Common Kitchen Renovation Mistakes to Avoid

The kitchen is often called the heart of the home, and with good reason; it may be the one room that everyone in the family uses every day and is often a gathering place for friends when you're entertaining. When you are ready to renovate your home's kitchen, of course you want the space to work for you and your family in particular, but note a few renovating mistakes to avoid and why these can be the wrong choice for any kitchen.

Choosing hardwood floors

Solid hardwood or timber floors are very attractive and durable but not always the best choice for a kitchen. Timber absorbs moisture and then expands and shrinks, causing it to eventually warp and bow. Wood can also be more prone to stains, and it's often harder to clean a timber surface than other flooring materials. This makes it a poor choice for a kitchen where there is usually lots of humidity from foods boiling on the stovetop, and where you may be more likely to drop foods and cooking utensils, staining the floor. Laminate or timber-look tiles can be a better choice; you'll have the look of wood but on a material that is more resistant to humidity and easier to clean.

Not considering the workflow

Most kitchens are designed with the sink, stovetop and refrigerator in close proximity so you can easily move food from one area to another during cooking. When renovating your own kitchen, consider how easily you can reach food in the refrigerator, get it to the sink and then to the stovetop.

Not only do you need to consider the placement of these appliances, but you also need to think about the size of a kitchen island and if this would get in the way of foot traffic. Close proximity of these major appliances and a smaller island in the kitchen can mean easier food prep and a more comfortable kitchen space overall, so don't overlook this detail when planning the footprint of your new kitchen.

Cutting back on counter space

You may be so eager to add an oversized pantry or sink to the kitchen that you don't think about the counter space this will leave, and if that will be enough room for easy food prep. Keep in mind that you may want to keep your coffeemaker, toaster, blender and other such appliances on the benchtop, giving you even less room. When planning your kitchen renovations, don't scale back on the benchtops too much or your kitchen may become cramped and crowded as well as inefficient and downright uncomfortable.

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