How To Design A Kitchen That Works For You
Deciding to turn your kitchen into your dream space is an exciting prospect, but the most important part of that renovation happens before the first tool is even picked up – in the design phase. While it can be tempting to ride the wave of latest kitchen trends, designing your kitchen is an extremely personal endeavour. It can be one of the most difficult spaces to design in your home, because it’s pretty much used all day. So, the first step to designing a kitchen that works for you is to assess the ways in which the kitchen will be utilised by everyone in your home.
Whether you’re redecorating your entire home, or just looking to spruce up your interior décor with a few light touches, we’ve compiled a few great ideas to help you welcome in the new season.
Space assessment
The first thing to do is to ask yourself how often you plan to use your kitchen, and in what ways? Ask yourself questions like: Are you an everyday or weekends-only cook? Does your family have sit-down meals together often, or do you all eat at your own pace and schedule? Does meal preparation have to take place as efficiently as possible, or is it an experience meant to be stretched out and enjoyed?
Questions like these are meant to help you figure out your needs and wants when it comes to designing the kitchen. Asking yourself what didn’t work in your old kitchen can often be a great place to start, and can lay the foundation for input from the rest of your family as well.
Creating zones
Zones are a great method to use for kitchen planning. Based on the answers from your space assessment, kitchen ‘zones’ can be designed to optimise work flow and efficiency. Designing effective zones allows for multiple people to work in the kitchen at once, or for one person to work with minimum disruption. Designing your kitchen according to work zones can mean deciding to add another sink, a larger countertop for meal preparation, or a spaced out stove top that allows for multiple dishes to be cooked simultaneously.
Large kitchens definitely aren’t a must, so don’t feel pressured to create one. Many of the best restaurants in the world have large cooking teams squeezed into a fairly small space, but careful planning allows for everyone to move around easily.
Storage and utility
Designing for storage and utility are essential for any kitchen. Whether you are a serious cook or a novice who makes the odd grilled cheese in the middle of the night, investing in a good organizational system can save you a ton of hassle! Accessibility is often key to a good storage system. Plates and utensils should be stored near the sink, pots and pans near the stove, chopping essentials near the countertop, etc. If designed well, a guest could come into your kitchen and easily find everything they need to to fix themselves a cup of tea!
Designing a kitchen that works for you is to assess the ways in which the kitchen will be utilised by everyone in your home.
Designing for the family
Designing for the family is important, especially when the kitchen is a space all of you tend to gather in. The countertop can often double as a breakfast bar on chaotic mornings, and create a buffet-style mealtime that kids always enjoy. Storing kid-friendly kitchen utensils in easy-to-reach places can also encourage independence in the smaller members of your family. Creating spaces that split up the kid’s healthy snacks, expensive cooking ingredients, and other oft-used items by different members of the family, also helps to keep the peace in a shared space. If cleanliness is a concern, choosing materials that allow for a fuss-free clean-up can also make a huge difference.
Designing for the non-cook
Even if your kitchen is more decorative than utilitarian, it can still be designed to suit your needs. Those who entertain often can think about creating nooks for serving drinks and hors d’oeuvres. A wider island can allow for food and drinks to be displayed beautifully, and make it easier for guests to serve themselves. Depending on your personal interests, you could even convert part of your kitchen into a bar or coffee area for a bit of cocktail wizardry or latte art.
Designing a kitchen that works for you undoubtedly requires a lot of forethought, but when designed with your personal needs and wants in mind, you could turn it into the space you’ve always dreamed of.
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