Directing traffic - how to create a family kitchen that’s easy to navigate

Busy family life can put a lot of demands on a kitchen. At the heart of the home, the kitchen ends up being used for everything from cooking, socialising and entertaining to a space for the kids to play, do their homework and run about. For one space, it needs to meet a lot of different needs!
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To stop pans being knocked over and doors being bumped into, here are 5 handy design tips to help you create a smooth and easy-to-navigate kitchen for all the family:
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1. Go for generous walkways. Think you’ve left enough walkway space on your plans? Be generous an increase it just a little bit more. You’ll be very glad of it when all the family are using the space, especially when two people are cooking at the same time. Remember to do this with islands too, which always require more space around the edges than other units. If you’re really having to squeeze an island in, it may not be the best choice for your kitchen as much as you may want one. It has to work practically as well as looking good.

 

1. Keep cookers out of high traffic areas. This is a must if you have children who will regularly be using the kitchen and running up and down. Keeping the cooker out of the way will help to prevent pan handles being caught and knocked over, which could be very dangerous as well as causing messy spills.

 

1. Look at how doors and drawers open. Take a closer look at all of your plans to double-check that when all cupboard doors and drawers are open (or two next to each other), none will bang into each other. The grown-ups may be mindful of this and remember to open cupboards carefully, but children definitely won’t – so you can expect to be replacing chipped doors and drawers regularly!

 

1. Gone open plan? Think carefully about storage. Open plan kitchen, dining and living spaces can be great for socialising and bringing the family together, but they sure can be messy if storage isn’t carefully considered. Where will the kids keep all of their stuff? How will you stop kitchen mess and smells affecting the soft furnishings? Where will the family keep all of their outdoor shoes and coats? These are crucial things to consider at the kitchen planning stage.

 

1. Keeping kids out of the cooking space. If you’re a keen cook, you’re going to need as much workspace as possible. You’ll also need ready access to cupboards, the fridge and the stove without tripping over your family. To keep everyone out of the chef’s way, consider a breakfast bar or a proper dining table (if space allows) to separate the cooking part of the kitchen from the space used for socialising and entertaining.

Happy with your kitchen layout design? Bring it along to the expert kitchen fitters at A&J Kitchens to discuss all of your different options for a highly professional, affordable finish.