C&G's Guide to Designing Your New Kitchen
Home is where the kitchen is! Most of us spend more time in the kitchen than any other room in the house. We use our kitchen for cooking, cleaning, eating, and entertaining, so it’s important to make sure that it's a space we enjoy being in, and looking at, too! Whether you’re moving into a new home or planning a renovation, this C&G Blog will help you to create the kitchen of your cooking (and eating!) dreams.
Download a kitchen design app
Thanks to technology, designing a kitchen can now be both fun and easier than it’s ever been before! There are several apps that will help you when designing your kitchen. A fantastic place to start; decide which one will suit your lifestyle the best here.
Make sure your appliances and food items are within arm’s reach
When organizing your pantry and other food storage areas, place frequently used ingredients and snacks easily within reach. If you have small children, make sure to put kids' favourite dishes and snack foods on shelves they can reach, while keeping items like alcohol or sugary snacks on the top shelf. Likewise with your appliances - make sure that your microwave is the right size and placed at the right height ahead of time to save you stress in the future!
Install multiple electrical outlets
It’s important to make sure your kitchen includes plenty of electrical outlets in areas where you plan to use a coffee pot, toaster oven, blender, and other countertop appliances. Where possible, try installing multiple outlets along the backsplash and on the island so you'll have electricity wherever you need it. For an extra modern touch, consider outfitting a drawer with outlets and USB ports to create a hidden charging station for devices.
Avoid corners where you can
Keep your kitchen layout both sleek and practical by strategically deciding where to place cabinetry and appliances. To make cabinet and appliance doors fully functional, plan space for the door's clearance and swing direction in your kitchen design. Keep appliances away from corners, and make sure doors won't bang into each other if opened at the same time.
Choose a classic, neutral colour palette
One of the most important elements of your new kitchen is the colour scheme you decide to go with. While it’s tempting to use bold colours for furnishings, a white or pale-coloured kitchen design is less likely to date and will allow you more flexibility when it comes to choosing decor, as well as your kitchen tiles and flooring. By keeping your colour scheme classically refined you’ll also find it much easier to redecorate in the future, and you’re also much less likely to put off any potential buyers in the future.
Choose balanced materials for your countertops that compliment your space
Your choice of countertop material will play a significant role in the visual statement of your new kitchen. We want our kitchen to be easy-to-use, but we also want it to be beautiful! Whether you decide on marble, granite or composite materials, make sure you carefully consider each option and decide what will be best for your lifestyle. Whichever material you choose, try and create as much balance as possible.