Kitchen planning should start with you and your family and how you want to use your kitchen. This has a big impact on some of the planning decisions you’ll make. Things like whether you need to include a dining area for entertaining or a space that can double up as a home office or study?
Think about how you use your kitchen now, and how would you like to use your new one. How might your needs change over time? Think about how you or members of your household might need to use the kitchen in 5-10 years time – will you have young children around? Or will your children have become teenagers with lots of friends around – all with smart phones and tablets to charge?
Should your kitchen be designed for minimum hassle? What daily tasks will you do – make tea, load and unload the dishwasher, find things in your cupboards? Keep this in mind when you’re planning your layout to make these functions simple and efficient.
Where would you like the kids to be while you’re preparing dinner? Will they have to run past the hob or oven to get in and out? Do you need storage for their favourite toys? Will you have enough power sockets? Do you need to keep chemicals out of reach?
Should your kitchen be designed for minimum hassle? What daily tasks will you do – make tea, load and unload the dishwasher, find things in your cupboards? Keep this in mind when you’re planning your layout to make these functions simple and efficient.
Do you like to have the TV on or perhaps even chat on Facetime while you cook? Do you like to always have your technology to hand? From Bluetooth speakers to built-in chargers, there are lots of clever ways you can seamlessly integrate your gadgets into your kitchen.
How much waste does your home generate and to what level do you have to sort it? Make sure you plan in appropriate solutions to meet your household waste and recycling needs.
