As well as being beautiful, your kitchen also needs to be functional. In fact, the functionality of the kitchen is the most important part and will largely vary from person to person. It’s part of a kitchen designer’s role to help guide you in the design process to ensure that your kitchen matches your requirements. Here are 5 quick things that I regularly consider when designing kitchens for my customers.
1. Don’t have drawers on the same side as your dominant hand when using the hob
This may seem counterintuitive at first, until you realise that if you open a drawer with your non-dominant hand this leaves your dominant hand free to pick up an item and begin using it straight away. Therefore, if you are right-handed, have the draw with utensils/items you need to use on your left side so you can open the drawer with your left hand, take out the utensil with your right-hand and start using it straight away.
2.Consider where your fridge goes
You may not think it matters, but Sam points out that if you’re making a cup of tea, ideally you want the fridge near to you with the hinge on the opposite side so the door opens away from you. This layout will allow you to pick out the milk and use it straight away without having to walk around the fridge door every time.
DID YOU KNOW: Fridge and freezer hinges are reversible! You can change them so that the door opens the other way.
3.Don’t put the drainer in between hob and sink
Ideally, it’s best to have a logical flow from the hob to the draining board: hob, then sink, then draining board. This will allow you to move items logically along a chain in the kitchen rather than moving them over different usage areas. For example, if you have a draining board between the hob and sink then the dishes will need to be moved over the draining board to the sink, and then back onto the draining board.
4.Avoid putting dishwashers in a corner
If you have an L-shaped kitchen, avoid putting your dishwasher in the corner next to other units, as this will restrict access to those units. Instead, ensure that your dishwasher will not be blocking access to any other units, or is placed anywhere where the open door could be a trip hazard.
5.Get the right corner storage
People have mixed feelings about corner storage units. However, problems with storage units usually arise because they are not being used correctly. Don’t assume a pull-out unit will make life easier; it must be the right shape of pull-out, and the items stored need to be within a specific weight limit.
For example, LeMans units are good for storing circular items, while X units are good for…
I hope that you’ve found this useful. You may think that some of these points will make little difference to your overall kitchen, but remember that this is not just about doing things more quickly it’s about creating a space which is enjoyable to use. Having everything streamlined will make using your kitchen feel effortless and natural.
If you have a kitchen project that you’re currently working on, we’d love to discuss it with you. Book an appointment today. We look forward to meeting you soon!
