Almost three quarters of Americans plan to undertake home remodeling projects this year. Some of them are likely doing them to increase the value of their home, but research done by Houzz indicates that 83% of home improvements done in 2012 were to improve the look and feel of a home. Remodeling kitchens is one of the most common home improvement projects — since this increases the market value for the home and, after all, the kitchen is the heart of the home. One source of kitchen remodeling blunders is the cabinetry, and here are three of the most common mistakes that are made.
1. Ordering the Cabinets Before Appliances
Shopping for cabinetry might be more fun than shopping for appliances since there are so many different design options and the prospect of adequate storage space is exciting, but remodelers shouldn’t jump the gun in ordering it. One of the biggest mistakes people make when they’re installing new cabinets is to order it before the appliances are ordered — which will absolutely get problematic when it comes time to fit those appliances in or installing the cabinets around them.
2. Choosing Cheap or Trendy Cabinetry
Another common kitchen design mistake that people often make when it comes to new cabinets is choosing something cheap, trendy, or both. Cabinets need to be made of high-quality materials — that means wood and hardware since they are opened and closed so often. If there are ever plans to sell the home, buyers will likely not appreciate a very trendy look. Remodels for the purpose of selling a home are increasing — up 47% from last year — and opting for timeless, quality cabinets will decrease remodeling or update costs for a sale.
3. Poor Sizing or Placement
When it comes to cabinetry in a custom kitchen remodel, size and placement are key. One of the worst mistakes in kitchen design is not ensuring that the cabinets are the proper size for the space. There should be a least a few inches of space between cabinets and door frames, doorways, and window frames. Ideally, cabinets should also be installed all the way up to the ceiling, except for in very small kitchens when the extra shelf space may be needed. A space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling invites dust and clutter — neither of which are needed in a kitchen.
Have you ever made any terrible mistakes in kitchen design, with cabinets or otherwise? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
