An interior designer has shared five kitchen items that should be removed to avoid a cheap and tacky appearance. Penny Modern, speaking on her YouTube channel, emphasised that achieving a luxurious look is more about what you take away than what you add.
The first item to remove is an exposed bin. Penny warned that a dirty bin in plain sight can cheapen a beautiful kitchen, adding clutter and reminding people of trash. She recommended concealed bins inside cabinets or a discreetly placed stainless steel bin to make it as unobtrusive as possible.
Pot racks are another culprit, often creating a cluttered and chaotic look. Penny noted that unless you have matching high-end pans, pot racks can make a kitchen appear cheap and can obstruct sight lines while collecting dust and grease. She suggested using dividers to store pans horizontally in cupboards, or even keeping them in the oven if space is tight.
Clutter on top of kitchen cabinets should also be cleared away. Penny advised against placing decorative items, photographs, or artificial plants there, as it draws the eye upward and makes the kitchen look smaller and cheaper. Instead, she recommended enjoying the negative space.
Word art signs, such as those reading 'kitchen' or 'eat, pray, love', are mass-produced and can make a kitchen feel generic. Penny suggested investing in genuine art, such as a landscape print from Etsy, which does not have to be expensive.
Finally, mixing appliance finishes is a common mistake. Penny said that having a white dishwasher, black fridge, and stainless steel stove creates a jumbled mess. She recommended panel-ready appliances to hide the finish, a trend seen in luxury homes.
