Make Your Kitchen Work For You!

Kitchens have always been the hub of any household. From our ancient ancestors sitting around the fire to friends keeping you company as you cook. As much as we have come a long way, things have certainly stayed the same. The question is – how do you make your kitchen work for you?

If you’re redesigning your kitchen, you are fortunate in that you can completely change the layout to meet your needs. Decide what you think would work best for you based on how much you cook and what else you use your kitchen for. One thing to remember is the triangle rule whereby your fridge, stove and sink should be positioned in a triangle shape. This makes for easy moving from one to the others.

Adding an eating area is always a good idea is it makes hanging out whilst cooking much more comfortable. This could be anything from a dining table and chairs, to an island or even a bar table. What you select depends on your needs. The great thing about having this is the extra counter space for when you’re cooking large meals. Options like islands also offer great additional storage.

On the subject of storage – If you have enough lower cabinets to store everything, then it might be a good idea to remove your upper cabinets and just add a few shelves to store the essentials. This will make your kitchen feel more open and airy. An empty wall is a wasted wall in kitchens where there isn’t much storage. Consider adding a hutch or chest of drawers just to act as extra storage space without cluttering the room. You should also consider moving anything you don’t need in the kitchen or use often out to another area.

Kitchens are often multifunctional, being used as homework rooms, studies and social areas. If you often do work in your kitchen, consider bringing in elements to make this easier for you, even if it’s as simple as having a stationery drawer for the kids’ homework. If you find that you do most of your office and admin work in the kitchen, move your computer, bookshelf and anything you need in there. If you have a table, island or breakfast bar with comfortable seating, there’s no need to bring in your desk and office chair, but if you have the space it might be a good idea.

Do not clutter your countertops! If you have enough storage, consider having nothing on your counters but your kettle and microwave. Store anything you don’t use often away. The things you use every day need to be in easy reach. This is the quickest and easiest way to make your kitchen work better for you.

Finally, add some entertainment. If you’re cooking by yourself, it might be nice having the radio on or even a TV, so you can cook whilst watching your favourite cooking show. If you often socialise in your kitchen, a radio is a great idea for background music and if you’re tired of cooking alone while everyone else is watching the rugby, a TV in the kitchen means you can cook, talk to your family and friends and catch the game all at the same time – talk about multitasking!

At the end of the day, how you lay out and organise your kitchen is up to you and what your needs are. If you’re going to be renovating, visit Mica Hardware for all your hardware, plumbing, sanware and homeware needs.