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Read this before doing any kitchen renovations that you might regret later on.
One of the best things about being a homeowner is having a say in how you design your home. While we all love being able to bring out our personalities in our homes, it may not always be the best way to go when designing your kitchen, according to the pros. Making the wrong design choices can decrease the value of your home and make it less marketable when selling.
We spoke with real estate and interior design experts to learn which kitchen design choices you should avoid to prevent you from accidentally hurting your home’s value.
01 of 07
Customized Countertops
Alexei Morgado, realtor, CEO, and Founder of Lexawise Real Estate Exam Preparation, says that using countertops that are overly customized or made of an impractical material is one of the main kitchen design choices that will devalue your home. Some mistakes he saw sellers make included using bright colors or porous stones that are prone to scratches and stains because they weren’t properly sealed.
“Regardless of whether a client absolutely loved them, when resale comes around, there is a perception of an expense guaranteed in the future," Morgado says. That feeling of "I'm going to have to replace this" can turn buyers away, he explains.
If you live in an area where there's a lot of competition with choices, countertops can make or break the sale. “Let's say you had a raw countertop made of concrete, but there were other homes with granite or quartz options with great trendy grays; that detail can turn the buyer away from your home," Morgado says. "Kitchens are the most pivotal space in the buying decision-making process. If the buyers see a space that looks impractical, or not easily changeable or adaptable to their own tastes, the value they associate with the property will diminish dramatically.”
02 of 07
Mismatched Tile or Laminate Flooring
Bad flooring can lead to problems later, such as warping, and negatively impact the value of your home. Jacob Naig, owner and real estate investor at We Buy Houses in Des Moines, says mismatched tile or laminate that peels up when wet makes it look as though shortcuts were taken.
“The moment potential buyers feel the hard materials are fragile is when they begin to distrust that the kitchens weren’t well-built," Naig says. "For example, I recommended to a seller that he replace worn sheet vinyl with mid-range tile before attempting to sell; the $3,000 expense netted a $15,000 increase in asking price because buyers saw durability immediately."
It’s best to opt for high-quality materials such as porcelain tile or hardwood and not cut corners when choosing flooring for your kitchen.
03 of 07
Heavy Dark Cabinets
Heavy dark cabinets showed up in kitchens in the 70s, then made a comeback during the early 2000s. However, Morgado states that heavy dark cabinets can drag down the value of your home. Although they might be the appropriate design in some cases, they will almost always make the kitchen feel smaller and more drab.
“Most buyers are looking for a fresh, open space with sunlight," Morgado says. "If they step into a kitchen with dark brown or black cabinets, they won't even see the rest of the house. They will be thinking about how much it will cost to replace those cabinets, and that becomes the base number for their offers."
Another downfall of dark cabinets is that they show dust and scratches much more easily. He warns that this gives the impression to the buyer that the kitchen must be maintained constantly. “I have never seen a well-designed kitchen lose its value like it could by not having a light, contemporary design," Morgado says. "People who appreciate a clean, functioning location don't want to think about remodeling from day one,” he says.
04 of 07
Trendy, Personalized, or Bold Designs
Missy Derr, real estate advisor at Engel & Völkers Atlanta, advises against giving in to the temptation of using highly personal or bold design choices, as they can decrease the value of your home. “Kitchens are not often remodeled, with an average of every 10 to 15 years," she says. "It's also an expensive undertaking, with most kitchen remodels starting in the tens of thousands of dollars. Chasing fleeting trends can leave your kitchen feeling dated before the remodel is even paid off.”
“Don't waste money on fleeting trends, lean in to classic choices to not only appeal to a wide range of tastes but to ensure you are not throwing money away by needing to remodel sooner than later," she continues.
Naig says that overly personalized color palettes are a common mistake he sees homeowners make as well. He explains that while some owners might think a neon cabinet or bright red backsplash is bold, many buyers tend to gravitate toward neutral colors so it's easier to incorporate their preferred designs. “Choosing bold colors in the kitchen makes it feel like someone else’s expression, not a blank canvas, and buyers walked away from one I listed last year with customized lime green cabinetry, though it was well built,” he informs.
05 of 07
Mismatching Kitchen Appliances
Morgado says that one thing buyers will notice immediately is the difference in appliances and whether they match in both style and finish. He finds that mismatched appliances create a hodgepodge effect that feels sloppy and poorly conceived, even if the appliances all work perfectly.
“Out-of-visual-sync appliances give the impression that your kitchen is incomplete, or the buyer has to invest immediately,” he informs. Potential buyers want to move in and do as little as possible, he adds, so this gives the impression that more work is needed.
”Seeing mismatched appliances indicates additional costs to the buyer. Something as simple as having matching appliance finishes can bring up the perceived quality and modernity of a kitchen, and the opposite will quickly bring it down," Morgado says. "In my experience, this type of detail can impact the overall impression of the entire kitchen as it brings it down, which negatively impacts the seller's bottom line and how move-in-ready it feels."
06 of 07
Swapping Pantries for Open Shelving
Open shelving is a popular kitchen trend among minimalists, but it has drawbacks, including the fact that it can decrease the value of your home. Derr explains that functionality must be valued in kitchen design over aesthetics.
“Storage is incredibly important; removing a pantry or cabinets is highly cautioned against," she says. "Open shelving, while gorgeous, is problematic as practicality has been removed." Plus, open shelving is notorious for attracting dust and requires consistent cleaning, which can also be unappealing to buyers.
07 of 07
Awkward Layout
A home with a kitchen that has a poor layout can make it less attractive to buyers, which will decrease its value. Hannah Griffiths, interior designer and founder of Studio Palindrome, explains that a kitchen needs a functional layout to work properly, and buyers will notice if the key appliances are placed in the wrong spot.
“The ‘work triangle,’ aka the refrigerator, stove, and sink all within easy reach of each other, exists for a reason—so stick to what works,” she says.
Read the original article on Real Simple
