Experts Say Homeowners Always Regret These Kitchen Renovations
I love looking at beautiful kitchen makeovers online. It is so easy to get swept up in the gorgeous photos and imagine tearing down all our own walls to build something brand new. But remodeling a kitchen is incredibly expensive and stressful. I recently learned from some home designers that many people end up deeply regretting some of the most popular design trends after a few years. Let’s talk about a few of those common traps to avoid so you can build a space you will actually love cooking in.
A Giant Island
We all dream of a massive kitchen island for entertaining our friends. But making it too large is a very common regret. If you cannot reach the center of the counter to wipe it clean without climbing on a stool, it is simply too big. A gigantic island also completely blocks your path from the sink to the stove. It is much better to leave plenty of comfortable walking room for your busy weeknight cooking.
Tearing Down All The Upper Cabinets
Open shelving looks absolutely stunning in magazines when it only holds three perfect white bowls. But in reality we all have ugly plastic cups and mismatched cereal boxes that need a home too. Taking down your upper cabinets means you lose a massive amount of hidden storage. Plus everything sitting out on those open shelves will quickly get covered in sticky cooking grease and daily dust. Keep your solid cabinet doors, for your own sanity.
Choosing High Maintenance Marble Counters
Marble countertops are undeniably gorgeous and instantly make a kitchen feel luxurious. However marble is a very soft and porous stone. If you spill a glass of red wine or leave a lemon slice sitting on the counter it will etch and stain the surface permanently. Most homeowners completely regret the constant anxiety of trying to keep fancy countertops looking perfect. Choosing a durable quartz that looks like marble gives you the style you want without the constant worry.
Skipping The Under Cabinet Lighting
When we plan a renovation we usually focus heavily on the pretty pendant lights hanging over the island. But we totally forget about the dark spaces directly under the upper cabinets. Skipping task lighting is a huge mistake. Trying to chop onions in your own shadow is incredibly frustrating and actually quite dangerous. Adding simple LED light strips under your cabinets completely brightens your workspace and makes the whole kitchen feel so much more welcoming and easy to use.
Forgetting About Deep Lower Drawers
Standard lower cabinets with doors and stationary shelves are basically deep dark caverns. To find a heavy roasting pan you have to get down on your hands and knees and pull everything else out first. People always regret not installing deep drawers instead. Large pull out drawers allow you to see all your heavy pots and pans from above. It saves your back from bending over and makes putting the clean dishes away so much faster and easier.
Getting Swept Up In Bold Color Trends
Painting your brand new cabinets a trendy dark green or navy blue feels very bold and exciting. But highly specific colors tend to look very dated after just a few short years. It is incredibly expensive to have cabinets professionally repainted when you finally get tired of the color. You are usually much better off choosing a classic warm wood or soft neutral tone for the expensive permanent fixtures and saving bold colors for the walls or accent pieces you can easily swap out.
Putting The Microwave Over The Stove
Installing a combination microwave and vent hood right above the stove seems like a great way to save counter space. But it is actually a major regret for a lot of people. It puts the microwave at a very awkward and dangerous height especially when you are lifting hot bowls of soup. It also means two people cannot use the stove and the microwave at the exact same time. Moving it to a lower shelf is a much safer option.
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It is completely normal to feel a little bit overwhelmed when planning a big home project. We just want to make the best choices for our families and our budgets. Focusing on how you actually use your kitchen instead of just how it looks in photos will save you from a lot of frustration later on. Your home should be a comfortable place that works hard for you.
Bliss Donahue-Power
