The kitchen is the heart of any home. It is where the family gathers to eat and socialize.
But often, in pursuit of a beautiful interior or the desire to place as many things as possible, designers and apartment owners make serious mistakes when organizing the kitchen space.
The end result is a beautiful but completely dysfunctional kitchen. Cooking and spending time in such a kitchen is inconvenient and even dangerous. And washing dishes after receiving guests turns into a real nightmare, says Yulia Tychino .
How to avoid typical mistakes when organizing a kitchen? Let's look at 8 common mistakes and how to fix them.
Incorrect zoning
One of the main mistakes in kitchen space design is the lack of clear zoning into work, dining and storage areas. The result is chaos of tables, chairs and cabinets, which is difficult to navigate.
To avoid this, highlight 3 main functional zones in the kitchen:
- Work area with stove, sink and kitchen cabinets
- Dining area with table and chairs
- Food and utensil storage area
Separate these three zones with furniture, remembering to leave passages between them.
Poor workspace layout
Another typical mistake is an incorrectly planned workspace around the stove and sink. It is important to consider several nuances here:
- The distance between the stove and the sink should not exceed 60 cm, otherwise cooking will be inconvenient.
- It is advisable to leave a free space of at least 100 cm wide to the left of the stove for a cutting table or stand.
- To the right of the stove, you also need to leave a space of at least 60 cm for installing a microwave oven or other household appliances.
- Sockets and switches should be located within reach of the workplace.
If you violate these basic rules of ergonomics, working in the kitchen will turn into hell.
Lack of drawers and shelves
When planning kitchen cabinets and shelves, a common mistake is to make them smaller than necessary. As a result, there is not enough space to store dishes, food, and kitchen utensils.
To avoid this, follow this simple rule:
- For a family of 2 people, you need at least 6 linear meters of shelves and drawers
- For a family of 3-4 people - 8-10 linear meters
- For more family members, add 1 linear meter for each
Increase these numbers if you plan to do a lot of canning or if you have a lot of kitchen utensils.
Wrong choice of countertop
When choosing a kitchen countertop, mistakes are also often made. Most often, these are:
- Countertops made of soft material (wood, marble), which are easily scratched and damaged
- Dark countertops that show dirt and stains very well
- Glossy and shiny finishes that enhance glare when illuminated
It is better to choose countertops made of artificial stone or ceramics. They have a number of advantages:
- High wear resistance and durability
- Resistant to scratches, impacts, moisture and chemicals
- Easy to care for - just wipe with a damp cloth
- Matte or semi-matte surface does not create glare
Choosing the right countertop material will allow you to enjoy a beautiful and functional kitchen for years to come.
Poor lighting
An important aspect when organizing a kitchen is lighting. Unfortunately, many people make serious mistakes here:
- They use dim chandeliers, which means there is not enough light in the kitchen in the evening
- The lamps are not placed above the work areas, but somewhere in the center
- They install lamps that are too bright and cause eye strain.
- Neglecting additional lighting above the table and sink
To avoid problems with lighting, you need to:
- Install bright (at least 600 lumens) ceiling lights
- Complement them with wall sconces or floor lamps above the work areas.
- Use dimmable dimmers to adjust brightness
- Install LED strips under wall cabinets to illuminate countertops
Good lighting will make working in the kitchen pleasant and comfortable.
Dangerous proximity of sockets and water
Another common and dangerous mistake is placing sockets in close proximity to the sink or stove. This creates a risk of electric shock if splashed.
To protect yourself, follow a few rules:
- Sockets must be located at least 60 cm away from the sink and stove.
- Use only switches near the sink, not sockets.
- Equip all sockets in hazardous areas with RCDs - residual current devices
These measures will help minimize the risk of electric shock due to carelessness.
Lack of waste containers
When organizing a kitchen, people often forget about such an important detail as a garbage container. But this is not only a question of cleanliness, but also convenience.
Two types of containers will help solve the problem:
- Container under the sink for food waste and garbage after cleaning vegetables/fruits
- A 10-20 litre bin with a lid under the table or in the corner for large volumes of waste
Be sure to keep these containers clean, wash and disinfect them regularly.
Lack of space for household appliances
The last typical mistake when planning a kitchen is when not leaving space for household appliances when planning a storage area.
As a result, the kettle stands on the stove, and there is nowhere to put the microwave and multicooker.
To avoid this:
- Provide shelves or niches for storing/installing kitchen appliances
- Leave free sockets in a convenient place for their connection
- Consider the optimal placement of the refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine in the kitchen, if they are there.
With the right approach, there will be room in the kitchen for all the necessary appliances.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are quite a few typical mistakes when organizing kitchen space. But if you take into account the recommendations described at the design stage, you can easily avoid these miscalculations.
The main thing is to clearly think through the functional zoning of the kitchen and the ergonomics of all work processes. Then your kitchen will not only be beautiful, but also convenient for cooking and spending family leisure time.
Accuracy, attention to detail and proper furniture arrangement will allow you to enjoy a perfectly organized kitchen space for many years!
Earlier we reported on how to make your home more comfortable in 10 minutes .
Expert: Julia Tychino
