22 Items Designers Say Make Your Kitchen Look Cheap
Your kitchen isn’t just a place to cook – it’s the heart of your home where family and friends gather. But some common design choices can make this important space look less expensive than you’d like.
Interior designers have identified specific items that drag down your kitchen’s appearance, regardless of how much you’ve spent on renovations.
1. Outdated Oak Cabinets
Nothing screams ‘1990s builder-grade’ quite like those honey-colored oak cabinets with cathedral arches. The yellowish tone creates an instantly dated atmosphere.
Outdated oak cabinets make your kitchen feel like a time capsule. Consider painting them a modern color or replacing door fronts for an affordable update without a complete renovation.
2. Fake Fruit Displays
Ever noticed how dusty those decorative apples get? Artificial fruit arrangements quickly become dust collectors and scream ‘tacky décor’ to professional designers.
Fake fruit displays were popular decades ago but have fallen out of favor. Instead, try a bowl of actual fresh fruit for a pop of natural color that serves a practical purpose too.
3. Fluorescent Box Lighting
The harsh glow from those ceiling-mounted fluorescent panels casts an unflattering light on everything beneath it. Your food, your countertops, even your guests look worse under this institutional lighting.
Fluorescent fixtures belong in offices, not homes. Swap them for pendant lights, recessed lighting, or even stylish track lighting for an immediate ambiance upgrade.
4. Cluttered Refrigerator Front
Your collection of magnets, children’s artwork, and expired coupons creates visual chaos. While sentimental, this mishmash of items screams disorganization.
A cluttered refrigerator front transforms your kitchen into a bulletin board. Consider a dedicated space elsewhere for important papers and artwork, keeping your appliance sleek and clean.
5. Mismatched Appliances
The white fridge next to a black stove beside a stainless dishwasher creates a disjointed, cobbled-together appearance. This mix-and-match approach suggests items were purchased as old ones broke down.
Mismatched appliances make your kitchen look like it was assembled over time due to necessity rather than design. When possible, coordinate finishes for a more intentional, cohesive look.
6. Dated Cabinet Hardware
Those shiny brass knobs popular in the 80s or the ornate scrollwork handles from the early 2000s instantly age your kitchen. Small details make a big difference in how current your space appears.
Dated hardware styles function like fashion accessories that never got updated. Swapping to simple, contemporary pulls is an affordable weekend project that delivers significant visual impact.
7. Visible Countertop Appliances
Counter space overwhelmed by toasters, coffee makers, blenders, and air fryers creates a cluttered, chaotic impression. Professional kitchens keep tools hidden for good reason.
Too many visible appliances make even expensive kitchens look like discount appliance stores. Store occasional-use items in cabinets or create an appliance garage to maintain clean, open surfaces.
8. Themed Décor Collections
From rooster figurines to wine bottle decorations, themed collections quickly overwhelm a kitchen. What starts as a cute accent becomes visual noise when multiplied.
Themed décor items tend to look mass-produced and inexpensive. Choose one or two quality pieces instead of displaying an entire collection for a more sophisticated, curated appearance.
9. Laminate Countertops With Visible Seams
Brown marbled laminate with dark seams running through it immediately signals budget constraints. Those visible lines where sections meet create an unfinished, pieced-together look.
Laminate countertops with noticeable seams instantly downgrade your kitchen’s appearance. If replacement isn’t an option, consider overlay products designed to cover existing counters with a more seamless finish.
10. Coiled Phone Cord
Remember those spiral-corded wall phones with extra-long cords stretching across the kitchen? This relic from yesteryear dates your kitchen faster than almost anything else.
A coiled phone cord is essentially a time stamp from decades past. If you still need a landline, opt for a sleek, modern cordless version that won’t create visual clutter or nostalgia for the wrong reasons.
11. Wallpaper Borders
Those fruit-patterned or country-themed strips running along the ceiling were wildly popular in the 1980s and 90s. Now they’re like wearing shoulder pads – unmistakably dated.
Wallpaper borders create a horizontal line that visually lowers ceilings. Removing these relics and opting for clean, painted walls allows your kitchen to feel more spacious and contemporary.
