7 Kitchen Items Not Worth the Splurge, According to Designers

05.11.2023 - 13:41 / thespruce.com / Megan McCarty

Whether you’re considering a full kitchen renovation—so long, rickety cabinets and outdated backsplash—or simply need to stock up on a few essential kitchen tools, there’s no getting around it: kitchens are expensive. 

Not every aspect of your kitchen needs to blow your budget, though. We tapped two interior designers, both with extensive kitchen experience, to spill the kitchen items they say aren’t worth the splurge. 

“There are so many choices when it comes to outfitting a kitchen, with just as many price points to choose from,” according to interior designer Kristina Phillips. “Most would agree that countertops and appliances are worth spending money on, but there are a few items that don't need splurging to be effective.”

Read on for their recommendations, both big and small—your budget will thank you. 

Jumping Rocks / UIG / Getty Images

Have you been daydreaming about upgrading your kitchen—and your bolognese dinners—with a pot filler? It’s easy to see why. Sometimes affectionately called a “pasta faucet,” a wall-mounted faucet installed above the stove adds a restaurant-level upgrade to add a convenient water source where you need it.

The convenience of filling a pot with water directly on the stove (instead of precariously carrying a heavy pot from the sink) is tempting. Still, if you’re on the fence, Galvani says skip it.  

“This is one of those items that can be very pretty but it really isn’t necessary,” Galvani says. “You have to carry the pot to the sink eventually.” 

Take it from Galvani: your bolognese will taste just as good without it.

Design by Annie Hamnett / Photo by Margaret Wright

A cutting board (or two) is a kitchen must-have. A $200-cutting board isn’t, says Phillips.   

“These are