Kitchen Design Mistakes Melbourne Homeowners Regret in 2025
If you’ve ever walked into a “renovated” kitchen and thought, why would they do that? — you’re not alone.
In 2025, Melbourne homeowners are redoing kitchens that were poorly planned just five or ten years ago. Why? Because bad design lasts longer than bad fashion — and it’s way more expensive to live with.
So before you spend a cent on tiles, tapware, or layout changes, here’s what not to do.
1. Putting the Fridge in a Corner
It sounds harmless — until you realise the fridge door can’t open fully. Suddenly, you can’t pull out the crisper or fit a tray in sideways. And if you have a French-door fridge? Forget it.
Better:
Leave space on both sides of the fridge — or recess it into cabinetry with room to breathe.
2. Forgetting Where You’ll Actually Prep Food
Most prep happens between the fridge, sink, and stove. But many kitchens shove the sink in one corner and the stove in another — leaving no usable bench in between.
Better:
Make sure there’s at least 900mm of uninterrupted bench space between your key appliances — ideally on your island or central run.
3. Choosing Cupboards Instead of Drawers
Lower cupboards = bending over, pulling things out, and losing stuff in the back.
Drawers give you:
Full access to everything
Better organisation
Less wasted space
Easier daily use (especially for older homeowners)
It’s one of the most common regrets we hear — and one of the easiest to avoid.
4. Putting the Microwave in the Wrong Spot
Microwaves jammed over cooktops or shoved in upper cupboards are a usability nightmare. Too high and you’re spilling soup. Too low and it’s awkward for everyone.
Better:
Use an integrated microwave tower or set it in a dedicated space under the benchtop — about 900–1100mm high is ideal.
5. Not Planning PowerPoints (or Putting Them in Ugly Spots)
We’ve seen it all:
One lonely outlet across the room
Power points smack in the middle of splashbacks
Toaster and kettle cords stretching like a spiderweb
Better:
Plan your appliances before finalising electrical. Include:
Pop-up or hidden power in the island
Power inside your pantry or appliance cabinet
Consider USB outlets for devices
6. Ignoring Lighting Zones
A single ceiling batten light isn’t enough anymore — and it won’t make your kitchen feel finished.
Better lighting = better living.
Use a combination of:
Downlights for general lighting
Pendant lights over the island for style and focus
Under-cabinet lighting to actually see what you’re chopping
7. Going All-White Without Texture or Contrast
White kitchens are clean. But too much white? Feels cold. Feels flat. And shows every mark.
Better:
Break it up with:
Timber tones
Matte black or brushed nickel tapware
Stone or tiled splashbacks with variation
Handles or lighting with some warmth or contrast
8. Overcapitalising With Luxury Materials That Don’t Work Hard
We’ve seen homeowners blow half their budget on designer tapware — then cheap out on cabinetry or layout. Or splurge on marble benchtops that stain the first time someone spills beetroot juice.
Better:
Use materials that are:
Durable
Easy to clean
Resistant to heat, stains, and daily wear
If it looks good now but ages badly, you’ll regret it within months.
9. Not Thinking Like a Cook
A good kitchen isn’t just for show — it’s for life. So when the design ignores how people actually cook, move, clean, and live… you feel it every day.
Common regrets:
Not enough storage
Drawers that hit dishwashers or fridges
Bins too far from prep zones
No space for a dish rack
10. Copying Pinterest Without Real Advice
Pinterest and Instagram are great for ideas — but they show aesthetic, not functionality. What looks good in a luxury apartment might not work in your home.
Better:
Use inspiration as a guide — then sit down with someone who actually designs kitchens for real people in real homes.
Design It Right the First Time
At Bluestone Build Co., we don’t just build kitchens — we help you plan one you won’t want to rip out in five years.
Real layout advice
Real cost clarity
Real trades who show up on time
