The kitchen is the backbone of the home. It’s where recipes are shared and passed down between generations, wholesome meals are prepared and taste-tested, and even a place where a midnight snack is snuck from time to time. Kitchens can come in all shapes and sizes, colors, and designs, but one thing remains consistent no matter what the space looks like, it has to be functional. Check out these must-have design features that will ensure a user-friendly experience no matter the occasion.
- Keep an Open Floor Plan – Having an open concept when it comes to your kitchen helps keep an easy flow for conversation while you’re preparing a meal or cleaning one up. Simply merge your kitchen with your family room or dining room for the ultimate entertainment space keeping things comfortable and functional.
- Don’t Desert your Island – Adding a second island is a newer trend but one that is quickly becoming very popular based on the functionality of the idea. Picture this: you’re in the kitchen cooking dinner and the kids are working on their homework before its time to eat. A second island complete with a few bar stools provides the perfect space for the kids to work while keeping them out of the way of your prep area, however accessible enough to walk over and help out with their grammar or multiplication while the pasta is boiling. Win, win!
- Kill Two Chores with One Stone – Positioning your laundry room just a few steps from the kitchen makes it easy to knock out two of the most time-consuming chores at once. You can throw a load into the washer while you wait for the coffee to finish, or work on folding that never-ending pile of clean clothes while dinner is baking in the oven.
- Choose Cabinets that Camouflage – Of course we would all love to have that picture-perfect looking kitchen we see in the magazines complete with perfect glossy, lacquered cabinets, but when you have kids, that’s just not going to fly unless you like the look of fingerprints and the occasional peanut butter and jelly splatter. Go for a distressed or stained finishes that will help hide the inevitable wear and tear of every day life.
- Don’t Forget About the Countertops – Choose a countertop finish that can help resist fingerprints like polished stone or leathered granite to keep your kitchen looking clean even if it could use a good wipe down.
- Worry Less about Spills – Spills are inevitable in any kitchen but choosing the right flooring can help reduce slip and falls. Materials like cork, linoleum, textured vinyl, slip-resistent tile, or stone tile will help.