Kitchens
Five Kitchen Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
4. Neglecting ventilation
The kitchen is the place where your
mornings begin and where time is
spent in the evening alongside family
and friends, but when it comes to a
kitchen renovation, there are a number
of mistakes that are often overlooked
throughout the process. Here, the team
at Optiplan Kitchens shares the five
most common design mistakes and how
to avoid them.
1. Miscalculating storage
One of the first steps towards
designing and maintaining a kitchen
is by forward-planning your storage
arrangement. Storage is always about
achieving a balance, as by not using all
the available space creates empty areas
that could ruin the aesthetic, while an
overwhelming number of shelves can
give off the look of a cramped space.
Prevent this happening by making use
of every available place, but be clever
about it. Utilise space underneath units
or creatively within drawers. Another
storage hack that you may not think
of is installing cabinets above the
fridge. The fact of the matter is that
integrated storage plays a crucial role
in preventing the unsightly last minute
solutions like rarely used pots and pans
from stacking up and getting in the way.
2. Lack of lighting
One of the key elements not only in
kitchen design, but also a basic of
interior design for all rooms in the
house, is good lighting. From setting the
mood for dining areas to accentuating
countertop areas, the choice of light
makes a huge difference. Instead of
placing harsh lighting everywhere, opt
for warmer tones that create an ambient
feeling and use dimmer switches for
places where family and friends gather.
For accent or task lighting in spaces
used for cooking, we recommend
cooler-toned bulbs for focal spotlights.
3. Going over budget
This may be obvious, however, it is a
common mistake on a lot of kitchen
renovations. An easy way to avoid this
is by creating an inventory list that
includes both furniture and contents.
Plan accordingly and allocate a space
for every single thing, from spice jars to
cutlery-separating drawers. Although
the temptation to keep adding to the
list can be big, a clear initial index will
keep you on track and you won’t end up
overcrowding your brand new kitchen.
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Kitchen ventilation is one of those less
glamorous aspects yet crucial it is not
overlooked. Cooking delicious dishes
can leave lingering smells throughout
the home, effectively ruining the
pleasant atmosphere. Invest in a proper
ventilation system that is efficient at
capturing impurities, circulates air
and, overall, keeps your kitchen clean.
Try not to go for inexpensive products
that only recirculate the flow of air and
use up lots of energy; there’s always a
solution that keeps the noise levels and
energy use to a minimum.
5. Not asking for help
There’s no shame in getting some
expert advice, especially when
undertaking a massive project such as a
kitchen renovation. Complicated wiring,
plumbing or ventilation systems are
not to be messed with unprofessionally.
Plus, having a registered tradesperson
to lend a helping hand can relieve the
pressure of thinking about every single
detail. Looking at the bigger picture, a
smart investment at the beginning of
the project can prove to be more cost-
effective in comparison to an amateur
take on such a complex task.
For more information about
Optiplan Kitchens, visit
www.optiplankitchens.co.uk