If you’re planning a new kitchen, avoid these 4 common mistakes

Planning a new kitchen is an exciting home improvement project: the possibilities are endless.

However, proceed with caution, as there are a number of crucial mistakes you can make as a homeowner when renovating your kitchen.

1. Prioritising Aesthetics over Lifestyle

Your kitchen looks great on Instagram, but can you cook in it!?

Of course, it’s important for your kitchen to look good; but the key is balancing aesthetics with the functionality and practicality of the room. After all, the kitchen is the heart of your home and should last for years.

For example, choosing a ‘minimalist’ look is great, but could lead to insufficient storage planning.

Instead, try experimenting with hidden storage that blends seamlessly into your kitchen’s design, or integrating your appliances into countertops or cupboards.

These smart design choices can help you stay aligned with your minimalist vision without sacrificing on functionality.

Another example would be disrupting the flow of the “working triangle” (formed by the sink, appliances and fridge) with bulky design elements. Ensure the core parts of your kitchen’s functionality are easily accessible and practically laid out.

It’s also worth asking yourself if you’re blindly following trends, or if the design of your kitchen is something that genuinely sparks joy within you.

2. Kitchen Budgeting Mistakes

Like any home improvement project, allocating a budget is an essential step: but many homeowners go wrong here.

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of expensive splashback tiles on Pinterest, or researching the latest chef-grade knife set, but spending your full budget on non-essential details for the sake of design can leave you compromising on quality for the fundamentals of your new kitchen.

Where to splurge on your new kitchen?

The functional foundation of your kitchen, such as the plumbing and electrical, is essential to get right.

It’s worth spending more money on quality tradespeople to get these foundation tasks installed properly - particularly if your new kitchen has specific or complex requirements; such as under floor heating or accent lighting.

Ultimately, if you choose to save in this area upfront, it’s likely you’ll have to pay more for breakdowns or replacements down the line.

Quality cabinets and countertops are another splurge-worthy investment for your new kitchen.

Purchasing high-end countertops, such as quartz, granite or marble, not only improve the aesthetics of your new kitchen, but their durability and longevity keep them cost-effective and highly functional in the long-run.

Kitchen cabinets play a pivotal role in the organisation of your kitchen, so investing in quality cabinets that blend aesthetics with functionality is a worthwhile investment.

Where to save on your new kitchen?

This could be a controversial take, but most homeowners don’t need to splurge on the best of the best kitchen appliances (unless you’re a chef!)

You should still do your research and ensure your appliances are durable and have good reviews, but in most cases, mid-range appliances are just as good as high-end or luxury alternatives.

Forking out £5,000-£8,000 for new appliances usually isn’t necessary, especially if you’re working to a tighter budget for your kitchen renovation.

Smaller details, such as drawer handles or your tile splashback, can also be saved on. These minor details can really elevate the look of your kitchen and, more often than not, you can get away with not spending a fortune here to execute a polished look.

3. Misunderstanding Kitchen Warranties

A key mistake with kitchen planning is assuming that all warranties cover the same aspects, and then trying to make an invalid claim.

The most common types of kitchen warranties are:

Manufacturer warranties

These typically cover defects or damages in products, such as: appliances, countertops, cabinets etc. These warranties can last from anywhere between 5-10 years for cabinets and 1-2 years for appliances, depending on your supplier.

Installation Warranty

This warranty covers workmanship issues such as misalignment, faulty plumbing connections or gas installation errors. Most tradespeople have a warranty between 1-5 years.

4. Hiring a Tradesperson you don’t trust

Sadly, many homeowners have been exploited by dishonest or illegitimate tradespeople. The risks involved with not vetting the tradespeople you work with are vast:

Poor quality work

Unqualified tradespeople may lack the unnecessary skills required to complete your kitchen renovation to a high standard.

Ultimately, this poor craftsmanship will lead to forking out additional money later down the line to fix any errors.

Safety Risks

Failing to meet building regulations or safety standards can ultimately lead to hazards or risks, particularly with electrical, gas and plumbing work.

These can be costly to replace, not to mention dangerous for you or your loved ones upon completion of the project if undetected.

Legal or Financial Issues

Hiring illegitimate tradespeople can result in theft, abandonment of work, hidden costs, liability issues and other legal concerns.

For example, if your tradesperson doesn’t have sufficient public liability insurance, compensation for the injury of a passerby could fall on your shoulders.

CPA-registered tradespeople

All CPA-registered tradespeople are legitimate, experienced and trusted tradespeople who can supply you with all relevant information and documentation upon request.

Each of our contractors have access to our insurance backed guarantee and a deposit protection scheme.