Things Homebuyers Don’t Want to See in a Kitchen

When designing your kitchen, it’s always wise to keep resale value down the line top of mind. After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home, and buyers will place a high value on whether this space appears welcoming, functional, and, yes, beautiful.

With that, there are a number of common kitchen elements that will actually deter buyers rather than woo them.

Cabinets That Don’t Touch the Ceiling

Homebuyers are turned off by kitchen cabinets that have a gap between their top and the ceiling.

It can collect dust and grime, but mainly, it leaves buyers with an unfinished look and can make the kitchen look choppy.

A Lack of Functional Storage

While aesthetics matter with regard to cabinetry, storage is also a top priority for buyers, who will be deterred if a kitchen does not appear to be functional.

Limited cabinetry, minimal pantry space, or a lack of practical storage can be a major drawback. Buyers are paying attention to how they’ll actually live in the home, and storage is something they notice very quickly.

Open Shelving

On this note, make an effort to skip open shelving in the kitchen, which ultimately isn’t super pleasant to live with.

It photographs beautifully—then buyers realize they actually own food, mismatched (and chipped) coffee mugs, vitamins, dog treats, and a truly unreasonable number of water bottles.

If you truly can’t imagine living without open shelving, at least keep it to a minimum.

Busy Backsplashes

Just say no to backsplashes that are overly decorative–these designs generally do not appeal to buyers.

They can quickly look dated and create visual clutter,

Too Much Personality

In addition to paying attention to your backsplash design, you’ll want to be mindful about how statement-making your kitchen is as a whole. Loud or personalized designs throughout the space can pose issues down the line.

Kitchens are one of the biggest selling points of a home, so anything that feels overly specific to the current owner can make it harder for buyers to envision themselves in the space. Buyers tend to respond well to kitchens that feel timeless, elevated, and easy to make their own.

A Gigantic Island

Last but not least, think again before committing to an ultra-large island in your kitchen.

When the island is so big you have to circumnavigate it to get from the refrigerator to the stove, it’s annoying.

While some sort of island is key, the trick is to not go overboard in size.