How much time do you spend in your kitchen? This probably depends on what the kitchen means to you; is it a functional space or a social hub? For a kitchen to really be the heart of a home, you have to want to spend time there. This comes down to more than aesthetics. Good design is all tied in with functionality. So from a full kitchen refit to easy tips and tricks, we look at how to make your kitchen the heart of your home.
A Social Hub
Having a social kitchen can be dictated by its layout (as well as the company!). You may feel that this is easier for lager square kitchens, and to a certain extent that’s true. However, it’s not impossible for longer kitchens to feel social too, like this galley kitchen with a light and airy dining space at the end.
Dining
From dedicated open plan dining areas to a simple breakfast bar, having a space to dine within your kitchen always makes it more social. If you’re planning a full kitchen replacement or extension, this is an ideal time to zone your space and ensure that you have adequate dining areas for your lifestyle.
Entertaining
Receiving guests these days could involve a sit down dinner, or just a cuppa, evening drinks or even a kids tea while the grown ups catch up on the side! A truly social kitchen adapts to all of these things with flexible areas and plentiful surface space.
Family
Social spaces don’t just mean parties; they need to facilitate daily living and interactions within a household. The space should balance food prep, dining, working and homework. It should be a space where the whole family can interact without getting under each others’ feet. No matter the size of the room, zoning can really help here, so that each person’s movement doesn’t clash.
A Welcoming Space
For a kitchen to feel like the heart of the home, it must be welcoming. To enter this space after a long day should make you relax and wind down. Of course, not returning to a big pile of washing up can be a big part of it, but there are design techniques to bear in mind too.
Colours
Neutrals and pastel shades tend to create a calming space. Shaker style kitchens are a perfect canvas for these colour schemes as the matte finish serves to enhance these calming tones. A natural stone worktop sets off these styles wonderfully, with calming tones and a cool touch.
Textures
A well designed room should include different textures to create a sense of depth. A relaxed area with soft seating is a really popular addition. Alternatively, you may prefer to experiment with patterned tiling similar to this kitchen, bringing a nostalgic comfort to the room.
Little Touches
No matter how much input you had into the design, layout and colour scheme of your kitchen, it’s the finishing touches that will really make it yours. These accessories mark the space as the heart of your home, from photographs to ceramics.
Greenery
If there’s one simple thing that will make your kitchen feel like the heart of your home, it’s plantlife. Flowers and greenery sit incredibly well against neutral schemes and give a vibrancy that makes the space feel alive. If you have a habit of killing plants, it doesn’t hurt to fake it!
Visibility
A popular kitchen trend that doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere is to have items on display. We don’t mean clutter, though. Intentional items like high spec cookware or beautiful storage jars seen in this example are an attractive and functional statement piece.
Function
For your kitchen to feel like the beating heart of your home, it must be pleasing and easy to use. This comes down to clever, functional storage, and good quality appliances which ease kitchen based tasks.
Storage
Your kitchen storage should be designed with accessibility in mind. This is why pull out, full height pantry drawers are so popular. Shallow drawers within deeper drawers mean that everything has its place while maintaining uninterrupted aesthetic lines on the outside.
Appliances
It feels like everything is getting smarter these days. From a programmable Miele oven to an induction hob to a boiling water tap, up to date technology in the kitchen makes the room easier to use. So spending time here is more pleasurable.
Lighting
While we all want our kitchens to be bathed in natural light, let’s not forget that we are in the UK, where days can be both short and dark. Your choice of lighting, therefore, has a huge role to play in the atmosphere of your kitchen.
Changeable moods
When your kitchen is the heart of your home, it becomes an adaptable space. Mix up lighting levels to make this a room that works for everyone. Focussed task lighting under cabinets are helpful for food prep, while energy efficient LEDs are ideal for a general wash.
Softness
Don’t forget that you won’t always be slicing and dicing in your kitchen. For these more social times, your lighting should be softer. Statement pendants over a kitchen island or breakfast bar like the example below provide a comforting glow and are a great focal point.
Since so many of us are spending more time in the kitchen as a multi-function area, it’s important to feel relaxed here. This is why your kitchen should be designed specifically for your circumstances. Talk to us at Stone & Chrome to create a kitchen that both works for you and looks magnificent.