Whether you’re building a house from the ground up or renovating your existing one, your kitchen is always going to be one of the most important focal points. Although it’s certainly exciting to revamp things, make sure you avoid the mistakes below so you can enjoy your new space for many years to come.

#1 – Forgetting the Triangle

The kitchen triangle isn’t a myth, nor is it a wives’ tale that you can ignore. In fact, the kitchen triangle exists for good reason – to make working in your kitchen more efficient. The sink, the stove, and the refrigerator should all be within a few steps of each other and in the shape of a triangle. Placing all three in a row or in an L-shape makes it far more difficult to get things done, which can get frustrating over time.

#2 – Buying Outdated Appliances

Today’s appliances aren’t just smarter than they were 10 years ago. They’re also more efficient, and they do their intended jobs far better. For example, if you’re a fan of gas stoves, they’ve come a long way in the last decade. The ovens cook far more evenly than they did even five years ago, in fact. Buy new appliances, and make sure you do your research. You want to get your money’s worth, after all.

#3 – Bad Lighting

Nothing is worse than chopping vegetables in the dark, and if you can’t see what you’re scrubbing, you might not be getting that pan clean, after all. Make sure you install good lighting that runs the entire length of your workspace, and put those lights on separate switches. Have one switch that turns all of the lights off or on, and another that allows you to turn them on and off individually at the source.

#4 – Ignoring Functionality

While you definitely want your kitchen to be inviting and beautiful, you’ll also want to make sure it’s functional. You don’t want to get everything finished and find out later that you can’t open your pot storage cabinet and the dishwasher door at the same time. Things like this are beyond frustrating, so make sure you take the time to think about the functionality of your kitchen just as much as the look.

#5 – Failing to Provide Enough Storage Space

The number one complaint about kitchens across the country is the lack of storage space. People build or remodel their kitchens believing that they can get away with minimal cabinetry and pantry space, only to find out later that they have far too little room for smaller appliances, food, dishes, and more. In fact, it’s often better to plan for more storage space than you think you need. If you have some unused storage space at the end, you’ve done a good job.

Your kitchen is a very important part of your home, and if you love cooking, then it may be the most important room of all. Avoid these kitchen design mistakes, and you’ll create a space that is functional and beautiful – a place you’ll be glad to call home.