Kitchens come in a wide variety of designs and layouts, and certain layouts might work better for your specific needs. Here are a few things to consider before determining the best kitchen design for your home:
- Current effectiveness of your kitchen’s design – are there things about your current kitchen design or layout that work well, or don’t work well?
- Overall efficiency and comfort – what would you like to see in a new kitchen? What does your dream kitchen look/feel like?
- Areas of the kitchen you’re particularly happy/unhappy with – are there particular elements of your current kitchen (or previous kitchens) that drive you crazy or that you can’t picture life without?
- Your potential future needs – will your needs, or your family’s needs, be changing in the near future (i.e. family size decreasing as children move out)?
These are important questions to ask yourself before you embark on the quest for the perfectly-designed kitchen, as they will help inform you of the direction you want to go in in terms of aesthetic, layout, and functionality. There are a few other considerations that homeowners tend to overlook when researching kitchen designs, but that are critical to your overall happiness and satisfaction with the final product. Kitchen remodels are one adventure you’ll only want to undergo once – so it’s important to get it right the first time! This list of tips will be helpful in determining your kitchen design:
1. Maximize space in every way possible
A kitchen houses a lot of items that need to be stored efficiently. That means that not only do many appliances, tools, utensils, etc. need to be put away in an organized manner, but they need to be easy to access when you need them. Here are some areas you should consider in your quest to help keep your kitchen neatly organized, with ample storage:
- Countertops
- Cabinets
- Walkways
- Extra storage
- Seating
- Appliance placement
- Trash and recycling bins
2. Elevate efficiency
Along with ample storage and organization, there are other functional aspect of your kitchen to consider when remodeling. Ample power sources, new accessory additions like extra water spouts to make your life simpler and easier, additional storage, and new appliances can boost your kitchen’s functionality and aesthetic significantly.
- Outlets
- Accessories
- Storage
- Appliances
3. Plan a cohesive space by maximizing the flow of the room
Since the kitchen is usually where people gather in a home, maximizing your kitchen space sometimes means you’ll need to get creative with seating areas, cabinetry, kitchen islands, and hidden drawers to make sure there is enough space to accommodate the whole family at once, if need be. Seating areas can be added to kitchen islands to create more space for people to get comfortable, and built-in seating can also house hidden appliances and items you don’t need to get to that often. Furthermore, make sure the walkways in your kitchen aren’t hindered by recycling or trash bins, or other unnecessary items that could easily have a storage space created for them in a new design.
4. Make the kitchen space your own
Your kitchen’s aesthetic is another great reason to plan a new design. Perhaps you’ve grown out of the 70s theme; you want a new, fresh start for your retirement; or you want to wake up to brighter, more inviting colors and design elements to start your day off right. Whatever the case may be, it’s essential to instill some of yourself into your new kitchen design. Every new tile, new paint color, or new cabinet design is an opportunity for you to bring some of your own “taste,” so to speak, into your new kitchen.
Getting started
The kitchen remodeling experts here at Kitchen Emporium have served the Southern California areas, including: the San Fernando Valley, San Diego, and San Marcos, for years, establishing an exceptional working relationship with our many loyal, satisfied clients. If you’ve recently decided to take on the task of a kitchen remodel project, it can be quite difficult to get started – the whole process can seem pretty overwhelming right from the start. With the help of our expert contractors and kitchen designers, we will collaborate with you to achieve the kitchen you desire, and deserve.