No home renovation is complete without a brand new kitchen. And whether you are a DIY fanatic, or prefer the help of an expert, there are always a few things to avoid. Luckily, the range of kitchen renovation mistakes is pretty well established, so that makes them pretty easy to dodge. Still, we thought it would be helpful to list the six most common kitchen renovation mistakes.
And for the most part, they’re pretty small ones. At the end of the day, if you have a vision of what your kitchen should look like, it’s probably the right one for you! So follow your idea of a perfect kitchen next time you’re remodelling; with the help of these tips, your project will be a hit!
One of the biggest kitchen renovation mistakes is forgetting about the practicality of your kitchen
When it comes to kitchen renovation mistakes, this one is probably the most common: impracticality. In a world where it’s so easy to get caught up in the looks, sticking to the basics is harder than it sounds. But it’s still one of the most important foundations of a great kitchen renovation. So what do you need to do to keep it practical? Well, there are a few different options at your disposal. We always recommend doing a quick inventory of your kitchen utensils before you begin. Then, think about where they will all go. Think about how you like to work in your kitchen, and make something that suits you. After all, your kitchen renovation project is about getting the perfect kitchen for you and your needs.
Kitchens are one of the two rooms in your home that have a specific purpose. The other is, of course, the bathroom. So when you renovate your kitchen, everything you do should align with the purpose of the kitchen. If you follow design over practicality, you might find yourself in the depths of an all too common kitchen renovation mistake. But don’t forget, the kitchen can be a social space for some families, so leave yourself a little room to move!
Kitchen renovation mistakes to avoid include short-changing yourself on storage
Our last point leads very nicely into this one: storage! Kitchens are all about storage, and if you’ve ever been in a kitchen that’s lacking in storage, you will know the frustration it causes. That’s why we recommended doing an inventory of your utensils before you begin. We get it though – your kitchen is full of utensils and doing an inventory is more work than it sounds. But you can break it down into a pretty straightforward job by first categorising your things. Start with crockery, then cutlery, and move on to cooking utensils. Before you know it, you’ll have a pretty good idea of how much storage space you need.
Once you’re on top of that, it’s time to get creative! Avoid kitchen renovation mistakes, in terms of storage, is all about creativity. Sometimes, you have to be creative to work with the space you have. And no space should go underutilised! Look at walls, cabinet space, alcoves and any other usable space in your kitchen area. This step is where you can really use your imagination.
Overlooking quality
Like any renovation project, kitchen renovations are not cheap. If you are using the help of expert renovators, then their time alone is enough to put a dent in your hip pocket. But another one of the most common kitchen renovation mistakes we see is prioritising price over quality. It might look like you can save some money on the margins by opting for the cheaper fittings. But time and time again we see these choices backfire. In most cases, you end up paying for them in the long run, when cheap fittings wear out. It might hurt a bit now, but paying a little extra for the quality components will place you in good stead for the future.
Insufficient bench space
So you’ve put in the hours and designed a kitchen with some of the most extensive storage solutions available. But what about bench space? In terms of frustrating kitchens, the only thing that can compare to ones without enough storage is ones without enough bench space. Bench space is where the magic happens. And when you’re getting your Christmas smorgasbord together, you will be eternally grateful for every inch of bench space you can muster. Our best tip to avoid kitchen renovation mistakes like that is to fight for every bit of bench space you can manage. Just like storage space, there is always room for creative solutions!
Mismatched designs
Like most home improvement projects, a lot of renovations start as some harmless research online. And although this is the source of your inspiration, it can also be the source of some kitchen renovation mistakes! One of the most common kitchen renovation mistakes we see is mismatched design. And by that we mean kitchens that don’t match the rest of your home’s interior.
Normally, this happens when you see the kitchen of your dreams online. It looks too good to pass up and you go all in, forgetting that it doesn’t quite match with the rest of your home. It’s a very easy mistake to make, so you have to be on guard! Our advice is to take elements of your online dream kitchen and match them with the main design points around your home. That gives you the best of both worlds and keeps an even ambience throughout your house.
Don’t be afraid to get help: most kitchen renovation mistakes are avoidable with some expert help!
The best part about all these kitchen renovation mistakes is that they’re easily avoidable! At the end of the day, you will probably identify most of them while you go and make corrections accordingly. But still, it never hurts to get an expert opinion. And there’s an abundance of experts here at All Bathroom Gear always ready to help! Whether it’s from tradespeople and interior designers, asking around will always return some helpful advice.
For all your kitchen renovation needs, contact the experts at All Bathroom Gear today on (07) 3391 8628.