What do you think first when planning for a renovation of your kitchen? Well, if you are like most homeowners out there, you will probably consider before anything else the color scheme or the kitchen appliances. For sure, your microwave oven and nature-inspired kitchen wallpapers are important, but many interior designers will advise you to consider first the kitchen layout. Out of all the spaces in your house, the kitchen layout matters most.
An ideal kitchen design is one that allows free movement and prevents inconveniences such as reaching up and stooping down when doing kitchen tasks. It should let you move easily around when you are cooking or cleaning, for example. Without further ado, here are some tips that you can consider when planning for a functional and lovely kitchen.
Don’t Miss the Kitchen Work Triangle
The three essentials in your home kitchen design are the stove, sink, and refrigerator. Failing to include just one those in the design of your kitchen will surely make your kitchen tasks such as cooking the most arduous task. As mentioned above, the layout of your kitchen should make your movement between the three easy and convenient. It should have adequate space for two or more cooks to move around the area freely. It is the reason why the kitchen work triangle theory is so important.
The kitchen work triangle theory suggests that if the sink, stove, and refrigerator are in proximity to each other, kitchen tasks will be more manageable. The theory rules that the distance between these three elements should be no less than four feet and no more than nine feet. Also, the three sides should have a total measurement between 13 and 26 feet.
Of course, these measurements vary depending on the size of your kitchen, but the kitchen work triangle theory is an essential thing to consider.
Create a Multi functional Kitchen
If you have visited one or two modern kitchens, you probably have noticed that it is not only an area for cooking and eating meals. The modern kitchen has become more versatile and dynamic; it also now functions as a space for relaxation and entertainment. Many interior designers will give a word of advice, for sure, to keep your kitchen as multi functional as far as possible. One way to make your kitchen multi functional and inviting is to include seats along the kitchen island. When you have seats in the kitchen, it would have a more inviting ambiance for family members and guests to socialize while someone is preparing food.
Make Sure that There are Cupboards
Many homeowners often neglect the proper use of their cupboard space. Worse, some of them do not have cupboards in their kitchen at all. When planning the design of your kitchen, it is essential to include the details of your cupboard space. For instance, it is ideal to organize the layout of your cupboard according to how you will use the space. Make sure to put the items that you usually used in proximity to each other. As such, you will not exert much effort in picking them when you are doing kitchen tasks. Even simple things such as the proper arrangement of your collection of spices are important to see them right on when you need them. Kitchen cupboards are a great help to have a storage for your kitchen essentials.
Let There Be Light
Like any space in your home, proper lighting is essential in your kitchen. Having an adequate lighting will make kitchen tasks such as slicing meat and veggies safer and easier. However, overhead lighting such as chandeliers is not enough to light your kitchen up. As such, you should make sure that aside from the overhead lighting, there is also task lighting fixtures such as under-cabinet lights. Under-cabinet lights directly illuminate your counter tops when you are doing kitchen tasks. You should also avoid shadows to cast out into the kitchen area. Hence, it is essential to have recessed lighting to provide general illumination and prevent glare and shadows. Installing recessed lights are also a good idea to light the space between the kitchen sink and the island.
Takeaway
The kitchen has become the center attraction in any modern home. Thus, it is important that you should take into account the proper planning for it to be functional and aesthetically appealing. You can make your kitchen functional and lovely to behold by following the kitchen work triangle layout, installing some cupboards, and providing the proper lighting.
Yassi Parrish is a home improvement blogger and a single mom. She loves to write topics about interior designs, and she looks for home essentials in sites like Black Mango. In her free time, she loves to travel or go out for a movie date with her kids.