The kitchen is one of the essential parts of the home. It always improves the value of your property because of its look and functionality. Updating its feel, function, and look makes time spent in the kitchen more fun and efficient.
Beyond the elegance promised by glossy design magazines and shiny appliances, however, designing the kitchen is a challenge. Apart from the initial choice of a contemporary or vintage-style kitchen, the secret of an enjoyable kitchen lies in the finer details. Learn how these five seemingly ordinary features make your kitchen visually appealing and intuitively functional.
Lighting
Kitchen lighting serves both aesthetic and functional purposes. Areas for food preparation need brighter lights than areas for dining. You also want to incorporate natural lighting to reduce the health effects of artificial lighting.
For task areas, consider installing concealed spotlights that can change the atmosphere, depending on your task. For places where you gather with family and friends, use living-room-style lightings such as pendants and chandeliers.
Storage
Take an inventory of all the items you have and need. Rate them based on how accessible you want them to be. Doing so will help you figure out where to place the pots, pans, and other kitchen tools.
Designing your kitchen storage doesn’t always mean installing more cabinets. Think outside the box to integrate storage solutions in areas of your kitchen. For example, add magnetic panels where you can display kitchen knives. You can even use hanging storage for pots and pans.
Ventilation
An excellent ventilation system is essential for any kitchen. Cooking leaves lingering smells that could drift through the home and ruin indoor air quality.
Invest in a ventilation system that circulates air, filters impurities and keeps energy use to a minimum. Consider ducted range hoods, since they are more efficient in getting rid of dirty air, fumes and smoke.
Countertops
Consider the sufficient workspace you’ll need for your countertop. It’s a space not just for preparing meals; it can also be where you display appliances, wash up or have your meals. List down all the activities you plan to do on the countertop to determine its size.
The materials of your countertop matter, too. For example, quartz countertops are not only attractive, but they also withstand stains. However, if you work with pastries more often, choose marble countertops for their naturally cooling feature.
Waste Management
With the increasing focus on recycling, it’s essential to integrate recycling and segregation in your kitchen design. The best solution is to place your bins in integrated bins or cupboards. Not only will they hide your trash, but they’ll also contain odours.
Remember to separate your trash based on their material. Learn which materials are recyclable and non-recyclable and learn how you should dispose of them. The city of Toronto inspects and tags bins that have a significant amount of non-recyclable materials.
Your kitchen is a room full of activity, and it can be a challenge to design a space that will cater to your family and guests. The good news is that, with planning, you can easily avoid the common mistakes that come with kitchen design.
