Whether you’re planning a large or small kitchen renovation, you should look at kitchen layouts to get an idea of what can be done to prevent kitchen mistakes. A common mistake in the kitchen is not planning to have appliances where they can be easily reached. Professional kitchen designers have found that the top three appliances used by the cook are the refrigerator, stove, and sink. The cook moves from one to another constantly. In fact, people who do kitchen designs professionally call it the kitchen triangle and design kitchens accordingly. Therefore, when you make the designs of your kitchen that you must prioritize before any reform, do not ignore the triangle of the kitchen.
Some things in the kitchen we take for granted and forget to plan for, like the kitchen exhaust fan. Don’t assume that they come automatically with the range because they don’t. However, the exhaust fan is important not only to keep condensation on the stove burning, but also to remove unpleasant odors and let in fresh air.
Plan your kitchen, no matter what size, so doors aren’t obstructed and you have a clear path to the dining room. You need to place the dishwasher near the sink while also planning the space so that when you unload it, you have easy access to open the door and put things away. The dish and cutlery drawers should be close to the dishwasher, as you don’t want to run all over the kitchen to store plates, pots, pans, and cutlery.
When looking at kitchen layouts, take a good look at the lighting. One of the most important elements of good design is lighting. The kitchen is not only where you will cook, but if it is big enough, the children will do their homework in the kitchen. You’ll want to organize things like your cookbooks and recipes, as well as perhaps pay household bills from the kitchen table and more. All this requires good lighting. You may want to add track or spot lights along with halogen and fluorescent lights in your kitchen designs.
Perhaps one of the most overlooked elements in kitchen designs are the outlets. There never seems to be enough or everyone is in the wrong places. When you draw your kitchen layouts and you know where your appliances will be, you want outlets there, and you want outlets for things like the microwave, coffee makers, toasters, crock pots, and other freestanding appliances. Make sure you have enough outlets without overloading. Be sure to incorporate things like the material you want for your countertops, the height of your kitchen countertops, and most of all, where you’ll store all the things needed to keep your kitchen tidy. Keep all the little things in mind when making or looking at kitchen designs to avoid the most common kitchen mistakes.
