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The kitchen is often the heart of the home: a space to cook, eat, relax, work and chat.
However, precisely because of its multifunctional function, it is easy to give a kitsch touch to the kitchen, turning the entire area into a room that, to be frank, is quite vulgar.
From hanging utensils to eye-catching appliances and the one household item that should never be seen, we’ve spoken to interior designers and home experts to identify the 14 signs your kitchen is tacky.
Due to its multifunctional function, it is easy to turn the kitchen into a, frankly, rather vulgar room.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE DOOR
It should be pretty obvious that a kitchen is, well, a kitchen (the oven, hob or dishwasher is usually a gift). So why put a sign that says “Kitchen” on the door? Even worse if it is an attempt at humor: “The only thing that moves in the kitchen are the problems!”; ‘More espresso, less depresso’; ‘Let’s prepare to fall apart.’ The room signs are simply eye-catching and unnecessary.
OTHER ‘FUN’ NEWS
The list of style transgressors is endless. “Fun” fridge magnets, tea towels emblazoned with cheeky slogans, aprons with imitation bras and knickers, quirky gadgets like rubber egg poachers or ice cube holders in the shape of Nigel Farage’s face. All these new developments scream bad taste, bad taste, bad taste. They need to go.
Novelties like refrigerator magnets scream bad taste, bad taste, bad taste. These style criminals must go.
When kitchens lean too much toward a specific theme, it can feel overwhelming, says interiors expert Liv Conlon.
THE KITCHEN THEME PARK
So you love the peace of a rustic landscape or the tranquility and colors of a nautical view. But going overboard with the themes in the kitchen, whether it’s a sea of cheerful navy patterns or a forest of faux ferns and pinewood, is a guaranteed fast track to board.
“When kitchens in particular lean too much toward a specific theme, it can become overwhelming,” says interiors expert Liv Conlon, owner of interior staging company The Property Stagers. For added elegance, choose subtle, elegant accents that hint at the theme without going overboard, such as some well-placed textures or colors that complement the rest of the space.
WINE FRIDGE
How to store wine is another problem. The truly smart set will have a wine cellar to keep your vintage wine collection at the perfect temperature. But in the absence of that luxury, the temptation may arise to install a wine cellar in the kitchen. No. It’s the height of stickiness. The same goes for bottle racks. Instead, store your bottles in a pantry, under the stairs, or in a dedicated kitchen cabinet that’s cool and dark, and place the white bottles in the family refrigerator a few hours before you plan to open them.
STEEL HANGING UTENSILS
The need to save space in the kitchen can lead to the temptation of hanging utensils on the walls. It can certainly be convenient to have a nice line of stainless steel skimmers and ladles arranged in a row. But, sorry, there’s nothing fancy about having servers on display (especially if they’re not made of wood).
The same goes for jugs and cups. If you want your kitchen to look less tacky, keep everything you can out of sight. The same goes for containers. The sight of a bulging boat holding last night’s curry dinner and popping out of the lid of a pedal bin is off-limits.
There’s nothing elegant about having utensils on display (especially if they’re not made of wood).
Washing machines should have their own nesting place in a utility room, not the kitchen.
WASHING MACHINES
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp considers it unhygienic to have a washing machine in the kitchen. Regardless of whether that is the case, it is certainly in poor taste to have one on display. Is there anything that can break the charm of your kitchen more than a machine on the last spin?
Such appliances should have their own nesting place in a utility room, which should come complete with tidy shelves cradling an interesting selection of jasmine-scented fabric conditioners and organic soap flakes.
TV DINNER
While you might like the idea of paying half attention to something animated starring Ant and Dec while you peel carrots, TVs have no aesthetic appeal, especially in the kitchen. For truly stylish fun, keep a small radio in the corner, ideally a vintage Roberts, and tune it to The Archers.
CHICATES AND MEMORIES
You adore the statuette of the Greek goddess that you bought in a market in Crete. And those Liverpool Garden Festival decorative plates you bought in 1984? They occupy a place of honor on your window sill. Unfortunately, a kitchen can quickly look tacky when it’s overloaded with clutter and mismatched decor, says Looeeze Grossman, founder and CEO of The Used Kitchen Company.
She says: ‘Cluttering countertops and shelves with random knick-knacks or accessories can make the room look chaotic and unrefined. Instead of filling open shelves with a mix of bowls, vases and plates from various locations, choose a statement piece, such as a standout vase or beautiful bowl, to draw the eye. “This minimalist approach allows each item to shine and creates a more refined and cohesive look.”
BAD LIGHTING
A single fluorescent light fixture in the ceiling could make an expensive kitchen look cheap and tacky
Lighting can literally illuminate a stylish kitchen or expose the room with all its striking flaws.
‘For example, opting for a single fluorescent ceiling light and standard subway tiles could make an expensive kitchen look cheap and tacky. So will white plastic, such as sockets, handles and lighting fixtures,” says Penelope Jacobs of the UK’s leading business information search site MyJobQuote.co.uk.
Swap out old fixtures for modern pendant lights or LED lighting to brighten the space and give it a sleek, updated look without a big investment, suggests Liv Conlon.
BAR STOOLS
There is no place in smart kitchens for bar stools, which are an unfortunate hangover from the popularity of the living room bar. And with almost the same style. The kitchen is not a meeting point for thirsty customers. The only place where they look good is in the store.
FEATURE WALLS
Painting a wall a distinctive contrasting color may look stylish, as may using a stray or unusual piece of wallpaper to make just one wall stand out, but feature walls, also known as “accent walls,” have consistently surpassed many of the “most hated interior design features.” ‘ surveys carried out in the last decade. Adding a feature wall will only make it look less stylish or relaxing.
GAUDY DEVICES
Clutter on the countertop never looks good. And when that clutter is dominated by kettles, toasters and other cheap, tacky accessories, unfortunately your kitchen will look a little tacky, says Penelope Jacobs.
“Try moving toasters and microwaves to the pantry or a dedicated cupboard so they’re out of sight,” she recommends.
Nicolle Whyte, design director at kitchen furniture store Olive and Barr, agrees, saying: ‘To keep your kitchen looking stylish and considered, it’s best to avoid over-accessorising. Consider a curated display of your favorite dinnerware and artwork that complements your kitchen design through color and texture.
LINEN AND LACE
Once considered a luxury flooring option, linoleum is now something people actively avoid when buying homes. Break it up and take it to the tip, along with the ruffled lace curtains hanging from the kitchen window. Lace is difficult to clean, never looks elegant, and, like linoleum, becomes outdated in your kitchen for all the wrong reasons.
SWING DOORS
It’s a kitchen, not a Wild West parlor. We have already said enough.