Big design no no’s for showing up dirt

[Mumma301]

Hello everyone, we are embarking on a huge project starting in Feb 2020 to create a big open plan kitchen/ dining/ living space with bi folds into the garden and will give us a bathroom upstairs (finally!) and a playroom come snug.

So I basically need to choose all new everything. I’ve got two toddlers and a dog and I like to try (and often fail) to keep my gone looking nice and clean. I didn’t consider this when picking all my flooring tiles etc in my pre kids and dog says so made terrible decisions that show up all the smears, dirt etc and are horrible to clean.

Can anyone share their big no no’s design wise. Any materials/ colours/ shapes/ designs which are horrendous to keep clean or show up dirt a lot.

My dog is tan so I’m already figuring dark flooring would be a bad idea.

All input will be gratefully received!

dark shiny kitchen worktops.
slate or dark grey tiles.
stainless steel splashback.
light gloss cabinets

all a pain in the arse for showing dirt/splashes

Dark carpets..... we got beautiful dark blue carpets throughout our renovation. It shows everything. EVERYTHING! Needs hoovering twice daily

Dark carpets

Never ever. Even white carpet is better than dark carpets.

No high gloss. They're like Windows and pick up finger marks and smudges... pain in the arse
No pillow back sofa... always look untidy.
Pick neutral colours for your kettle/toaster because you'll get fed up looking at colour and want to change it often
Don't go for any colour fads with kitchen units or windows. You're stuck with them for years.
No long haired rugs.

Rough tiles.. ours have a sparkle in them that only shows in the light to give it a little ooo.. dp picked them for the glittery bits being fancy.. 3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 weaning baby (never knew how far they could throw pasta) and dp the mess dropper they still don’t look visibly dirty at any point.. besides obvious oh crap I’ve dropped x sauce.
No white.. just run white shoes every little spec (white shaker cabinets here and I can tell you where who shook their self dry)
Depending on light/cleaning routine depends on whether I’d say carpet or hard floor, our hard floor down stairs always looks ok it’s not gloss mid grey loads of shades and some texture so it doesn’t show smears but the rooms are really bright down there so the hall carpet looks a mess, upstairs less light carpet looks fine. Also hard floors vs potty training/food flinging/toddlers is a winning argument over carpet.. never shall milk soak in under the couch.
Rugs can work if they fit in the machine and on the line. Ours is fluffy but goes out on the line randomly to blow the dog fluff off it.

I'm doing similar, and have the advantage of having a neighbour whose lessons I've learnt.
I'mhinking of mid grey mottled tiles with dark grout. Hopefully easy to keep.
Wood effect tiles would be the best though the grain hides a multitude and easy to keep.

A glass splashback, maybe, no grout and just needs a wipe...?

Also IKEA sofa with removable covers, and affordable slip covers. I have 2 kids and a dog too.

Dont put a hob on an island. My neighbour did and theres always food splatters further away than youd think.

If you're having a utility dont fill it with cupboards, leave space for an airer, even one of the heated ones are a godsend in bad weather - the dryer can be expensive to run and not everything can go in anyway.
Also my neighbour reckons she should have left space for an ironing board to be out, so handy for quickly ironing a shirt etc in the morning.

Jmo, but bifold dont seem like a great idea. You wont always want a wide open side to the house. Personally, I'm considering sunroom style with double doors in the middle. More flexibility.

Make sure your paint is washable.

Will you have space for a separate utility?
Even a glorified back porch with a seat where you can pause after dog walking and clean off paws, get wellies off the kids etc

(From bitter experience) do not put a light coloured grout on the floor - it will discolour immediately

Poured concrete? Or that effect in big tiles. Like pp said - choose a flooring which can hide a bit of dust/crumb/dog hair

So pleased to find this thread.

I'm also doing a big project and looking for surfaces which hide dirt/are easy to look after.

I suggest the following: matt kitchen cupboards, rather than glossy ones, brushed stainless steel handles, rather than shiny ones in the kitchen.
(I had blue pearl granite worktops in my previous house which showed nothing) .

I currently have pale very plain quartz which shows everything.
Awful stuff.

I'm planning mid colour oak Amtico (matt) for the floors. Both light and dark show up 'bits' too easily. I'm looking for one with significant variation of colour in the wood.

If I have metal sockets put in, I will go for ones with a brushed effect rather than super shiny metal ones (which my new place has) which constantly get covered with fingerprints.

We are refurbishing this flat for our old age so less housework and easy to live in.

Do not have pale tiles if you have direct access to garden. Mud mud mud.
Leather sofas are wipe clean and very forgiving.

my old kitchen had marble effect amtico on the floor which was great.

and ganite effect marble effect chipboard as work surface. both were great at not showing up crumbs/dust/dirt too much.
stained wood is also good.

touch close cupboards especially gloss ones will be covered in sticky fingerprints

Thanks everyone so much food for thought here

No white or very dark floors. Mid tone wood colour or similar us much better at hiding dirt!

Expanses of plain flat colour floor coverings show every bit if dirt. Have a bit of a variation in tone if you're using tiles, woods etc

Matt cupboard doors. Brushed steel/metal handles.

Super Matt paint can be impossible to wipe clean without leaving a Mark, so if you'll need to wipe it choose a washable, or dulux kitchen/bathroom which is good for a scrub!

Good luck!!

Grey stone tiles with grey grout hides a multitude if sins.
NOT matt paint on walls. A bugger to clean.
Have your play area as part of the bigger space and keep the snug as a cosy TV room. You'll be annoyed that you have to keep watch in your toddlers in a different room.

Avoid unnecessary ledges. Choose slab doors not shaker, simple skirting boards, no panelling.

No white as a pp said. We’ve been in our house a few weeks post refurb - the white walls are already marked.

Mid colours and mottled are good for floors and worksurfaces. If you like marble or quartz choose one with lots of markings not one with lots of plain white.

Honed and matt not shiny.

Build in space for shoes, coats, general clutter.

Induction hob.

Avoid too much glass at low level - fingerprints!

If you have the space, have an utility room.
Plan storage carefully so that things have a home.
I really wouldn't go for bifold doors. We manage to bring quite enough outside in with just a door.

soontobe60- do you mind me asking where you got your floor tiles from? They are just what I'm looking for and I can't find anything quite right anywhere!!
Sorry to hijack...
My cleansing tips are if you can get stuff a similar colour to your dog . We have jack russells and so can't have anything dark as the hair shows up against it.