10 Common Kitchen Layout Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Want to create a stylish and efficient cooking space? Check out this expert advice
Choosing beautiful finishes and fixtures for your new kitchen is one thing, but if you get the layout wrong, it won’t function as well as you want it to. Houzz asked three design professionals to reveal the 10 most common layout errors that kitchen renovators make and what to do to avoid them.
We also searched Houzz photos for designs that successfully avoided these 10 missteps to achieve kitchens that look great and function beautifully.
We also searched Houzz photos for designs that successfully avoided these 10 missteps to achieve kitchens that look great and function beautifully.
2. Not planning around the workflow
“A good workflow is essential. If you don’t have one, your kitchen will be inefficient, and you can end up running backwards and forwards between the different areas every time you cook, wash or prep,” Jenefer says.
Solution: In the planning stages, carefully consider how you use your kitchen, she says. She suggests increasing functionality by including storage for spices and oils near the cooking zone and storing cutlery and dishes near the dishwasher. “You’ll find many smart solutions on the market, including wide drawers and tailored inserts that facilitate high-functioning storage,” Jenefer says.
“A good workflow is essential. If you don’t have one, your kitchen will be inefficient, and you can end up running backwards and forwards between the different areas every time you cook, wash or prep,” Jenefer says.
Solution: In the planning stages, carefully consider how you use your kitchen, she says. She suggests increasing functionality by including storage for spices and oils near the cooking zone and storing cutlery and dishes near the dishwasher. “You’ll find many smart solutions on the market, including wide drawers and tailored inserts that facilitate high-functioning storage,” Jenefer says.
3. Not measuring appliances
Lack of planning when it comes to appliances can lead to excessive protrusion from an oversized fridge, for example. “This can affect the ability to open cabinets and other appliances in your kitchen, and reduce circulation space,” Jenefer says.
Not measuring small appliances such as microwaves, blenders and food processors, can be an issue, too. Without a proper home, they can end up sitting out on the worktop and creating clutter, she says.
Solution: Select appliances well in advance, checking the dimensions and the way each one opens to ensure your kitchen layout can accommodate them in concealed, tailored storage, Jenefer says. This also applies to pots and pans.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Lack of planning when it comes to appliances can lead to excessive protrusion from an oversized fridge, for example. “This can affect the ability to open cabinets and other appliances in your kitchen, and reduce circulation space,” Jenefer says.
Not measuring small appliances such as microwaves, blenders and food processors, can be an issue, too. Without a proper home, they can end up sitting out on the worktop and creating clutter, she says.
Solution: Select appliances well in advance, checking the dimensions and the way each one opens to ensure your kitchen layout can accommodate them in concealed, tailored storage, Jenefer says. This also applies to pots and pans.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
4. Poor lighting placement
If you don’t put the right light fixtures over your worktops, you’ll end up prepping, cooking and cleaning up in the shadows, designer Naomi Findlay says.
“Another common lighting mistake is prioritising aesthetics over functionality. Pretty pendants are beautiful, but if they don’t shine enough light over your work surfaces, they won’t be practical,” she says.
Solution: Naomi recommends positioning lighting slightly in front of you rather than directly overhead or behind you. Installing downlights, pendant lights and sconces on separate circuits makes it easier to control your lighting levels and atmosphere, she says. And don’t forget to choose bulbs that emit sufficient light, so you can see what you’re doing when you’re chopping and cooking.
If you don’t put the right light fixtures over your worktops, you’ll end up prepping, cooking and cleaning up in the shadows, designer Naomi Findlay says.
“Another common lighting mistake is prioritising aesthetics over functionality. Pretty pendants are beautiful, but if they don’t shine enough light over your work surfaces, they won’t be practical,” she says.
Solution: Naomi recommends positioning lighting slightly in front of you rather than directly overhead or behind you. Installing downlights, pendant lights and sconces on separate circuits makes it easier to control your lighting levels and atmosphere, she says. And don’t forget to choose bulbs that emit sufficient light, so you can see what you’re doing when you’re chopping and cooking.
