When it comes to designing your bespoke kitchen, you want to address every little detail of it. It goes without saying that working with professionals on the matter is paramount. What is also important is that you pay close attention to several possible pitfalls, which can ruin the kitchen for you, if you are doing the project on your own. In this guide, we will take a look at the most common kitchen layout mistakes so that you can prevent them.
Zero planning around the workflow – you need to plan for a good kitchen workflow. If that is lacking, then your kitchen will not be efficient and you will end up wasting time running back and forth between different parts of the room. Your washing, cooking and prep work all need to be easy, and that is something you set for in the planning stages. Think about the way you use the space. Where will you need your storage solutions and where will you need extra space to manoeuver.
Problematic circulation space – if you don’t want to make your kitchen feel super cramped, you must plan for having enough circulation space. If your kitchen is a thoroughfare, you need to be careful. Lack of space can not only make it more difficult for two people to work or even be there at the same time, but also to open cabinets and appliance doors. You want to plan for at least 4 feet of space between kitchen countertops.
You don’t measure appliances – if you don’t measure your appliances beforehand, you can end up with excessive protrusion. This translates to difficulty opening cabinets of other appliances in the area. And it is not just large appliances that need a measure, but also small ones, like microwaves and blenders. If you have nowhere to put them, these will cramp up the countertop area.
Poor placement of lightning – if you don’t want to squint your eyes when prepping food, you need to have the right light fixtures and the right amount of light in the kitchen. Always prioritise functionality over aesthetics. While pretty pendants are visually pleasing, they need to shed enough light over the workspace, or else they are useless.
Wasting space with the kitchen island – kitchen islands add a lot of prep area and storage space, but you need to have enough room to accommodate them. If the kitchen is small, you better forego the island. Besides, you need to position the island in such a way as to allow for the unobstructed flow of traffic to and from the sink, stove and fridge. Talk with your designer whether it is possible to include a kitchen island in the area and decide how big you want it to be.
Not enough space between your stove and sink – the area between the stove and sink is your main preparation space. And while there aren’t specific guidelines in that regard, you need to ensure sufficient countertop space there. Consider what day-to-day needs you have and implement these into the layout.
Not making use of vertical wall space – if your kitchen is relatively small, you want to make use of every bit of space. Your walls offer just that. Take the cupboards to the ceiling, to maximise your storage in a small kitchen. You can then mix with open shelving, to diversify the look of the space.
Avoiding all of these mistakes is an important part of ensuring you have a great designer kitchen in your home.
