The kitchen or cooking area is the heart of every house or apartment. To make cooking really fun, it should not only be stylish but also functional. Untidy shelves, bottlenecks, lack of storage space or an incorrect onepositioned kitchen islandcan make processes in the kitchen much more difficult. We take a close look at the 20 most common furnishing mistakes in the kitchen and explain what you should consider when planning your kitchen.
The most common furnishing mistakes in the kitchen: 1. Choosing the wrong kitchen shape
The error:The first mistake is often made in the planning phase, namely misestimating the space. An empty kitchen looks more spacious than a furnished one. Many people cannot imagine from a sketch how much space the kitchen cabinets and kitchen appliances will take up. This often creates bottlenecks that are only discovered during use.
Setup tip:A 3D kitchen plannercan help to get a better idea. If the available living space is limited, good planning is the be-all and end-all of kitchen design. If the room is narrow, it is better to avoid the kitchen island. Instead, the two-line kitchen is available. It is placed on two opposite walls. This means, among other things, that bottlenecks can be avoided and the whole family can cook together.
A corner kitchen is also an option. It can be easily combined with a seat. Even in a small kitchen, you should plan at least one seat. After all, without a cooking partner, preparing food would only be half as enjoyable.
Setup mistakes in the large kitchen: 2. Position the stove, sink and refrigerator incorrectly
The error:OneSet up a small kitchen, can prove to be a big challenge. But numerous mistakes can also be made when designing a large kitchen. If the stove, kitchen sink and refrigerator are too far apart, the home cook will have to walk across the entire kitchen to reach them. This makes the processes extremely difficult.
Setup tip:The kitchen, kitchen sink and refrigerator should be a maximum of 2 meters apart.
Furnishing mistakes in the small kitchen: 3. Placing the stove, sink and refrigerator too close together
The error:While in a large kitchen the kitchen appliances are too far apart from each other, those in a small kitchen tend to place the appliances as close together as possible. This is also a mistake, because even if the space is limited, you should plan space for pots, bowls, pans, etc. between the kitchen sink and the stove, as well as the kitchen sink and the refrigerator.
Setup tip:The three most important kitchen appliances should form an imaginary triangle. The minimum distance between the refrigerator, kitchen sink and stove should be 0.6 meters. This leaves enough space not only for installation space, but also for spice drawers and storage space for cutlery and accessories.
Common furnishing mistakes in the kitchen: 4. Open shelves and glass display cabinets are real chaos makers
The error:In magazines, designer kitchens with open shelves look chic and functional. However, too many display cabinets and shelves are rather impractical at home. Although they offer storage space, they can also create real chaos. In addition to crockery, cake accessories and household items are temporarily placed on it until the shelves or display cases are full. Unsightly kitchen utensils that actually have no place there all too often end up on the shelf.
Setup tip:The open shelves are not additional storage space, but rather a decorative designer element that makes the kitchen appear more open. A stylish set of dishes can be placed on it. They also offer enough space for spices in plant pots or other decorative elements.
Common furnishing mistakes in the kitchen: 5. When chaos also reigns on the worktop
The error:Kitchen towels, accessories, small appliances and kitchen helpers: there's room for a lot on the worktop. But having everything at your fingertips at all times comes at a price. The consequences can be seen after just a week: disorder and chaos prevent us from quickly finding everything we need.
Setup tip:There's only one thing that helps with mess: clean up regularly. If you keep your kitchen utensils and small appliances in the cupboard, you're doing it right. Because we maybe only use the juicer, the sandwich maker, the kitchen scales and the egg cooker once a day.
Kitchen design mistakes: 6. Kitchen cabinets in bold colors
The error:Colors also play a big role in the kitchen and can influence the mood, make the room appear larger and brighter or give the interior more character. But before you reach for a bold color palette in the trend color of the year when designing, think again. Because what is fashionable today will look outdated in just a few years. It's also not practical if you laterwell adjusted cupboard doorsIf you want to replace it, you will most likely no longer be able to find fronts in the trend color.
Setup tip:To ensure you enjoy your kitchen landscape for years to come, it's better to opt for a neutral color palette that you can spice up with the right decorations.
Kitchen design mistakes: 7. Saving in the wrong place
The error:A majority of kitchen owners invest in high-quality kitchen cabinets and save on the countertop. Actually a big mistake, because the worktop has to keep up with a lot. Cheap materials can be damaged by heat or sharp objects. And replacement is not only a costly but also tedious task.
Setup tip:A robust, scratch-resistant and heat-resistant worktop is an absolute must in the modern kitchen. Ceramic, quartz composite and granite are long-lasting and cut-resistant materials. Of course, proper care is important. If sealed, solid wood also proves to be a good alternative.
Furnishing mistakes in the kitchen: 8. No lighting concept
The error:The modern kitchen is no longer just about cooking. It has become the communication center of the apartment and the house and houses not only the cooking area but also the seating area. Here you can prepare food together with your partner, drink wine with friends or simply enjoy a cup of coffee in the afternoon. In order to meet the many requirements, the kitchen landscape is divided into several areas. And they all need to be well lit. Of course, a pendant light on the ceiling is not enough. A lighting concept is therefore an absolute must.
Setup tip:Once you have a plan for the kitchen landscape, print out the sketch and get advice from a professional. Don't forget to mark all the sockets on the sketch. Based on the room orientation and the room conditions, as well as the sketch, you can have a lighting concept created. Direct and indirect light sources are distributed throughout the room in such a way that they do not cast shadows or cause glare.
Furnishing mistakes in the kitchen: 9. Plan for a kitchen island despite the lack of space
The error:When placed correctly in the room, a kitchen island can speed up and facilitate work processes in the kitchen. But if you don't assess your free space correctly, you risk creating bottlenecks. The kitchen island is out of place in the small and narrow kitchen and is perceived as more of an obstacle.
Setup tip:So that the hobby chef can work comfortably in the kitchen, a sensible distance between the cooking island and the kitchen unit must be included in the planning. This is usually 1.5 meters. The dimensions of the kitchen island can also vary depending on your own needs. The smallest versions, for example, are equipped with wheels and can be pushed back and forth. With dimensions of 60 cm long and 40 cm wide, they offer an additional support surface for pots and bowls. The large kitchen islands are equipped with a hob and a dishwasher and offer sufficient work space. Even in a large kitchen, you should make sure that the cooking island is not too big. The optimal length is 2.5 meters, the optimal width – 1.5 meters.
Kitchen design mistakes: 10. No pantry
The error:Storage space in the kitchen cupboards is good, a pantry is better. If you completely forego such a cupboard when planning your kitchen, you will then have to equip your kitchen cupboards with different cupboard organizers and still not have all your supplies in one place.
Setup tip:If there is enough space in the kitchen for a pantry, plan for it. A cupboard for small kitchen appliances, for example with a roller door like in the USA, also ensures more order in the kitchen. The roller doors are super practical for small kitchens because even when opened, they don't get in the way and don't take up any space.
