Kitchen Design: Different Ideas to Consider

Ready for a new kitchen and getting stuck during your kitchen design process? Let the experts do it for you or read this handy guide to get started.

Full article with thanks to: livforinteriors.co.uk/blog/kitchendesignideas

The kitchen is the heart of the home and therefore it is important to ensure that, when planning your new kitchen space, you think about how it can be used in the most practical and functional way as well as making sure it looks beautiful.

We’ve written this blog post to provide you with some key tips for designing your kitchen space, and we hope these will inspire you to create a room that ultimately becomes your favourite place in your home!

MAXIMISING STORAGE SOLUTIONS

When designing your kitchen, you want to ensure you make the most of every spare inch – every area of worktop and cabinet space is valuable, especially when it comes to keeping everywhere looking tidy and organised!

Some of our top tips for maximising space in the kitchen are:

– Use the overheads of your cabinets for storing seasonal items out of the way

– Downsize your appliances if possible

– Turn your window sills into storage areas,

– Use a utensil organiser in your cutlery drawer

– Stick a magnetic strip up to hang knives safely out the way

– Use pull-out storage baskets to create easy access to food production and cupboard items

CREATING AN EASY FLOW FOR KITCHEN DESIGN

As we’ve already highlighted, storage is crucial when planning your kitchen. However, you need to think carefully about where you’re actually going to be placing your storage, as you need everything to be quickly accessible and conveniently placed. The flow of the space is key. For example, store plates and cutlery close to the dinner table. Keep pots and pans near to the cooking hobs, along with a spice rack so that you can quickly reach up and grab your seasoning while whipping up a delicious dinner.

KITCHEN ISLANDS

If you’re lucky enough to have the space for a kitchen island, it’s vital to get the design right in the early planning stages as it can play a significant role in your overall scheme. Form follows function, and you want to make sure that you use it to its full potential and avoid it becoming a dumping ground for washing up! Ensure it works both as a cooking and entertaining space by changing work surface materials to suit each area specifically, for example, opt for a softened textured wood to split the entertaining area from the cooking and preparation area.

PLANNING SUITABLE WORKTOPS FOR KITCHEN DESIGN

Another important decision you’ll need to make when planning your kitchen design is which worktops you would like to opt for. If you’re installing a high gloss, contemporary kitchen, this is your opportunity to introduce warm texture, such as wood; if your room has period detailing, such as a marble fire surround, perhaps marble worktops will be a good way to tie the scheme together.

There are also some different practical factors to consider when thinking about which worktop might work best for your kitchen. For example, granite is one of the most popular choices for worktops as it is both durable and functional, but there are different options within this one stone. Harder granites, such as black granites, will not need sealing (although it is recommended), while softer granite will perform well as a kitchen worktop only if it’s sealed. Meanwhile, marble is a beautiful natural stone but, over time, will develop a patina from scratches and staining, if not sealed properly. Ceramics are also rising in popularity as they are extremely durable to heat and staining, whilst giving your kitchen worktops a sleek appeal.

GET THE LIGHTING RIGHT

This is something that needs to be planned very early on in the design stages. Whilst you’re sure to have the main overhead light, don’t forget to also factor in some ambient lighting, dimmable options and aesthetically stunning pendants too for maximum effect. The key here is ensuring you have enough light to illuminate the cooking tasks – for example, chopping, frying and washing up.

KEEP CLEAR OF CORNERS

To ensure that your cabinet and appliance doors are fully functional, be careful to plan space for the door’s clearance and swing direction in your kitchen design. Keep appliances away from corners, and make sure that doors aren’t going to be swinging into each other if they’re open at the same time.

BREAK UPCABINETRY BLOCKS

If you can, avoid too much heavy cabinetry in a row or a block. Instead, try to add interesting details such as glass doors and display shelving, or try wine storage units that add visual depth.

USE LIGHT COLOURS

Dark colours can make more compact kitchens look even smaller, so be sure to use soft, neutral shades on cabinets and emphasise any natural light to visually expand the space. Choosing the right colour for kitchen cabinets isn’t just about light, though. Picking a grainy wood finish for your units will introduce texture and interest into an otherwise featureless room – perhaps a contemporary extension that has no period details.

FIND A FOCAL POINT DURING KITCHEN DESIGN

Patterned tiles, fancy floors, sizable range hoods, bright kitchen cabinets and busy countertops can be far too much to digest when used all at once. Instead, pick one focal point in your kitchen that you’d like the eye to be drawn to, and complement that area with a few other quieters, eye-catching details.

These are just a few ideas for how you can maximise every space in your kitchen, to make it truly work well for you! Remember that planning a new kitchen should be fun and sometimes, thinking of inventive ways to create storage can feel like a real achievement! We hope our blog post has encouraged you to think about the different ways you can design and create your dream kitchen!