We don’t often talk about kitchen upgrade mistakes on this blog, as we always look to showcase the best of kitchen design as opposed to how it can go wrong. We always focus on what you should  be doing with your kitchen rather than what you should not.

Renovating your kitchen can have an effect on the value of your home. Whether it’s a complete remodel or simply new kitchen doors there is potential to receive a good return-on-investment. Many people make mistakes when it comes to their kitchen renovation, so it is best to be mindful of this risk. Sometimes deciding to carry out some upgrades before you put your home on the market can sometimes do more harm than good.

Luckily, us here at Kitchen Warehouse have come up with a few kitchen upgrade mistakes that you should avoid if you are planning on selling your home in the near future.

Kitchen island design

We can’t lie, we really like kitchen islands. They add a real air of class to the room in which you spend time daily, and are fantastic from a practical standpoint too.

That being said, we think kitchen islands lose their edge when they are placed in a kitchen just for the sake of it. A badly designed kitchen island can make or break a deal for your home. Say for example you install a kitchen island in the middle of the room and now it creates a barrier between your kitchen sink, this can actually put people off purchasing your home because not only is it an inconvenience but will cost them money to get rid of.

If you have a big enough kitchen then by all means install an island but if it is going to make your prospective buyers lives harder in the kitchen, then it will dramatically reduce your chances of a good sale. The island must be practically placed on your floor space.

Going overboard with stainless steel

Stainless steel is another aspect of kitchen design that has been very popular in recent years. It really gives a modern edge to the room whilst keeping it practical due to its durability and ease to clean.

Going over the top with this material is a big mistake in our opinion. You want buyers to look at your house or flat like a home. Too much stainless steel will make the kitchen feel cold and unwelcoming. Unless you find a buyer who loves an ultra modern designs (which is rare) then look for other ways to give your kitchen a modern slant. We recommend high gloss kitchen units that can give your kitchen a modern look while retaining a homely feel.

We’re not saying don’t use stainless steel but be sure not to cover the whole room in it.

Personalising the design to your tastes

If you are planning on selling your home, why are you renovating the kitchen to your own tastes? It is highly unlikely that someone who wants to buy your home will have the same tastes as you do. One of the main kitchen upgrade mistakes when selling your property is thinking about what you want and not what will make the kitchen more appealing in a general sense. Aim for neutral and small upgrades such as replacement kitchen doors, new lighting (see below) or different worktops.

Remember to plan with colours that are not out of the ordinary and will have a widespread appeal. This will make your kitchen more appealing to the average buyer, increasing the chance of a sale.

Focusing on a single lighting fixture

The best kitchens are those that have adequate lighting. Unless you are blessed with a lot of natural light, you need to have a variety of lighting options in the room.

Installing a single strip of lighting may make the room look bright, but could also come across as quite harsh and will allow for shadows and darker corners. You can instead install lighting under your cabinets and above your work surfaces quite cheaper which has a massive effect on the room overall. Aim to eliminate any dark corners of the room and even a tall lamp in the corner can work wonders.

Lighting is a very cosmetic upgrade but is one that can easily make your kitchen appear more desirable to potential buyers.

Kitchen upgrade mistakes when selling your home

Upgrading your kitchen can be really beneficial when it comes to selling your home, but there are a lot of mistakes you can make when doing this. The main one that we haven’t mentioned yet is spending a lot of money! The whole point of upgrading your kitchen is to increase your property value, but if you are going to spend lots doing so, then your ROI is going to be a lot less.

Many people make these kitchen upgrade mistakes because they think that it will dramatically increase their property value. A kitchen upgrade can add at least £5000 onto your property valuation so spend your money wisely and do not go overboard. Remember that you are trying to enhance the look of your home to make it more appealing to potential buyers not to upgrade your kitchen into what you want personally.

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Focus on multiple lighting options, stay clear of expensive kitchen islands if they disrupt the flow of the room, use stainless steel sparingly and refrain from spending a lot of money. Follow these useful tips and you should see a reasonable but effective ROI on your kitchen upgrade. For further information please get in touch with our experienced, helpful team by filling out our online enquiry form. Or contact us by calling 01765 640 000 or email us at contact@kitchenwarehouseltd.com.