you feel the need for a fresher, more functional and more inviting kitchen space? If you answered yes to any of these, you should consider a kitchen-remodeling project fast! Needless to say, a kitchen-remodeling project is one of the most sought after and also one of the most costly home remodeling projects taken on by a majority of homeowners. Careful planning is therefore necessary to achieve the total effect that you, the homeowner, desire.

However, some of us still fall into the trap of incorporating some interior design elements that damages the functionality and harmony of the kitchen space. What are some of the biggest mistakes ever made by homeowners when designing their kitchens? Here are some of them:

Not taking full advantage of storage spaces. If you are thinking that you are not making this gross mistake just because you have rows upon rows of cabinets and shelves in your kitchen, well, think again. By maximizing storage spaces, we are not only talking about the actual linear footage being devoted to cabinets and shelves. We are also concerned about where these storage spaces are placed!

As a rule of thumb, there should be about 48 to 72 inches of wall cabinets for glasses, plates and bowls above the sink and dishwasher to keep things in order. To make sure that your kitchen storage is homemaker-friendly, there should be another 48 to 72 inches of cabinets near the oven to hold cooking dishes and other supplies in place. To top it off, another set of base cabinets should be placed near the cook top to store your pots and pans.

Another good idea is to make full use of blind corners by outfitting them with swing-out cookware caddies or lazy Susans. Your kitchen drawers can likewise increase their total storage space if you fit them with full-extension glides or built-in dividers. And by the way, you can use your kitchen cabinets to add visual interest and complement with the overall interior design of your kitchen!

Installing too big an island. An island countertop is a versatile addition that may spruce up the interior design of any kitchen as well. An ideal island should be 36 to 48 inches deep and 36 to 120 inches wide. This should give you enough working surface plus an ample space for an overhang for sitting. However, some homeowners request for a bigger and wider island thinking that bigger is better. Well, this is not true in this case! An island bigger or wider than this is harder to use and to clean.

Another thing to consider if you are planning to have an island in your kitchen is the space in between the island and the surrounding cabinets. You need to make sure that there is at least 42 inches clearance space between them so that you keep kitchen traffic and chaos to a minimum!

Not enough light in the kitchen. It can be very hard to do tasks if there is not enough light to go by. Even the brightest recessed ceiling lights and pendant lights tend to cast shadows. So, it would be better to install appropriate lighting for the various tasks in the kitchen and try to incorporate it into the overall design of the space. Some of the best lights for this purpose include halogen, xenon or fluorescent task lights fitted to direct ample light to your workstations. An added bonus – lighting can be also be used to enhance the room’s interior design!

Not enough ventilation. Some homeowners tend to take this matter for granted. What they fail to consider is that having good ventilation significantly improves the quality of air inside the home. It can also help vent off any offending odors and the extra heat that result from your cooking making your home smell and feel fresher!

Keep in mind that the kitchen is the heart of your home and updating the interior design of your kitchen may very well increase its functionality and appeal. Just make sure that you do not make the same mistakes that many of our fellow homemakers commit!

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