6. Wasted space on a kitchen island
Kitchen islands are great for increasing your prep and storage space, but will only work if you have the room, Naomi says. If your kitchen is small, an island can be a waste of space.
“Placing an island in the wrong spot is another recipe for disaster,” she says. “A poorly positioned island can obstruct the flow of traffic to and from the sink, fridge, cooker and primary workstations, creating a bottleneck in your kitchen.”
Solution: Choose an island only if your kitchen can accommodate it or specify a narrow one. Naomi suggests having about 100cm on either side of the island for good traffic flow. “Deciding how big or small your island unit should be will depend on what it needs to house and the proportions of your kitchen,” she says. “I’d recommend a minimum width of 120cm for a kitchen island. But if you don’t plan on installing a sink or a hob in it, you could go as narrow as 60cm in width.”
Kitchen islands are great for increasing your prep and storage space, but will only work if you have the room, Naomi says. If your kitchen is small, an island can be a waste of space.
“Placing an island in the wrong spot is another recipe for disaster,” she says. “A poorly positioned island can obstruct the flow of traffic to and from the sink, fridge, cooker and primary workstations, creating a bottleneck in your kitchen.”
Solution: Choose an island only if your kitchen can accommodate it or specify a narrow one. Naomi suggests having about 100cm on either side of the island for good traffic flow. “Deciding how big or small your island unit should be will depend on what it needs to house and the proportions of your kitchen,” she says. “I’d recommend a minimum width of 120cm for a kitchen island. But if you don’t plan on installing a sink or a hob in it, you could go as narrow as 60cm in width.”
5. Forgetting about function
When planning your renovation, make sure you put your kitchen’s busiest areas – the sink, hob and fridge – in practical locations that are relevant to one another while allowing enough space for people to use and access them comfortably, Naomi says.
When choosing cabinetry, make sure the doors won’t block your workflow when they’re open, she adds. “The last thing you want is your fridge and cupboard doors banging into each other every time you open them.”
Solution: Plan your kitchen layout as far in advance as possible, and choose your appliances before you start looking at cabinetry, Naomi says. “This will allow you to fit your units around your appliances, rather than the other way around, giving you a seamless look that’s both smart and space-efficient.”
Tip: Think about how many people live in your home and will be using the kitchen at one time, she says. If it’s going to get crowded, you may have crammed too many elements into the kitchen layout and may want to consider scaling back.
When planning your renovation, make sure you put your kitchen’s busiest areas – the sink, hob and fridge – in practical locations that are relevant to one another while allowing enough space for people to use and access them comfortably, Naomi says.
When choosing cabinetry, make sure the doors won’t block your workflow when they’re open, she adds. “The last thing you want is your fridge and cupboard doors banging into each other every time you open them.”
Solution: Plan your kitchen layout as far in advance as possible, and choose your appliances before you start looking at cabinetry, Naomi says. “This will allow you to fit your units around your appliances, rather than the other way around, giving you a seamless look that’s both smart and space-efficient.”
Tip: Think about how many people live in your home and will be using the kitchen at one time, she says. If it’s going to get crowded, you may have crammed too many elements into the kitchen layout and may want to consider scaling back.
7. Inadequate space between the sink and oven
The area between the sink and oven is the main food preparation area, so although there are no set guidelines, you’ll want a decent expanse of worktop space there, says Cherie Barber, owner of Renovating for Profit, which offers online instruction in renovating.
Solution: When planning your kitchen, make sure the layout meets the practical day-to-day needs of the kitchen user, she says.
The area between the sink and oven is the main food preparation area, so although there are no set guidelines, you’ll want a decent expanse of worktop space there, says Cherie Barber, owner of Renovating for Profit, which offers online instruction in renovating.
Solution: When planning your kitchen, make sure the layout meets the practical day-to-day needs of the kitchen user, she says.
8. Poorly positioned cabinet doors and drawers
Cabinet doors and drawers can end up blocking doorways and walkways when they’re opened, Cherie warns.
