London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 18, 2025

The 5 biggest mistakes people make when designing a kitchen…and how to avoid them

The 5 biggest mistakes people make when designing a kitchen…and how to avoid them

The experts weigh in on how to avoid those classic kitchen design mistakes

Installing a new kitchen is probably the most money you will spend on your house, so it’s essential to get it right. It’s also that overused term, the hub of the home, so modern kitchen ideas need to work for everyone using it and be a practical and well-designed place to be in. One of the first things to do is find a good fitter, you don’t want to spend a fortune on a new kitchen and then find that things don’t work as they should. Try and get a recommendation if possible, it will save time and possible difficulties later on. Do your homework by visiting showrooms and collecting images of kitchens and ideas you like and don’t rush into anything without thinking it through carefully – will it work in the space available? Have you considered all the options? Here’s our list of the most common mistakes people make, and out expert guide to avoiding them.

Mistake No. 1 – Choosing poor quality materials




“Never skimp on materials – always buy good quality, solid kitchen cabinets that will stand the test of time” says Architect and Designer, Harvey Langston Jones. Choose a durable countertop – as it will be in constant use. Many people make the mistake of narrowing their choice of surface based solely on whether it scratches or will mark. There is no material which over time and use is indestructible.” Explains Harvey. “Spend a good chunk of your budget on quality appliances, especially if you are a keen cook, research the types of functionality available so you can make informed choices. And don’t overlook cabinet hinges, a kitchen will quickly look care-worn if the doors aren’t aligned properly.

Mistake No 2 - Not using a professional installer




“Make sure your kitchen is installed professionally,” says Hayley Robson Creative Director of Day True. “The installation of a kitchen can be an expensive part of the overall cost but it certainly does make a difference to its longevity,” Hayley adds. “I have seen expensive kitchens fitted badly, which has an impact on the overall effect; equally an inexpensive kitchen fitted really well can last much longer. It’s an important area not to scrimp on and will have an impact in the long run. Also think practically about your design and don’t base it on how things have always been done. Who spends all their time washing up now that most kitchens have dishwashers?"

Mistake No. 3 – Not using a professional kitchen designer




“People think they know what they want from their kitchen and may have done their homework, but always seek the help of a professional,” says Hayley Robson, Creative Director of Day True. “Most people buy a new kitchen once or twice in their lifetime, whereas kitchen designers create hundreds of kitchens over time so they will have come up against most problems and dealt with them, which means they can help you to make the right decisions by imparting their years of knowledge and expertise,” Hayley explains "Things like knowing how to design and install a kitchen island are a joy to have help with Spatial planning is the key to achieving a functional kitchen that also looks great, the more space you can maximise with the design, the better it will function and improve your life. Thinking about how you use your kitchen is key.”

Mistake No. 4 - Not planning the lighting




“The correct kitchen lighting is crucial and the right or wrong lighting can have a huge impact” says Will Earl, Design Director of J. Adams & Co. “Remember to create a lighting scheme which considers the layout of the space, the ceiling height and the wall/cabinet colour as these can all have a big effect on how much light you need,” Will adds. "Task lighting should be your primary focus in the kitchen, concentrating on surfaces and cooking areas to illuminate the workspace, whilst clusters or statement pendant lighting with dimmers over kitchen islands and dining tables can create an intimate feeling and provide extra lighting options at different times of day. Extra things to consider include an extractor with an integrated light and under cabinet lighting which can be a great tool to cast a warm low-level light, especially at night time.”

Mistake No. 5 Too little storage space




“When it comes to storage, think about how you use your kitchen” says interior designer Zachary Pulman. "Do you want a pantry? Large pan drawers? Is there a separate dining room for tableware and linen? Make sure to maximise the functionality by using a combination of cupboards, drawers, pull-out racks and flexible shelves,” he adds. “Consider a breakfast station that can be closed when not in use. Narrow spaces could be used to store trays. And avoid glass cabinets if you aren’t going to keep them tidy at all times." To add personality, think about open storage such as shelves for cookbooks and plants, hanging shelving above the island or pull-out baskets to store vegetables.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
US Tech Giants Pledge Billions to UK AI Infrastructure Following Starmer's Call
Saudi Arabia cracks down on music ‘lounges’ after conservative backlash
DeepMind and OpenAI Achieve Gold at ‘Coding Olympics’ in AI Milestone
SEC Allows Public Companies to Block Investors from Class-Action Lawsuits
Saudi Arabia Signs ‘Strategic Mutual Defence’ Pact with Pakistan, Marking First Arab State to Gain Indirect Access to Nuclear Strike Capabilities in the Region
Federal Reserve Cuts Rates by Quarter Point and Signals More to Come
Effective and Impressive Generation Z Protest: Images from the Riots in Nepal
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Sam Altman sells the 'Wedding Estate' in Hawaii for 49 million dollars
Trump: Cancel quarterly company reports and settle for reporting once every six months
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
US Launches New Pilot Program to Accelerate eVTOL Air Taxi Deployment
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
Hong Kong Industry Group Calls for HK$20 Billion Support Fund to Ease Property Market Stress
Joe Biden’s Post-Presidency Speaking Fees Face Weak Demand amid Corporate Reluctance
Charlie Kirk's murder will break the left's hateful cancel tactics
Kash Patel erupts at ‘buffoon’ Sen. Adam Schiff over Russiagate: ‘You are the biggest fraud’
Homeland Security says Emmy speech ‘fanning the flames of hatred’ after Einbinder’s ‘F— ICE’ remark
Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Tyler Robinson Faces Death Penalty as Charges Formally Announced
Actor, director, environmentalist Robert Redford dies at 89
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
JD Vance Says There Is “No Unity” with Those Who Celebrate Charlie Kirk’s Killing, and he is right!
Trump sues the 'New York Times' for an astronomical sum of 15 billion dollars
Florida Hospital Welcomes Its Largest-Ever Baby: Annan, Nearly Fourteen Pounds at Birth
U.S. and Britain Poised to Finalize Over $10 Billion in High-Tech, Nuclear and Defense Deals During Trump State Visit
China Finds Nvidia Violated Antitrust Laws in Mellanox Deal, Deepens Trade Tensions with US
US Air Force Begins Modifications on Qatar-Donated Jet Amid Plans to Use It as Air Force One
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
×