So you’ve decided to redesign your kitchen or you’re starting from scratch with a brand-new home.
Either way, the kitchen is where families spend most of their time, so it’s one room you want to get correct, right from the start. It’s all about striking a balance between looking gorgeous and being functional.
Here are our top tips to consider when designing the perfect kitchen.
1. Foster conversation
The kitchen is where most people will congregate as they come into the home, especially around meal time. So you want to ensure that your layout and design fosters these social interactions.
If you have kids, the kitchen island bench is a nice place for them to do their homework in the afternoon. For entertaining purposes, it’s also a nice idea to have an island bench facing towards where guests will be. That way, you can be pottering around the kitchen doing last minute prep and they can be hovering around – you’ll always be included in the conversation.
2. Optimise the layout
When considering the layout of the kitchen, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Make sure the walkways are wide enough for two people to pass each other. There’s nothing worse than having to move out of the way while you’re busy cooking on the stove top.
Ensure there is a ‘set down’ space near the oven and stove, so you can pull things out and immediately put them on a bench. It’s also crucial to have a solid amount of preparation space.
It’s important that your sink, oven and workspace are close by. This is often referred to as the ‘triangle of efficiency’. Make sure your dishwasher is close to the sink so you can rinse then load without traipsing through the kitchen.
3. Storage is king
A place for everything and everything in its place. The key is getting as much off the benchtop as possible.
Look carefully at your storage capability. Remember, it’s not just glassware and crockery we’re talking about. It’s also appliances, containers, platters and serving plates, pots and pans and even your plastic wrap and tea towels.
It’s also important to consider what kind of storage each object needs. This will largely depend on personal taste. For example, some people prefer plates and bowls in drawers, whereas others want to open a double cupboard to retrieve their crockery.
Storage is all about convenience so you also need to layout the cupboards and drawers in a manner that is simple to navigate and easy to use. Eliminate as many wasted steps as possible.
4. Ignore the trends
There will always be specific trends floating around. However, when it comes to the kitchen, sometimes it’s better to ignore them. Remember, trends come and go and what’s fashionable now may not be so hip in 10 years time.
You want your kitchen to last and if you’re designing by the trends, it may not go the distance. That’s not to say ignore everything, but when looking at the major design elements, it’s best to stick with timeless and classic.
5. Consider aesthetics
As we said before, it’s not just about functionality. You want your kitchen to look beautiful too. So take all the aesthetics into consideration.
This means the colour and finishes of the cabinets, the wall colour, what kind of splashback will you have, what materials do you want to use throughout the kitchen? There are a whole range of questions you should be asking yourself.
Lighting is also crucial to think about, especially if you want to install some pendants above the island bench. You can even add some extra points of interest with the door profiles and handles.
There are a myriad of ways you can personalise your kitchen and give it a bit of unique pizzazz. You just need to ensure that it reflects your personality and the way you live.
6. Let in the light
Most kitchens will have at least one window and dressing these windows can be part of the overall design. Play to the natural light.
By incorporating the natural light and building your shelves and appliances around the windows, you’ll actually create a more inviting space, and indeed, the space will seem a lot bigger. But remember also to include a window covering, especially if people can see in.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, there’s no doubt about it. So it’s important to really plan a kitchen renovation. And when in doubt, call in the experts – it’s the heart of your home, and it’s worth doing right.
