What was once nothing more than a cooking area now is the heart of every home. The modern kitchen has become a space for intimate family dinners, lively entertainment of guests and even a zone for relaxation. If you yourself spend a lot of time in your kitchen, no matter what the occasion, it’s important that you create a functional and organized space. Not only will this enable you to perform your everyday cooking tasks more efficiently, but you’ll generally feel more comfortable in an atmosphere of openness.
1. Find the perfect layout
The layout is perhaps the most important aspect of designing a functional kitchen. Finding a layout perfect for your space will give it a great flow and enable you to move around freely. However, if you’re planning to change your kitchen layout completely, you should consider hiring a professional, especially if you don’t have much experience in the field.
The standard kitchen layouts include galley, one-wall, U- and L-shaped kitchens, peninsula, and island, but you can always experiment and adjust a specific layout to meet your needs. The galley is an efficient layout for kitchens with a three to five-feet-wide aisle, while the one-wall layout may not be the most efficient solution, but it’s suitable for a small kitchen. The L-shaped layout is appropriate for small kitchens, as well, due to its compact and simple design, whereas U-shaped layouts require more space. If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen socializing with your family and friends, you should consider opting for the peninsula or island layout because they are perfect for entertaining.
2. Maximise your storage
There’s no such thing as too much storage, especially not in the kitchen. Introducing plenty of storage solutions will help you give your kitchen an organized, structured look where everything has its own place. Don’t worry if you have a small kitchen because there are always simple solutions that will help you maximize your storage. From corner cabinets and vertical shelves to multifunctional furniture and hidden compartments, you have a range of options at your disposal. When choosing storage solutions, make sure to pick the design that will fit the general style of your kitchen.
3. Organize your cabinets
Cluttered kitchen cabinets are every cook’s nightmare. No one will feel motivated to cook a lovely dinner if they need an hour to find everything they need. For an efficient and stress-free cooking, you should have everything in its place and within your reach. Therefore, it’s important that you declutter your kitchen cabinets and get rid of useless items. After sorting out your items, you should neatly arrange them back into the cabinets. You can arrange them in different zones depending on their function. Afterwards, make sure to maintain the organized look in order to prevent your cabinets from getting cluttered again by repeating the process once or twice a year.
4. Get the right appliances
It’s easy to get carried away and buy a range of different appliances that you don’t really need, for example, a wine cooler when you don’t drink wine. Eventually, this will lead to cluttered surfaces and an unorganised kitchen. To avoid this, you should stick to the essentials and choose appliances that will add to the functionality of your kitchen. If you don’t always have time to wash the dishes, you should consider buying an efficient dishwasher. For example, energy-efficient Electrolux dishwashers have different wash cycle options that can make this chore a breeze. Therefore, when buying your kitchen appliances, make sure to choose the high-quality ones that will meet your everyday needs. Steer clear of small appliances that you’ll use only once or twice and then forget all about them.
5. Don’t forget the lighting
Lighting is an important element of a functional kitchen that will facilitate your everyday tasks. Not only will a pendant light above your kitchen island look stylish, but it will also provide you with enough focused light while preparing food. You can also install lights under the cabinets to illuminate your surfaces, while LED light strips can be placed inside you drawers and cabinets. Your kitchen lighting scheme should include several layers of lights that will boost the kitchen functionality, as well as create a pleasant ambiance.
When designing a kitchen, you shouldn’t focus solely on its visual appeal, but also on its functionality. Only then will you be able to create a perfect kitchen for your healthy lifestyle.
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