When it comes to kitchen design, there’s 4 rules you should follow. Find out what they are, below.
If you’re thinking about re-designing your kitchen, there’s some key things you should know. For starters, every professional kitchen designer has rules of how to design a kitchen, that they live by. It’s a set of rules placed in the hearts and minds of designers to ensure that the kitchens they design are excellent for their customers – time and time again. These rules are essential parts of kitchen design, they can’t be ignored. Whatever the style, be it modern classic or shaker, these rules of design apply to every type of kitchen Large, small – like we’ve said, it doesn’t matter. Designers will always follow these 4 rules and advise their customers to do the same.
So, are you wondering what these rules are? You’re in the right place to find out. Whether you’re hiring a designer or trying to go it alone, make sure that you follow these 4 rules of kitchen design. More importantly, make sure that your designer follows them too. It’s essential to make sure these 4 rules are implemented into your new kitchen’s design. Here are the 4 rules of kitchen design.
- Let there be Light
One of the key elements in kitchen design is to make sure that the space is well lit. Be it with natural, artificial or a combination of both, lighting is one of the most integral parts of kitchen design. Because the right lighting can do wonders for a kitchen. Natural light can help even the smallest kitchens feel much larger, as well as create a welcoming and warm space. For those with larger kitchens, it can help the space feel even bigger – who wouldn’t want that?
But artificial lighting is key too. Because it’s more purpose driven. Whilst natural lighting is about making a space feel larger and more inviting, artificial lighting can help accent different areas, set moods as well as aid in kitchen tasks. Regarding accenting, if you’ve got a smaller space, with a low ceiling, upwards pointing lights can help the space above feel a little larger. You can utilise different forms of lighting to set moods, whether you need glaring lights for food preparation or are hosting drinks, it doesn’t matter – kitchen lighting can set the right mood. As for tasks, you can have direction lights on surfaces, so you can really see what you’re doing.
- ‘Cosmic’ Room
Obviously, we’re not talking about clairvoyance or the cosmos above, but the space available in your home. Another essential rule of kitchen design is to ensure that the space available is maximised, and the kitchen is designed in a way that not only complements it but creates a kitchen that works for you. The key with kitchen design is to utilise the space available. As the kitchen is the heart of the home, it has to accommodate the lifestyle of the owner too.
With that in mind, when a designer comes to your home, or if you’re designing yourself, they need to keep you in mind. Do you entertain a lot? Are you a real foody? Whatever it is, the kitchen space needs to meet your requirements. Most kitchen designers lay out the kitchen in a working triangle, where the fridge, sink and oven are within close proximity to each other. If you entertain, you may want an island unit or a space for your guests to sit. Likewise, if you’re an amateur chef, you want plenty of counter space for food prep. The space is dependent on the user, so designers keep this in mind when re-doing your kitchen
- Air it Out
Ever been in someone’s kitchen and found a certain smell meeting your nose? Maybe you smell something they had for dinner, last week… Because a kitchen without proper ventilation is one of the biggest crimes any kitchen designer could commit. Especially in smaller spaces, sufficient ventilation is vital to make sure there’s no lingering smells. Any good designer will take note of where vents, extractors and windows should be, to make sure that there’s the right flow of air to funnel out bad smells and make the room fresh. When designing a kitchen make sure you or your design has planned out proper ventilation – be it as windows or extractors, your kitchen needs them.
- ‘You know your stuff’
Finally, the rule that kitchen designers, and that we, always advise, is to use the pros. Whilst you may think you can design a kitchen for yourself, it may not be that easy. When it comes to kitchen design, who knows better than the experts? They’ll scout out the space available and make sure the lights and vents are all in the right place. They have the knowledge and tools to help build your new kitchen in your home. They know the suppliers to get your ideal units and they’ll help your through the entire process. Whilst it’s easy for a designer to tell you to use a designer (because they’ll get paid), not everyone has an eye for design like the pros. It’s in your best interest to get someone in to create the best kitchen for you.
