When you’re redesigning your kitchen, you may have your eye on all the visual elements: wall colours, tile, cabinet colours, door knobs and handles, and flooring. These are all important, but practical concerns need to be at the top of your list, too.
A kitchen that looks pretty but doesn’t function well is useless. You won’t want to spend any time there, because it won’t suit your needs. Cooking will be harder, as will other tasks that you want your kitchen to handle.
5 Tips for Your Brand New Kitchen Design
Think About How You Use Your Kitchen
One way to make life easier for yourself is to plan your kitchen design around how you actually live and work in your space.
For instance, storing dishes and silverware near the dishwasher saves time when unloading. If you enjoy eating and sitting in the kitchen, consider planning on space for a small table or an island complete with spots for sitting.
A kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house because of all the different functions it serves. Cooking, eating, gathering, studying, homework, and more are all regular activities in most family kitchens. Make sure your kitchen can accommodate all the needs it fulfils for you and your family.
Power Up
When planning your kitchen, it’s essential to think about where you’re going to plug everything in. Think about how many small appliances you use daily – a toaster, blender, mixer, electric kettle, food processor, coffee maker, coffee bean grinder, and more – and where you use them.
Do you brew coffee near where you store your mugs? Do you prepare food in a designated spot near the stove? If you charge your electronics and smartphones in the kitchen, where do you tend to plug them in? Interior designers in Auckland recommend that you think about all of these scenarios and plan for electrical outlets accordingly.
Think About the Magic Triangle for Your Interior Design
There’s a formula for a kitchen that is easy to use for cooking. This is called the “work triangle” and involves the trifecta of stove, refrigerator, and sink. A kitchen designer uses this trick all the time to make the heart of the home seem effortless and cohesive, and to control the room’s flow.
If these three elements are too far apart or awkwardly located, cooking can take longer because you’ll be running a marathon between them. Make getting food on the table breezier by using these general guidelines for the work triangle: the total distance between each element should amount to no more than 8 meters, or about 26 feet.
Additionally, ensure that the flow of traffic through the room does not cross the triangle, as this will lead to family members, guests, and kids getting in your way while you’re trying to cook.
Minimize Dirt and Cleaning Time
If you don’t have a lot of time for cleaning your kitchen daily, you might want to factor this into the interior design. Modern design elements can hide crumbs or dust and make surfaces easier to clean.
For instance, choose a sink that is under-mounted, or flush-set, and you won’t have to clean around that annoying lip that plagues inset sinks. For less floor sweeping, choose material colours that hide crumbs, dirt, and pet hair. Generally, lighter floors show more dirt than darker floors.
Additionally, if you don’t have time for upkeep, don’t choose materials and finishes that require regular maintenance. For instance, some countertops, like butcher block, need to be resealed at regular intervals to maintain the integrity of the wood.
Another example is hardwood floors. These can be beautiful in a kitchen, but they’re also susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity, which can cause warping. Unfortunately, as you’re probably aware, your kitchen can get incredibly hot while you’re using the oven and the stove, and high humidity is a factor when you’re boiling water or running hot water from the tap.
To put it simply, if you don’t have the time or inclination, or if you’re just not handy, don’t choose materials that require a lot of work to keep in sparkling condition.
Customize Cabinetry
Cabinetry innovations make it easy to store, conceal, and keep items in easy reach. Custom pull-outs, slots, niches, and others can store everything from recycling bins to unwieldy pots and pans to spices, cutting boards, knives, trash cans, and oddly-shaped small appliances.
For counters, choose surfaces that are easy to maintain, that can handle hot pots and dishes, and that disguise crumbs.
If you are looking to do a kitchen renovation, count on experts who can help you create your dream room. At Mal Corboy, we’re interior designers in NZ who specialize in luxury design and high-end finishes. Choose our award-winning team for a truly gorgeous end product.
