If you’re planning a new kitchen or you’re looking to update your current space, there are plenty of things to consider when it comes to choosing a kitchen design. There are many kitchen styles and layouts, suitable for a variety of kitchen sizes and shapes, but there are a number of things that could negatively impact your kitchen and kitchen worktops.
Some are annoying, others create genuine problems, here’s our guide to the kitchen design mistakes you should avoid when you’re planning your kitchen.
1. Poor Lighting Choices
Lighting can have a tremendous impact on the feel of your kitchen design. If you’re lucky enough to have ample natural lighting available, it’s worth factoring this into your design to enhance it.
Of course not every kitchen has the luxury of natural lighting at all times, so picking the writing placement and type of artificial lighting is absolutely essential to creating a kitchen you enjoy spending time in.
A huge design mistake is an assumption that all rooms are the same, and thus thinking lighting is one size fits all. You need to adjust your lighting to ensure it works for your specific space.
Having inadequate lighting can make food-preparation a frustrating experience, especially during the dark winter months.
2. Not Measuring Appliances for Your Kitchen Plan
Imagine coming up with your perfect kitchen layout, only to realise your fridge, oven or other appliance is much bigger than you expected. You’d have to redesign your entire kitchen to make sure it fits in properly, this can be especially difficult if using a strong material like quartz countertops.
All this hassle can be avoided if you make sure you measure in advance!
Accurate measurements of how much space you have for appliances, (and we recommended you check these measurements more than once!) and using the space as a size guide for the appliance you’re ordering (or already own) will help ensure there are no nasty surprises.
3. Forgetting Power Points for Appliances
A small but crucial detail that can sometimes be overlooked when designing a kitchen is the placement of power points.
A maze of wires crowding your worktops isn’t aesthetically pleasing and can create a health and safety risk. Your kitchen is also arguably the room with the biggest demand for power.
Professionally installed power points can help reduce the clutter of wires and keep your surfaces tidy. Consider adding a power station that can be hidden when not in use.
Consider how many appliances you expect to use at the same time, and where in the kitchen you would be using them. From there, draw a small diagram of the areas where power points are essential.
And remember to include power socket for your dishwasher and fridge!
4. Not Using The Working Triangle Method in your Kitchen Design
Try to map out your space before deciding on a concrete layout for your kitchen design. See where you naturally gravitate to and plan around that.
We have a number of blogs discussing the working triangle method, as well as the ‘zoning’ approach to designing the placement of elements of your kitchen.
These are methods of creating a workspace that works with you, ultimately supporting the efficient use of your space and making your experience enjoyable.
This links to the next mistake…
5. Poor Spacing
One of the most overlooked aspects of a kitchen is the space you leave for yourself.
A common negative of poorly planned kitchen islands is the interruption of circulation space. Your kitchen can restrict your movement and lead to frustrating situations if there are more than one of you using it any.
With limited space, you’re more likely to bump into each other, something that can be easily avoided if you consider it during the design phase.
It’s recommended to leave approximately 4 feet of space between countertops/island or 3.5 at a push between to help maintain freedom of movement.
6. Not Enough Storage
It’s easy to underestimate just how much storage space you need in your kitchen.
Consider the size of your pots and pans, and how whether you want to keep them in a drawer, cupboard, or keep them out in the open.
Whether you pick a place to keep them hidden away or you invest in hooks to hang them on your walls, make sure you don’t forget to maximise your vertical space.
Create a rough plan to help ensure you’re storing the right items in the right places. Keep frequently used items in easily accessible places to make using your kitchen more enjoyable.
7. Wrong Worktop Heights
While it’s still quite an unusual feature, dual height kitchen worktops are great for practicality and for style.
Having worktops at installed at different heights can create dimension in your kitchen, creating the illusion of more open space while offering a number of more practical benefits.
There are industry standards for worktop heights, in fact, you can find a guide here, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to them.
A mix of countertops heights is great for defining specific areas of your kitchen. And with the right design, they can really help accentuate the shape of your kitchen.
Dual heights are also a brilliant option for making your kitchen accessible for wheelchair users. You could even add a stool to perch on in front of a low countertop for ease of use.
If you struggle with back pain or find yourself hunching over your current worktops, it’s very likely that you will also benefit from adjusting your worktop height.
These are all important factors to consider when planning your new kitchen installation or renovation, and we’re here to help if you find yourself struggling with your kitchen design.
We are experts in all things related to kitchen and bathroom worktops, from quartz worktops and marble countertops to granite worktops, we have the expertise to bring your dream kitchen to life!
Call us today to speak to one of our experts on 0117 956 3030, or fill out a contact form.