Solution: “Planning is key,” she says. “Before you commit to a layout, think about how and where all the elements in your kitchen will open, including cupboards, drawers, the fridge and the dishwasher, and how people will move through the space.”
Cabinet doors and drawers can end up blocking doorways and walkways when they’re opened, Cherie warns.
Solution: “Planning is key,” she says. “Before you commit to a layout, think about how and where all the elements in your kitchen will open, including cupboards, drawers, the fridge and the dishwasher, and how people will move through the space.”
9. Not maximising vertical wall space
In a small kitchen, every bit of space counts, and your walls offer valuable storage real estate, Cherie says.
Solution: “Taking your cupboards right up to the ceiling will maximise your storage potential in a compact kitchen,” she says. “If you don’t like the idea of rows of closed-door cupboards, you can always mix it up with open shelving.”
Tip: If your wall cabinets are positioned over a hob, minimum clearance rules apply, Cherie says. The minimum requirements can vary for electric and gas hobs, and range from 60cm to 90cm, she says.
In a small kitchen, every bit of space counts, and your walls offer valuable storage real estate, Cherie says.
Solution: “Taking your cupboards right up to the ceiling will maximise your storage potential in a compact kitchen,” she says. “If you don’t like the idea of rows of closed-door cupboards, you can always mix it up with open shelving.”
Tip: If your wall cabinets are positioned over a hob, minimum clearance rules apply, Cherie says. The minimum requirements can vary for electric and gas hobs, and range from 60cm to 90cm, she says.
10. Assuming you need a new layout
“I’d never automatically dismiss the existing layout of a kitchen,” Cherie says. “It’s often planned that way for very practical reasons, such as placement of doors and windows and the most logical traffic flow.”
Solution: A tweak to the layout, such as making it open plan or adding a breakfast bar or an island, may be all that’s needed, she says. This can save money, because you won’t have to move electrical and plumbing systems.
“If you’re designing a kitchen layout from scratch, address the practical considerations first: How many people will be using the kitchen on a regular basis? Do you do a lot of entertaining?” she says. “This will help you work out the kitchen’s size and function.”
Then consider how the work triangle – hob, sink and fridge – will best fit your layout, she says. Allow enough space between the three points of the triangle, so you’re not walking metres between them every time you use your kitchen.
Tell us…
Would you plan your kitchen layout differently next time around? Share your dos and don’ts in the Comments.
“I’d never automatically dismiss the existing layout of a kitchen,” Cherie says. “It’s often planned that way for very practical reasons, such as placement of doors and windows and the most logical traffic flow.”
Solution: A tweak to the layout, such as making it open plan or adding a breakfast bar or an island, may be all that’s needed, she says. This can save money, because you won’t have to move electrical and plumbing systems.
“If you’re designing a kitchen layout from scratch, address the practical considerations first: How many people will be using the kitchen on a regular basis? Do you do a lot of entertaining?” she says. “This will help you work out the kitchen’s size and function.”
Then consider how the work triangle – hob, sink and fridge – will best fit your layout, she says. Allow enough space between the three points of the triangle, so you’re not walking metres between them every time you use your kitchen.
Tell us…
Would you plan your kitchen layout differently next time around? Share your dos and don’ts in the Comments.
Sponsored
Failing to allow enough circulation space can make a kitchen feel cramped and restrict the number of people who can comfortably use it at the same time, says Jenefer Gordon, principal at interior design firm Eat Bathe Live. “It causes even more issues when your kitchen doubles as a thoroughfare. A lack of space can also make it difficult to open appliances such as the fridge and dishwasher,” she says.
Solution: To provide adequate circulation, try to have about 120cm of space between kitchen worktops, Jenefer says. Allow a little more room if there’s a thoroughfare leading through the kitchen. “In a small kitchen, 100cm would be the minimum amount of space between worktops, but aim for more if you can,” she says.
Find a reviewed kitchen designer on Houzz today.