Life shapes in the kitchen- from rushed breakfasts to family meals; your kitchen is your ‘activity hub’. Whether you are cooking, eating or entertaining, your kitchen should be a space where you enjoy being in, hence, thoughtful kitchen design is a must.

In the past, the kitchen was simply a space for food preparation, but lately this has unarguably become an essential part of every household.

From the functional kitchen spaces to the traditional galley-style look or the most contemporary, open-plan concept kitchen with an island, there can be no denying that the kitchen has to be classified as the most important room in any house.

Create a Kitchen Where Food Prep Flows As Easy As Conversation

The first step towards designing your kitchen is to understand your family’s habits.

For example, if you have a family that loves to dine together then a large dining space is best suited for you.

Storage is another key component of every modern kitchen. Consider everything from storage for pots and pans, stove and oven placement, countertop space to easy access to the dishwasher. To sum it up, efficiency is the crux.

The design of your kitchen is often said to be a mirror of your taste and lifestyle. There is nothing worse than having a newly installed kitchen only to find out that it doesn't have enough storage space. Hence, the importance of a thoughtfully designed kitchen cannot be overlooked, irrespective of the fact if you cook regularly or occasionally.

Apart from a kitchen’s functionality, it is also important to recognise the importance of your kitchen’s layout. If you have young children, the importance of kitchen design and layout increases twofold. Often it is the subtleties that we miss that have profound effects from a safety point of view.

For example, incorporating storage spaces that keeps alcohol and cleaning products out of children’s reach.

Believe it or not, a lot of your struggle gets eradicated with the right kitchen layout. If you’ve got more corners than necessary, cleaning them would be taxing. If your food preparation area is farther from your stove, the chances of spilling are more.

Choose a Kitchen Layout that suits your needs.

The best hack is to incorporate a smart kitchen layout that maximises efficiency and reduces inefficiencies. Initially, you may find it challenging to find the right layout for your kitchen. The best way to figure this out is by testing out different layouts and styles.

Arguably, the U-shaped layout is preferred in most households, primarily since it is spacious enough for accommodating your family needs.This is one of the easiest layouts and is all about efficiency, since you can easily move from one zone to another in just a few steps.

L-shaped layout is the second most preferred layout by most homeowners. Similar to the U-shaped layout, the L-shaped layout works well with small and medium sized kitchens. The fun factor of this layout is the accommodation of more than one cook at the time.

If you are looking for a kitchen with ample storage space, then a kitchen island is the best choice. Most islands have extended countertops to accommodate seating. Add just a few stools and you will have a great casual dining space!

If efficient use of space is what you are looking for, then a galley kitchen might be your best fit. This kitchen layout arranges counter tops and appliances on parallel walls with a walkway that opens into other rooms on both ends.

Now that you’ve learned all the popular kitchen layouts , it’s time to determine which layout will be best for your home.

Here are some questions to answer that will help you further narrow down your choice.

Who will be using the space?

Well, designing for the primary homemaker in your household takes priority but you should also consider small children and elderly family members. It’s also best to get input from anyone else who helps your family with cooking or cleaning.

Will you do other activities outside of making and eating meals?

If you have kids doing homework or need to meet work-from-home needs in your kitchen, you may want to create additional space and seating.

Indeed kitchen layouts are one of the most important aspects to help your house run in an efficient way.

Spend the time to think through all the layout ideas and ask yourself these important questions before zeroing in on your perfect fit. Of course, it’s entirely up to you how you decorate your kitchen and what type of layout you decide to go with. However, one thing’s for certain: you’ll thank yourself later down the line.

About Oreily Design

At Oreily Design, quality is the core value in everything we do. Our builds, our drawings, our architects, our customer service – every little part of our business places massive importance on quality.

We are a team of passionate and qualified interior and kitchen designers based out of Dunedin and Central Otago boasting years of experience. Our focus is using natural textures, clean designs inspired by wellness. Your project is our priority, hence, we collaborate with leading architects, specialist suppliers and tradespeople to get the work done for you. Start your conversation with us and receive complimentary counsel.

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