7 Biggest Kitchen Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make

Renovating your kitchen should be an exciting time, but it is easy to go wrong with so many decisions to make. You need to know these most common mistakes renovators make in the kitchen, and how to steer clear of them:

Mistake #1: Rushing

Not having a plan and rushing through the design process of your kitchen renovation is one of the most detrimental things you can do. This is the reason for most kitchen renovation disasters. Be sure to take your time when creating your renovation plan. Your plan should be clear and account all important decisions so that nothing in the design process is left to the last minute. Always make sure your kitchen designer and manufacturer has your kitchen’s dimensions before the final drawings for construction are produced. Also select and order all of your kitchen appliances well in advance!

Mistake #2: Accepting Poor Quality Hardware

Pull-out corner units, drawer dividers, soft-close runners, and door hinges; these are all good quality accessories and hardware that are often left out of kitchen designs to meet a budget. However, in the long-term, these features increase storage potential and make the kitchen significantly more enjoyable to use. Remember to ask your kitchen designer about all of the hardware options for your kitchen so that you can make an informed choice. In order to work with your established budget, choose the features that will make the biggest difference to your experience in the kitchen.

Mistake #3: Getting Caught Up in the Aesthetics

Don’t forget the practical considerations for your kitchen when looking into the aesthetics of the design. Always put the functionality of your space first. Even before your first meeting with your kitchen designer, think about how you want your kitchen to perform. At the meeting, give the designer as much information as you can about your family’s lifestyle and how you plan to use your kitchen.

Mistake #4: Poor Tiling Preparation

The most common mistakes when it comes to tiling your kitchen occur before the tiles are even laid. Lack of preparation can lead to a costly problem both for the budget and timeline. To ensure you have the right quantity of tiles for your kitchen; professionals recommend to buy 10 per cent more per square metre than the area you’re tiling – this will allow for extra cuts and tile mishaps.

Mistake #5: Selecting Incorrect Tiles
Applying a heavy floor tile on a splash back, or low slip rating tiles in a wet zone can appear perfectly fine when they are being laid, but when you start living in the space it will not take long for problems to emerge. It is important to do your research, and to be clear about where each of your tiles are going to be used.

Mistake #6: Hanging Lights In The Wrong Spot

To avoid cooking and washing in the shadowy depths of your kitchen, select appropriate fittings above your benchtops. Also make sure you select globes that emit sufficient light, and position them centrally over the bench space of your kitchen. Another common mistake is choosing aesthetics over functionality – pretty pendants are beautiful but if they don’t emit enough light over the bench top they are not practical.

Mistake #7: Picking Cold Light

The kitchen is the heart of the home, so you do not want to choose cold lighting that will feel uninviting and commercial. A warm light will create a much more cosy, welcoming kitchen. Light globes of 2000-3000 Kelvins (the measurement of light globes can be found on the box), will give a warm white light. Also be sure to select a low-glare style globe, especially if you have a shiny bench top that can reflect glare back at you when you’re cooking.