Many real estate experts attest to the importance of kitchen design in boosting property value. If your kitchen is outdated, it’s time to consider a kitchen renovation plan. To aid with that project, we’ve put together 9 key elements to consider in your new kitchen design.
The kitchen is often one of the critical considerations of most homebuyers when selecting a property to purchase.
Moreover, the kitchen is a shared space in a household that offers functionality, comfort, and aesthetic value. For these reasons, many homeowners choose to invest in kitchen renovation. They also need a design that best suits their property and needs.
However, it can be challenging for homeowners to decide what to prioritize when creating a kitchen renovation plan. For instance, those who want to boost the functionality of their kitchen would like to dedicate a large portion of their budget to modern appliances or rebuilding structures. However, it’s also important to allocate resources for aesthetic elements such as lighting, kitchen paint colors, kitchen wall art, or decor to optimize the effects of the remodel.
Like any other home renovation project, balance is the key to successful kitchen remodels. Knowing which elements should be incorporated into the design is vital to achieving visual balance. If you’d like to learn more about the essential elements to help you make the best of your kitchen renovation, continue reading this article.
Theme
Deciding on a kitchen theme will help you create a well-designed kitchen more quickly and effectively. A theme can be your basis for colors, textures, lines, and other design elements. You can also decide on the theme’s presence in your space. For instance, some homeowners may choose angular shapes for seating and furniture to apply a minimalist theme, then give the stove and sink areas a rustic appeal to follow the modern farmhouse theme.
Here are popular kitchen design themes you can consider for your next remodeling project:
- Coastal theme
- Rustic
- Tranquil
- Minimalist
- Industrial
- Monochromatic
- Outdoor
- Vintage
It’s also possible to mix elements of different themes to create a more personalized look for your kitchen, provided that they’re suited to your space. You’ll also need to consider the functionality and comfort your chosen aesthetic can give your room.
Layout
Your kitchen layout greatly influences the functionality of your space. It’s essential to select the best one that matches the floor space you have in your kitchen for ergonomic purposes.
Here are some examples of kitchen layouts you can consider:
- Island Kitchen: The main feature of an island kitchen layout is a working countertop placed in the middle of the kitchen floor space, detached from the walls. The island layout is ideal for spacious kitchens as having a key element in the center is a great way to fill floor space while boosting functionality and comfortable movement.
- One-wall Layout: The one-wall layout places kitchen essentials such as the cooking, storage, and preparation areas along one wall of the room, hence the name. This space-saving layout is ideal for studio apartments and the like.
- Galley Layout: Kitchens with a galley layout are also known as walk-through kitchens. This layout places two countertops opposite one another, creating a walkway in between.
- L-Shaped Layout: An L-shaped kitchen layout is also considered ideal for kitchens with limited space. This design places two countertops adjacent, allowing owners to have several workspaces and evenly distributing foot traffic.
The Work Triangle
The work triangle refers to the kitchen’s three main features: the stove, the sink, and the refrigerator. These three points have the heaviest foot traffic in the kitchen since they’re crucial to its functions. Because of this, you’ll need to ensure that the users can move comfortably and safely while cooking, washing dishes, or taking food out of the fridge. Moreover, these features should be arranged to make it convenient for users to transfer from one point to the next. That’s why it is an important consideration in your kitchen renovation plan.
Aside from their placement, the space within the work triangle should be clutter-free to ensure ease of movement. It’ll also improve the space’s aesthetic appeal if the kitchen stays clean and organized.
Kitchen Countertops
Also called benchtops, the kitchen countertop is another essential factor in your kitchen renovation design. You’ll need to consider your layout and floor space to select the best one. Many homeowners opt to add counter space to their kitchens to boost functionality. Moreover, the lower portion of the countertops can also be used as storage—improving space efficiency.
The material you select for your countertop will also influence how the whole kitchen would look and can be considered central to your chosen theme. For instance, minimalist pieces usually feature benchtops made with stone materials such as marble or granite. On the other hand, the benchtop is commonly made of concrete or reclaimed wood for rustic or modern farmhouse themes.
When choosing your benchtop, it’s essential to consider the material’s ease of cleaning and maintenance. Cleanliness is vital to any kitchen as it can affect the occupants’ health, so you’ll need to select suitable materials for your counter spaces.
Storage
No kitchen would be complete without storage space. Storage is a critical element of your kitchen renovation plan since you’ll need to organize many items related to food preparation. You must have enough room for perishable and non-perishable goods, pantry staples, condiments, and other food items. Then, you’ll also need to dedicate space for kitchen tools, utensils, appliances, and the like.
You can be as creative as you can when incorporating storage spaces in your kitchen. For example, add pull-out drawers and kitchen cabinets under the dining area or breakfast counter as a space-saving storage solution. You can add storage spaces on the walls or attach a hanging rack to the ceiling if space allows. It’s best to have as much storage space as possible, as it’s essential to keeping your kitchen clean, safe, and organized.
Appliances
Your kitchen appliances will make your space functional and add aesthetic value. However, as with other elements, keep everything balanced and limit your kitchen equipment to only what’s essential. Also, you must carefully plot each item’s placement to optimize your space while providing comfort and safety. Finally, you’ll need practical, durable, and space-saving appliances to get the best value for your money.
Here are some examples of essential kitchen appliances every household needs:
- Stove and oven
- Microwave oven
- Refrigerator and freezer
- Sink or dishwasher
- Kettle
Other items such as coffeemakers and bread toasters are essential in many households, though basic appliances can perform their functions. Thus, it’s important to consider functionality and practicality before you invest in miscellaneous equipment.
Lighting
Modern kitchens usually have lighting designs to improve the space’s aesthetic appeal. Include lighting in your kitchen renovation plan because it helps create the mood and atmosphere desired. For instance, those who want a cozy kitchen can use dim lights in dining or entertaining corners. Some may use hanging lights to maximize high ceilings.
Meanwhile, it’s essential to have sufficient lighting in the workspaces to prevent safety hazards. As much as possible, allow natural light to come into the space, giving the atmosphere an instant boost while making the kitchen look more spacious.
Entertainment
Aside from its practical functions in a household’s day-to-day activities, kitchens are also used as entertainment spaces where hosts can serve food to guests. Hence, it’s also important to consider entertainment in your kitchen design if you love to host gatherings or dinner parties at home.
You can dedicate a specific area where guests can comfortably sit and dine, such as the island or the breakfast bar. If you’ll be entertaining guests as you cook, it’s best to add seating around or in front of the island so you can face your guests. Then, other appliances such as the refrigerator and the dishwasher should be placed away from where the guests will be to allow more space for comfortable movement.
Seating
Your seating design can also significantly influence your kitchen’s overall look and atmosphere. For instance, the size, design, material, and color of your stools or chairs can dominate a particular corner in your kitchen. Hence, you’ll need to carefully select them and ensure they go well with the other elements in your space.
To select the best seating for your kitchen, consider the number of users or occupants in the household. Also, you’ll need to consider where the seats will be placed, which depends on where you would often serve food. You may need high stools for your breakfast nook, but also allocate chairs in front of the island if you dine in both areas. The sizes and designs of your chairs might also depend if you have kids at home who’ll use the counter spaces for snacking or doing their homework.
Things to Remember When Renovating Your Kitchen
There are several factors to consider when creating a kitchen renovation plan. Functionality plays a central role in its design, though it’s also essential to consider aesthetic value, comfort, balance, flexibility, and your personal preferences as the homeowner. These fundamental elements should be factored in to ensure that you’ll have the best experience working on or spending time in this shared space in your household. Moreover, you’ll also increase your property value with the right kitchen design.