Making the kitchen the heart of the family home

Encourage the family to spend time together by making the kitchen the heart of the home using these design tips.

Upgrade to an open layout

Make your ground floor more welcoming by converting it to an open-plan layout that combines the kitchen, dining area and living room. Uniting the separate spaces helps to ensure a warm and inviting atmosphere and makes it easier for the family to congregate in the mornings and evenings.

Aim to have a seamless flow between the spaces and within each section. Look for luxury kitchen designs with separate islands so family members can move freely and engage in conversation while cooking, dining, and working.  

Incorporate plenty of seating

Invite the family to relax in the kitchen by incorporating plenty of seating. Consider the number of seats but also the type of seating and make sure that you’ve got options to suit all situations.

Place bar stools around the kitchen island so your children can sit with you while you’re preparing meals. These can be tucked under the countertop when not in use to maintain an open and accessible design. Feature comfortable seating like sofas and in the living area for evening relaxation.

There should also be a dining area with a table and chairs where the family can gather for mealtimes. Having a dedicated dining space will encourage everyone to eat together every day.

Add multi-functional workspaces

Another way to make your kitchen more communal is to add multi-functional workspaces.

Countertops, islands and tables can be used to prepare dishes and present food but also for homework and drawing and fun family activities such as board games. This will cement in your children’s minds the idea that cooking is a social activity while making it easy for them to join in.

Leave the functionality of your spaces flexible or think of them as a network of designated workstations, each with an individual purpose. It just depends on which best fits your lifestyle!

Create a cosy ambience

Infuse your kitchen with warmth and personality so that it’s a pleasant space to spend time together. You can create a cosy ambience simply by paying attention to your lighting, textures and materials, and the colours you use.

Use layered lighting to ensure your kitchen is fit for purpose while promoting relaxation. Spotlights beneath kitchen cupboards improve visibility when preparing food without being too harsh. Low-hanging ceiling lights over the island make a statement and reaffirm it as a central space.

Combine natural textures and materials like wood and stone to connect the design with the outdoors and echo the peace we feel in nature. Enhance the sense of serenity and joy even further with happy colours for the kitchen such as green, yellow and peach. This will keep the kitchen feeling spacious and bright.