Make Your Kitchen The Perfect Work Area
The kitchen is the engine that makes the rest of the house work. It is the central hub of all food and drink, providing energy and delicious eats for everyone who lives in the home as well as guests. Though a kitchen is often where much of the household work gets done, there is no reason why it cannot be your favorite room in the house.
There are so many aspects to a kitchen that you have control over. How is the space used? What is the lighting situation? What color and material are the cabinets? What style are your appliances and how do they blend with the rest of the space? These questions are important to answer when determining what kind of kitchen you want. Plus, upgrading your kitchen can be a determining factor in the resale value of your home.
This room is full of potential and can become the kind of haven that you love to spend time in. But it will not happen automatically, as you may have to make necessary changes to design the room around your personality. If you are looking for a place to start, try out some of these ideas for turning your kitchen into a haven.
How To Make An Amazing Kitchen Work Area
Install an island
A kitchen island is a great solution for upgrading this room. It can provide you with more open counter space, additional cabinets, and a location for food prep and presentation. An island with a sink gives you more freedom for implementing creative design ideas into your kitchen, while also improving the functionality of the room. After all, two sinks are better than one.
A kitchen that lacks an island tends to isolate those preparing food since they have to face away from the center of the room. Installing an island makes it possible to socialize more while preparing a meal since it places you in the center of the room and you can face any direction while working. Kitchen islands are a perfect place to start for taking the room to the next level.
Reduce Clutter
Things tend to pile up in the kitchen, whether it be dishes, ingredients, or general household objects that are dropped on the counters and tables. A kitchen with cluttered countertops is far less warm and welcoming than one with neat organization. The best way to avoid this is to have dedicated places for storage. Wall-mounted storage such as hooks and shelves can reduce the amount of clutter that happens on the countertops and eating surfaces. You can hang pots and pans to make more room, or even put recipe books on some newly installed shelves.
If you have a smaller kitchen, the name of the game is efficiency. How can you efficiently use the available space for storage to avoid clutter? A pegboard could be a creative solution as well. If you want your kitchen to feel like a haven, bringing down the level of clutter will make a huge difference.
Consider the Lighting
Natural lighting is always a big winner for kitchens. Ambient light is proven to have more health benefits, both mentally and physically, for residents. If you can maximize the amount of sunlight streaming into your kitchen, it will significantly impact the warmth of the space.
Additionally, you can consider installing new light fixtures that are either a unique design or have better functionality. Ceiling lights with dimming capabilities are a popular trend and allow homeowners to use electricity more efficiently. The lighting in your kitchen will also be helpful in staging your home when the time comes to entice potential buyers. Increasing natural light and updating fixtures will improve the comfort level of your kitchen.
Add More Seating
If you truly want your kitchen to be a haven, then comfortable seating is a must. You should create an environment where people can sit and reflect on the day or enjoy a meal together. If you have an island, consider some bar stools or high chairs that can pull up to it. If there is a window seat, place a comfortable cushion so that people can sit there.
Maybe you are pressed for space in the kitchen, in which case you could install a small table that folds or pops out from a wall with a chair or two to pair with it. Comfortable seating will allow those in the house to relax and take a load off for a few minutes and have a conversation.
Final Thoughts
It really boils down to this thought; if you are in love with your kitchen, then you have created a haven. The more upgrades you can make, the more comfortable and welcoming it will become. This will benefit your family in everyday life as well as boost the resale value should you plan to sell the home in the future.
If you are tired of your kitchen or wish it reflected your personality more, then what are you waiting for? Get started on turning it into a haven so that you can be excited about spending time there.
