The thought of having a brand new kitchen can be an exciting one, but it is easy to get side-tracked by pictures in magazines and finishing touches rather than the basics. A new kitchen can cost tens of thousands of pounds, so you want to get it right the first time, and this is going to start by having the right layout.
You need to consider what you want from your new kitchen and how you achieve it. This will, of course, be dependent on the space you have, but dividing it into zones can be a great place to begin. These can serve a single purpose or different purposes at different times of the day, and if planned carefully, can ensure you get every last pennyworth out of your investment.
A breakfast and dining area
It is a continuing debate about whether it is better to have a dining room or to eat in the kitchen, but having somewhere to sit and eat breakfast in the kitchen is going to be a no-brainer if you have kids. You can keep an eye on them while you are doing other things and make sure they are eating at least some of what you put in front of them. This area does not have to be huge, and can just consist of a couple of chairs or stools next to a countertop, especially if, like most families, you tend to have breakfasts in shifts.
You might need a larger table if you intend on having the evening meal together, but again, if the kids tend to eat when they get home from school and you eat later, it doesn’t have to be much larger.
A food preparation area
Your current kitchen layout might not be the best for food preparation currently, but that can change with your new refit. While the golden triangle is still the best way to lay out your kitchen, you still need to account for all of the extra gadgets you have gained over the years. As well as the obligatory microwave and toaster, you are also potentially going to have a blender, breadmaker, soupmaker, and slow cooker, in addition to the latest must-have air fryer.
There are considerations to make here to ensure with all of these gadgets. You have enough sockets to power them all, and enough nearby storage so that you still have room to prep food. This could be provided by a long worktop area along one wall or by making worktops a little deeper than normal, so you have room to push the gadget to the back and can still work in front. This can work particularly well if this area is above a dishwasher, where the additional room behind can be used to organize the pipework.
A food storage area
As storage for gadgets, you also need food storage, and by getting this right, you can save yourself a lot of money on your grocery bills. You are bound to want a large American-style fridge freezer, but you should not neglect the areas for the storage of tins, jars, and packets. Standard cupboards above the work surface are good for this but do not serve as well as a larder cupboard, as these can have multiple shelves in them and can store huge amounts of food and ingredients.
Of course, this is for longer-life products, and extra space can mean you will be able to buy in bulk. If you are a keen cook, you will already have worked out the financial benefits of buying bulk spices from a reputable supplier over those small jars from the supermarket. It doesn’t just stop there as you can also buy other dried ingredients in bulk, cutting down on any wastage from using fresh for cooking.
A drinks preparation area
Another space-saving idea is to have a dedicated area for beverage preparation. This will keep the kettle and the coffee machine away from the prep area, so whoever is making a cup of tea is not getting in the way of whoever is cooking dinner.
You store all of your teabags and all the paraphernalia needed for all the various types of coffee drinks there, too, as well as all the cups on hooks under the storage shelves or the shelves themselves. This is also a good place to have at least one bin, so it is easy to dispose of your used teabags without having to dash across the kitchen with them. Your needs will vary according to the equipment you have, but this valuable addition can often be fitted in an area just a metre wide.
Other optional areas
With careful planning, most of these areas can be fitted into a normal-sized kitchen, but if you have more space, you will have more possibilities.
Casual seating
If your kitchen leads out to the back garden via patio doors (which you might have ambitions of replacing with bi-fold doors), you might want to consider putting some casual seating in front of it. This could just be a couple of chairs and a small coffee table for snacks and beverages, but it can be useful when you have guests around, and you can talk to them while you prepare lunch.
Homework area
Older kids might like to retreat to their rooms at every opportunity, but smaller ones can use this area to complete their homework under supervision. They can’t be distracted by the devices in their rooms, and you are on hand should they need help with any of what they have been set. This can be a natural extension to them having tea when they get in, and you could even reuse the breakfast area for this.
Waste and recycling
This was touched on earlier, but you can’t just get by with one bin these days. You will have your standard household waste, and several types of recycling to keep separate for collection or to take to your local centre. A small area under a countertop is ideal and can be customized to allow for how much of each type of recycling you typically have.
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