Renovating the kitchen is a classic project for owners looking to add value, upgrade features or update the look of the property. While magazines and social media are full of ideas, they may not always have certain homeowners in mind. If you are raising a family or are planning to, it can be frustrating to not find a vision that meets your own.
Safety, durability, accessibility – these are just some of the factors to keep in mind when planning your renovation. Review our three core design philosophies below for a better idea of what makes family-friendly kitchen and how to make the most of it.
#1 PLAN IT
The first step is to ask yourself questions about how you want your kitchen to be used and how many people you plan to accommodate. While the kitchen is the busiest room in the house– a couple with a single child that loves throwing dinner parties will use their kitchen differently than a large, extended family under one roof.
Size up your current space and sketch out potential floorplans, emphasizing the areas that will be used the most and customizing them for the people that will use them. Always be sure to leave open spaces and never underestimate the value of durable counter-tops & good lighting, natural or otherwise.
#2 GROW WITH IT
Sure, the kids are small now– but kids grow up! Children, pets, family, friends… All these elements of life grow, shrink and change over time. It may be a natural process, but it also means a family-friendly kitchen today may not always be family-friendly tomorrow.
Design your dream kitchen so that it can evolve with you and your loved ones through the years. The most versatile kitchens make the most of open floorplans, updated safety features and ergonomic design. Investing your renovation dollar in these areas can mean you are adding value to your property in more ways than one.
#3 LOVE IT
Often your dream materials and components are not the most resilient or manageable when it comes to the daily wear and tear created by a family’s use of a kitchen. With this in mind, it makes sense to invest in durable products– but don’t let it detract from your original vision.
Take time to find the right blend of form and function to help create a space that both pleases your family aesthetically, while keeping it low maintenance enough to fit into your busy schedule. Paying a little extra for high quality appliances can also relieve stress by preventing breakdowns and other inconveniences to everyday life.
The guide above is hardly everything there is to know about family-friendly kitchens, but it’s a good starting point. Use the three tips we outlined to begin the process of bringing your kitchen up to modern standards, then tailor your design to the needs your family members, friends and loved ones.