It’s easy to get swept away by tile patterns, colour schemes and beautifully shiny finishes when designing a new kitchen. Of course, aesthetics matter – you want your new kitchen to look absolutely perfect. But good looks should never come at the expense of practicality, especially in such a heavily used, functional space like a kitchen.
A well-designed kitchen needs to be:
A well-designed kitchen needs to be:
- Easy to use and easy to clean
- Versatile – used for cooking, entertaining, family time and anything else you need it to do
- Able to withstand heavy traffic and use – plus, everything that kids/pets/culinary disasters can throw at it
- Durable – so it won’t get scratched, marked, damaged or dilapidated within just a year or two.
So, how do you get a super-practical kitchen? Bear these tips in mind when drawing up the plans for your new or renovated space:
1. Choose hard-wearing flooring
Flooring is perhaps one of the most crucial parts of any practical, durable kitchen. You may love the look of a particular floor surface, but it’s the wrong choice if it isn’t hard-wearing, anti-slip and easy to clean. Steer clear of thin, super-cheap materials, opting instead for flooring that is proven to stand the test of time.
2. Go for wipe-clean, quality paint
Choose a dedicated kitchen paint and never skimp on quality, as the paint you choose needs to withstand the daily wear and tear of the space.
3. Don’t forget the extractor fan
Do you really need an extractor fan over my cooker? The answer to this is yes, absolutely. A good quality cooker hood can help to get rid of lingering cooking smells and excess moisture. Miss out this essential element and you could end up with problems with mould or damp.
4. Avoid blocking thoroughfares
If your kitchen leads to another part of the house, such as a conservatory or outdoor space for example, you need to plan the layout carefully. Go for a streamlined design, such as a galley kitchen with sliding rather than opening doors, so as to remove obstacles. And it’s also worth considering whether an island unit is the right choice if your kitchen is a well-used thoroughfare.
5. Splashbacks are essential in cooking and cleaning areas
This is another often-overlooked feature in the kitchen, but splashbacks really are important from a practical perspective. When placed behind cookers and sinks (and when they reach the right height on the wall), splashbacks can catch spills, stains and splashes before they ruin your walls and paintwork.
6. Get clutter off the worktops
The more you have out on display, the more you’ll have to clean. It’s easy for grease, dust and cooking mess to build up on items like knife racks and utensil pots. You’ll also need to move these items whenever you want to clean the worktops. The solution? Fix storage onto the walls, making use of clever solutions such as magnetic knife racks and hanging rails. You can also hide appliances like microwaves and coffee makers away in specially designed units. It’s all to create a sleek, minimal, easy-clean kitchen.
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