A great kitchen can make a home, but a bad kitchen can come pretty close to breaking it. It is no secret that a really terrible kitchen is a deal breaker for many homebuyers, and sometimes, it is obvious. If the kitchen in the home you are considering does not feature mustard colored counters from the seventies with lovely orange and brown tile, you might be forgiven for overlooking a few less obvious issues.

Here is a list of the top five issues with any kitchen, and why you should try to avoid homes with these issues.

1. Lack of Counter Space

When a kitchen does not have enough counter space, working in it becomes a chore. Trying to find a vacant space to prepare food or place a dish or saucepan will eventually make you hate cooking. Counters should be broad, at the correct height to be ergonomic, and easy to clean, and there should be enough of them that you never struggle to find a place for prep or storing countertop items.

2. Lack of Storage

The second cardinal kitchen sin on this list is storage, or rather, lack thereof. The only thing worse than not having enough room to work in your kitchen is not having enough space to store all your kitchen essentials. On par with a lack of storage is poorly planned storage, such as deep corner cabinets that you can never fully use.

3. Narrow Work Aisles

Galley kitchens or kitchens with center islands can be great, functional spaces, but not of the aisle between cabinets is too narrow. If two adults cannot comfortably pass each other, or if you cannot use appliances simultaneously, then your kitchen will not be functional.

4. Poor Lighting and Ventilation

If your kitchen has poor lighting and ventilation, it does not matter how fantastic everything else is. It is still going to feel like you are cooking dinner in a cave. Great kitchens are light and airy, with natural lighting during the day, and sufficient well thought out task and general lighting for night.

5. Poor Material Choices

Sometimes, material choices do not seem bad until you have to live with them. Just ask anyone who has ever had snow white tiled flooring in a kitchen, and spent his or her life wiping it. Materials for a great kitchen look luxurious and chic, but they are also hardy, hardwearing and easy to clean. Because let’s face it. Everyone has better things to do than clean kitchen floors all day.

If you are building a new home, make sure you consider these factors when you choose the layout and design options for your kitchen. In other rooms, you can switch out furniture and décor and change the function completely, but kitchens and bathrooms are a long-term commitment. 

A little more time spent on the design and planning of your kitchen can mean many more hours of enjoyment later on. Not only that, but a great kitchen is one of the top selling points for any home, so if you ever resell, your investment will pay off.