A custom kitchen is an opportunity to create the perfect space, completely customized to your needs. However, the multitude of options, nuances, and technical details can lead to mistakes that lead to inconvenience, additional costs, and even remodeling.
To ensure your kitchen is comfortable, functional, and durable, it's important to know which decisions most often lead to problems. Let's look at the most common mistakes and offer advice on how to proceed correctly.
Ordering a kitchen too early before the renovation is completed 🛠️
One of the most common mistakes is placing an order when the repair is not yet completed.
Any deviations in the tiles, plaster, or wall alignment can change the final dimensions of the kitchen by several centimeters, and this is critical.
Why this is wrong:
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facades may not open;
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the equipment will not fit according to size;
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you will have to redo the frame, the baseboard, or even the entire line of cabinets.
How to avoid:
You can order the kitchen only after:
✔️ final alignment of walls
✔️ floor installation
✔️ Electrical and plumbing installations
✔️ tile installation
Lack of well-thought-out ergonomics 🔄
Beautiful design doesn't guarantee convenience. Many kitchens look stylish but are completely dysfunctional: the sink and stove are too far away, the refrigerator is in the way, and the countertop is almost nonexistent.
Major mistakes:
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destruction of the work triangle (sink - stove - refrigerator);
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lack of space for cooking;
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the oven is located in an inconvenient area;
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using tall cabinets without well-thought-out fittings.
How to avoid:
Focus not only on appearance, but also on competent design.
Consider the height of the hostess/host, the location of the light, and their household habits.
Saving on fittings 🚪
Good hinges, guides and mechanisms are the 50% guarantee of a long-lasting kitchen.
Honestly: it’s better to install simpler facades, but take high-quality mechanisms.
What do you encounter when saving money?
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the facades became warped after a couple of months
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the boxes are knocking or flying out
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the closers stop working
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the hinges break off
The right approach:
Optimal choice: Blum, Hettich, Hafele.
For budget kitchens - GTV, but with closers.
Too many open shelves 📚
Shelves look beautiful in catalogs, but in practice, they become dust collectors. In the kitchen, grease and steam create a sticky residue that's difficult to remove.
Why this is an error:
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the appearance quickly loses its neatness
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requires constant cleaning
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visual noise, the room seems cluttered
Better to replace:
✔️ closed cabinets
✔️ glass display cases
✔️ combined solutions
Wrong choice of materials 🧱
Mistakes most often occur due to an attempt to save money or a misunderstanding of the properties of materials.
Typical miscalculations:
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Glossy fronts in the active cooking area → scratches
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cheap PVC film → delamination from steam
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Cheap chipboard countertop → moisture swelling
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Dark countertops → you can see EVERYTHING
How to avoid:
Understand the properties of materials and select them to suit your cooking style.
Great options:
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Painted MDF
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Premium MDF PVC film
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acrylic
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HPL plastic
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quartz stone for countertops
Lack of sockets and weak electrical equipment 🔌
A very common mistake is underestimating the number of household appliances. This results in having to pull extension cords, break the backsplash, or replace the wiring.
The minimum for a modern kitchen:
✔️ 3–4 sockets in the work area
✔️ Separate dishwasher line
✔️ Separate oven line
✔️ Backlight pins
It’s better to do more—it doesn’t make repairs more expensive, but it makes life more comfortable.
Ignoring the backlight 💡
Light is not decoration, but a functional necessity.
Errors:
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overhead lighting only
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lack of illumination of the work area
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incorrect light temperature
Solution:
✔️ LED lighting under the upper cabinets
✔️ Built-in lighting in drawers (optional)
✔️ good general lighting
✔️ warm or neutral light
Choosing cabinets that are too tall or too low 📏
Some order ceiling-high cabinets, disregarding accessibility. Others, on the contrary, order low cabinets and waste valuable space.
The right approach:
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upper cabinets - at a convenient height (usually 700–920 mm)
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If you're building cabinets up to the ceiling, add lifting systems and convenient ladders.
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bottom row: tabletop height to suit user height (85–95 cm)
The passages are too narrow 🚶♀️
If the kitchen is small, it seems logical to “squeeze” as many cabinets as possible.
As a result, the passage becomes 70–80 cm, and the kitchen turns into a labyrinth.
Optimal:
✔️ 90 cm – comfortable
✔️ 100–120 cm is ideal
Ignoring ventilation and exhaust 🌬️
Some people save on the hood or install a weak model.
Result: odors permeate the entire apartment, greasy film on the facades.
The right choice:
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Hood capacity = kitchen area x 10
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correct air duct diameter
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minimum number of bends
Ordering from random craftsmen without a contract 📄
One of the most painful mistakes.
What can happen:
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the deadlines were delayed
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the kitchen arrived in the wrong color
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the fittings are the cheapest
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defective facades
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disappeared without returning the money
Always draw up a contract, specify materials, deadlines, warranty, and accessories.
Bottom line: how to avoid all mistakes? 🌟
✔️ Take measurements only after the final repairs
✔️ Work on ergonomics
✔️ Choose high-quality fittings
✔️ Try to avoid open shelves
✔️ Plan your electrical system in advance
✔️ Don't skimp on the hood and lighting
✔️ Use proven materials
✔️ Order your kitchen from reliable studios
A custom kitchen is an investment for 10–20 years.
And the more wisely you approach your choice, the more comfort you will receive in the future.
