3 Things That Make Your Kitchen Less Inviting, According to Real Estate Agents
Real estate agent Greta Jorden-Williams, team lead with the Williams Group Realty TX at RE/MAX Fine Properties, puts it best: “The kitchen is the heartbeat of the home.”
As the central gathering place in a house or apartment, the kitchen is where some of the best stuff happens: cooking, chatting, laughing, and baking, to name a few. It’s a room that’s become especially important during a time when people have been stuck indoors.
“More families are staying in, hosting gatherings at home, or they are simply spending more time in the kitchen cooking together,” says realtor Tina Wilcher of 21 Century Exclusive Properties.
Having such a space feel warm and welcoming is imperative. Here, real estate agents pinpoint three things making your kitchen feel less inviting.
A Lack of Open Space
One of the best ways to create an inviting kitchen is by increasing the amount of open space, says realtor Porshae’ Brown with Equinox Realty Group. An ideal open-concept kitchen features a large bar or island, ample counter and cabinet space, and large windows to let in natural light. Ideally, this can all extend into the family room.
“There needs to be no division between what’s going on in the kitchen and what’s happening in the living room,” Brown says.
Realtor and developer Troy Green of the Randle Team at RE/MAX Fine Properties cautions not to be afraid of knocking down a wall to make a kitchen bigger. He says when he remodels homes, at least 80 percent of the time, he knocks down walls to achieve an open-concept kitchen. And if you don’t want to remove the entire wall, Green suggests creating a bar-style opening into the living or dining areas.
Disorganized Shelves and Counters
Less is always more — and organization is the key to a welcoming kitchen, Williams explains. She says that all kitchen appliances and utensils, such as a blender, slow cooker, pots, and pans, should be stored in a designated spot.
Nobody wants to see kitchen clutter, she says. “You can use those items as needed but find a place to put them up.”
Green agrees that removing the clutter is the best way to show off the unique features of a home, especially if you’re looking to sell.
“Some people have accumulated a lot of things over time. But someone may see something that will turn them off and stop them from being about to appreciate the full beauty of the home,” he says.
Missing Flair and Fun
An inviting kitchen will have a pop of color that adds personality, but complements the cohesive flow of the entire home, Wilcher says. That pop of color can be added in the fixtures, backsplash, window treatments, cabinets, and even the countertops.
However, added flair shouldn’t be so bold that it distracts from the rest of the house. Brown says that outdated or inconsistent concepts can ruin the flow of the kitchen.
“If your home is a modern contemporary home on the exterior but your kitchen screams farmhouse, then there are inconsistencies that may be unpleasant not only to you but guests,” she says.
This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: 3 Things Making Your Kitchen Less Inviting, According to Real Estate Agents