3 min readThe kitchen is one of the busiest and most important spaces in any home. Whether you're brewing your first cup of coffee, preparing meals, or gathering with family to eat, it's a room you probably use every day. Because of that, it should be designed for both practicality and comfort, with an inviting look that makes spending time there enjoyable.
Design experts agree that a well-planned kitchen balances functionality with personal style. The best kitchens are efficient, easy to use, and reflect the people who live in them. With that in mind, here are a few things professional designers would never include in their own kitchens—and why they recommend avoiding them in yours.
Countertop Appliances Everywhere
A clean, clutter-free kitchen can instantly help ease stress and set the tone for your day. So clear countertops are one of the first things Ariana Lovato, owner and principal designer of Honeycomb Home Design, prioritizes in her kitchen.
“Visual clutter steals the calm from a kitchen faster than anything else. A clean, open surface makes the room feel larger, more intentional, and far more luxurious, even if the footprint is modest,” she says.
Kathy Kuo, CEO and founder of Kathy Kuo Home, agrees, saying the rule she follows is that appliances are only allowed on the countertop if she uses them every single day. Otherwise, she keeps them tucked out of sight until she needs them.
Harsh, Cool-Toned Lighting
Cold, way-too-bright lighting never belongs in the kitchen, Lovato says. “It flattens materials, kills the warmth of natural wood, and makes even the most beautiful stone look lifeless.”
Instead, use sconces, decorative pendants, and cabinet lights with a bulb temperature of 2,700K for warmer lighting that feels inviting, she recommends.
Lights Without Dimmers
Did we mention lighting is important? “I am forever shouting the praises of the humble dimmer on a light fixture!” Kuo says. “This is so important for matching the mood to the occasion in a kitchen—a space everyone frequents all day, every day.”
She especially recommends dimmers for ambient light fixtures like chandeliers and pendants that provide overall illumination throughout the space. While installing dimmers might take more short-term effort, it has a long-term payoff.
For renters or homeowners a little more hesitant to install something so permanent, Kuo recommends smart light bulbs to control the brightness from an app on your phone.
Trash Cans
You’ll never see an exposed trash can in Lovato’s kitchen. “It interrupts the visual flow and instantly cheapens the room,” she says. In her client design work, she incorporates trash cans into cabinetry with a built-in pullout mechanism that keeps the space feeling calm and intentional.
Fake-Looking Stone Countertops
“For me, so much of the beauty in design is about imperfection—the worn-in, aged look,” says Purvi Padia, founder and creative director of House of Revelry. “I am so drawn to the warmth and depth of a gorgeous slab of marble in the kitchen that has some etching and aging.”
If you really prefer a more perfect look, Padia recommends leathering natural stone (as it’s much more durable) rather than opting for something fake.
All Open Shelving
Popular in the early 2020s, open shelving in kitchens has lost its luster a little. It may not be going away entirely, but it’s definitely not something designers recommend going all-out with anymore.
A few well-placed shelves can create visual interest and warmth in a kitchen, but relying mostly on open shelving looks disorganized and leaves a space feeling cluttered and chaotic, Padia says.
Improperly Sized Kitchen Islands
The kitchen’s most important aspect is its functionality. (You use it basically every day to prep meals, after all!) Installing an island that doesn’t fit the flow of the room is a mistake Kuo sees people make often. An oversized island can make it difficult to make use of the entire surface, while an island that’s too small can eliminate necessary prep space, she says.
“The goal is to create a useful island that doesn’t overwhelm (or get lost in) your kitchen’s footprint,” Kuo explains.
A Lack of Upholstery
A kitchen, by nature, has a lot of hard elements like countertops, appliances, cabinetry, and more. Some kind of textile (preferably two or three, Padia recommends) goes a long way in softening the space.
“Whether it’s a window treatment, an upholstered corner banquette, or a couple of well-placed stools, upholstery will not only give your kitchen warmth but will also effortlessly elevate your kitchen,” Padia says.