12. Tuscan-Themed Everything
Faux-finished walls in terracotta colors paired with grape motifs and “Live, Laugh, Love” signs scream early 2000s design trends. This once-popular Mediterranean-inspired look now feels forced and formulaic.
Tuscan themes became so ubiquitous they lost their charm. Instead of themed décor, incorporate subtle Mediterranean elements like a quality olive oil bottle or fresh herbs for a more authentic, understated approach.
13. Vinyl Flooring That Mimics Tile
The printed grout lines never quite look convincing, especially when the vinyl starts to curl at the edges. This budget-friendly option often reveals itself through unnatural pattern repetition.
Vinyl flooring with fake tile patterns typically fools no one. Today’s luxury vinyl planks offer more realistic wood looks without unconvincing grout lines, providing better value and appearance.
14. Ceiling Fan With Light Kit
Ceiling fans certainly serve a purpose, but those combination fan-light fixtures with oak blades and frosted glass globes feel distinctly outdated. They hang too low and dominate the visual space.
Ceiling fans in kitchens often collect grease and dust. Modern kitchens favor recessed lighting or stylish pendants, with air circulation handled by proper ventilation systems rather than overhead fans.
15. Inspirational Word Art
Giant wooden letters spelling “EAT” or signs declaring “Kitchen” state the obvious in the least sophisticated way possible. These mass-produced items have saturated the market to the point of becoming visual clichés.
Word art lacks originality and personality. Consider instead a meaningful piece of artwork, a vintage cooking implement, or family photos for wall décor that tells your unique story.
16. Abundance Of Refrigerator Magnets
From vacation souvenirs to promotional freebies, these small decorative items create visual noise across your appliance front. The random collection suggests a lack of intentional design.
An abundance of refrigerator magnets transforms your kitchen’s largest appliance into a cluttered bulletin board. Curate your collection to just a few meaningful pieces, or embrace clean surfaces for a more polished look.
17. Exposed Plastic Garbage Bin
That tall kitchen trash can sitting in plain view does nothing for your design aesthetic. No matter how clean, it’s still a container for waste prominently displayed in your living space.
Exposed plastic garbage bins immediately lower the perceived value of your kitchen. Consider a pull-out cabinet trash solution or a decorative bin with a lid that complements your design rather than detracting from it.
18. Over-The-Range Microwave
While practical for small spaces, this bulky box disrupts visual flow and screams ‘builder-grade’ to design professionals. It’s the appliance equivalent of wearing sneakers with a formal outfit.
Over-the-range microwaves often look disproportionate. Modern kitchens incorporate microwaves into islands, pantries, or specialized drawers, creating cleaner sightlines and a more custom appearance.
19. Countertop Dish Drainer
Permanently stationed next to the sink, this utilitarian item broadcasts that you either lack a dishwasher or proper storage space. It creates a perpetually unfinished look in your kitchen workspace.
Countertop dish drainers occupy valuable real estate while suggesting temporary accommodations. Opt for an in-sink version that can be stored when not in use, keeping counters clear and visually streamlined.
20. Decorative Collector Plates
Those commemorative plates displayed on special wall-mounted racks immediately transport viewers back to grandma’s house. While potentially valuable to collectors, they create a distinctly outdated vibe.
Decorative collector plates feel like remnants from another era. If you treasure these items, consider displaying just one or two favorites rather than an entire series that overwhelms your kitchen walls.
21. Visible Paper Towel Roll
Standing upright on the counter or hanging from under-cabinet dispensers, this everyday essential broadcasts utility over style. It’s like leaving toilet paper on display in your living room.
Visible paper towel rolls signal practicality trumping aesthetics. Tuck them into a drawer, pantry, or stylish holder that complements your design rather than advertising household cleaning products.
22. Knife Block With Missing Pieces
Those empty slots where knives should be create an impression of incompleteness and disorganization. The hulking wooden block also consumes valuable counter space for a less-than-decorative purpose.
Knife blocks with vacant slots suggest items that have been lost or damaged. Consider magnetic strips, drawer organizers, or wall-mounted storage that protects blades while freeing up workspace.
