Finding the right balance between style and function is no easy task.
Interior design experts share four kitchen trends to avoid and what to do instead.
In a viral video, Abby Posner (@home.swee.home) showed her followers some impractical decor choices that make cleaning difficult.
“It's always tough to find the balance between beauty and practicality,” the Instagrammer said.
“These design trends look great, but are a pain to maintain in the long run.”
For her first tip, Abby suggested avoiding open shelving in your home.
She explained that the decorative areas tend to collect dust quickly.
Not only does it mean you have to dust more frequently, but it also means you have to remove all items before wiping them down.
Instead, Abby recommended opting for enclosed cabinets that are easy to maintain and hide clutter.
Experts also advised homeowners not to add Shaker-style cabinets to their kitchens.
The recessed panels allow dust, dirt and oil to easily accumulate in the corners of each cabinet.
Instead, Abby suggested opting for a flat surface, which is easier to wipe down in one motion and doesn't collect dust.
For her next no-no, she showed her followers an example of a backsplash that's hard to clean.
This section was made up of countless small tiles, which meant a lot of grout to scrub.
A single backsplash also cuts cleaning time by eliminating grout areas where grease and dirt can accumulate.
Finally, Abby explained why homeowners should avoid grooved panels.
Cleaning tips to upgrade your home
Real estate agent Stephanie Booth shared her go-to cleaning tips with the US Sun.
- Scrub your stove and kitchen cabinets with dish soap and baking soda.
- As soon as you move in, clean under your carpets, dishwasher and appliances.
- Make a potpourri in your crockpot using lemon slices, vanilla, rosemary sprigs, and 2 cups water.
- Feel free to fluff your pillows, but don't worry about hitting them with karate chops.
She explained that over time, dirt gets stuck in the grooves and ridges.
This makes cleaning this feature more difficult, as you will need to wipe each panel one by one.
Abby suggested choosing a smooth laminate because it would allow similar details to be added without trapping dust.
Instagram users shared their thoughts on the advice in the comments section.
“I did exactly all of these things to keep cleaning to a minimum,” one impressed viewer wrote.
“I've been telling my friends about this – no grooved panels, no open shelves, nothing that can collect dust,” commented another follower.
“I totally agree! I've never understood why open shelving is just a way to display things and let them gather dust!” a third person commented.
“Great, grooved panels! Unless I hire someone, who's going to have the energy to regularly clean between all those grooves?”