Designers say these kitchen decorating mistakes are easy to avoid

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It's often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. If you're thinking about renovating yours, it's a good idea to first familiarize yourself with the common kitchen design mistakes that designers often see. Some mistakes, like underestimating storage space or lacking proper task lighting, can make a kitchen less functional. Other mistakes, like missing personal touches, can make the space feel less warm and welcoming.

Here are designers' thoughts on the most common mistakes and suggestions on what to do instead:

1. Leaving the refrigerator exposed

It is recommended that the refrigerator be built-in and surrounded on both sides by furniture, because when it remains exposed, the kitchen looks unfinished. The solution is to have a furniture master install side panels in the same finish as the cabinets.

2. Wrong choice of paint finish

Using the wrong paint finish on your walls can create problems. Although many people prefer matte paint, it is not ideal for the kitchen. For easier cleaning, a semi-matte finish such as “eggshell” or “satin” is recommended.

3. Insufficient storage space

When designing a kitchen, you shouldn't skimp on storage space. It's important to analyze the items you have or plan to have and organize your cabinets and drawers so that everything has its place.

4. Depersonalization of the kitchen

Don't blindly copy trends from social media. It's better to choose materials and elements that suit you and your style, creating a unique and personal design.

5. Focusing only on decorative lighting

Proper lighting is essential in the kitchen. While decorative lighting is beautiful, it often doesn't provide enough light for working. There should also be functional lighting for cooking and practical use.

6. Keeping a messy kitchen

A cluttered kitchen creates a sense of chaos. It's a good idea to plan ways to organize equipment and items during the design phase, avoiding cluttering your work surfaces with unnecessary objects.

7. Choosing tiled work surfaces

Although this style has made a comeback as a trend, tiled surfaces are not practical. They require more maintenance and are difficult to keep clean, especially because of the spaces between the tiles.

8. Leaving empty space above kitchen cabinets

The space between cabinets and the ceiling often collects dust. It is better to close this space with decorative elements or fully integrate it with furniture.

9. Hanging very small light fixtures

Light fixtures that are too small for the size of the kitchen look disproportionate. It is better to use a few larger light fixtures than a few small ones.

10. Excessive use of colors

A kitchen with a soft, unified color palette is more practical, as the kitchen is a very active space and often cluttered with objects. Calm colors help the space look cleaner and more organized.