The kitchen has long been referred to as “the heart of the home”, and while it might sound like a cliché, it’s a cliché for a reason. For families, the kitchen holds real importance – it’s where the day begins, where meals are enjoyed together, where family members socialise at the end of the day, where special occasions are celebrated and where childhood memories are created. The key to creating a family friendly kitchen is designing a space that is accommodating, functional and safe for all family members, from toddlers and young children to teenagers and adults. In this blog, we give you our kitchen design tips for creating a family kitchen that is full of heart and soul.
Create an open layout
Nothing says family like a generous open-plan layout that promotes interaction and visibility between family members. An open floor plan that integrates the kitchen with adjoining living or dining areas is ideal as it creates even more space and allows family members to engage with each spontaneously and other while performing different tasks.
The kitchen sees a lot of hustle and bustle with so many people in the space, so ensure there is plenty of room for food preparation, cooking and free movement. As a rule of thumb, a good kitchen design will have enough space for at least three people to be in the room without crowding. As part of your family friendly kitchen layout, create zones for different activities to organise the space, streamline workflows and maximise efficiency.
Make it multi-purpose
For modern families, the kitchen is more than just a place to cook and eat – it’s a hub for socialising, entertaining, playing and learning. The amount of space in the home is finite so it makes sense to design the family kitchen to be multi-purpose and to accommodate a variety of different activities. One of our top kitchen design tips for functionality is a kitchen island – it can be used for preparing and serving food, and with some stools it can also be used for eating meals and doing arts and crafts or homework. Learn more about the advantages of a multi-purpose kitchen office.
Effective storage solutions are crucial to a multi-purpose family friendly kitchen. Accessible cupboards and deep drawers will allow ample storage capacity for all different types of items. Designate specific storage areas for kitchen utensils, dining ware, cleaning items, kids’ tableware, appliances, art supplies, board games, books and more.
Choose durable materials and finishes
Family homes see a lot of wear and tear – grubby fingers, scrapes and scratches, marks, dents, spills – you name it. Durability is just as important as the design of the kitchen itself so the choice of materials and finishes in a family friendly kitchen should be guided by minimising visible wear and handling high-levels of usage. When it comes to your cabinetry, benchtops and doors, opt for smooth non-porous surfaces which are easy to wipe down and keep clean. For the floors, water-resistant options like tiles are ideal for maintenance and longevity in the family kitchen.
Incorporate child-friendly features
To make the space accommodating and encourage participation across all ages, consider installing lower-height or adjustable countertops. Safety is crucial to designing a kitchen that is child-friendly. Keep hazardous items out of reach by installing locks and latches on doors and drawers. Another of our kitchen design tips is to install soft-close mechanisms on cabinetry to reduce the risk of kid-prone injuries like jammed fingers.
Personalise the space
To create a family friendly kitchen that feels like home, personalise the space. On the walls you can display family photos or artwork done by the kids. Shelves can include a display of favourite cookbooks and meaningful mementos. Another special way to strengthen the feeling of the kitchen being the family hub is to designate a space for a white board or chalk board where family members can leave messages and reminders.
Design your family kitchen with Kit Kitchens
Turn your family kitchen dream into a reality with the expertise and support of the team at Kit Kitchens. We will work with you to create a family friendly kitchen that not only meets the practical needs of everyday life, but also enhances the quality of family interactions and activities.
We provide custom-built kitchens as well as pre-assembled and flat-pack kitchen design solutions, so you can design your family kitchen to perfectly fit the unique lifestyle and needs of your loved ones. As a family owned and operated company, we understand the importance of creating a kitchen that is the origin of creativity, communication and precious moments for years to come.
For more family-friendly kitchen design tips and inspiration, check out our kitchen renovation gallery.
