Eight Tips and Ideas for Your Open Plan Kitchen
Everyone knows that the kitchen is the heart of the home, where the whole family comes together to dine, unwind and enjoy each other’s company. The benefit of an open plan kitchen is the way in which it creates a uniquely social and family-friendly space.
Traditionally, activities like cooking, dining and socialising took place in separate spaces. Today, everything the family loves doing most can be done collectively in a unified open plan environment.
Increasingly, the widespread appeal of open-plan layouts is making significant contributions to property value. In many cases, adding value over and above the costs of performing the necessary renovations.
But even if you have made the decision to go open plan, you need to think carefully about how the space will be decorated and arranged. When choosing a layout where your living and kitchen space come together, careful thought must be given to how items such as kitchen cabinets and soft furnishings come together, how you wish to separate relaxed spaces from those used for cooking and how your family likes to live.
An open-plan kitchen can be anything you want it to be, but there are some design considerations that should be prioritised.
With this in mind, what follows is a brief overview of 8 design ideas for an open-plan kitchen, with options to suit smaller and larger homes alike:
Consider Installing a Large Central Island
The beauty of a large central island lies in its multipurpose versatility. A kitchen island brings practicality to the kitchen, combining a robust worktop with cleverly concealed storage solutions. Opting for a units with a curved finish can help you to create a sense of flow between spaces.
There may also be the option of integrating recycling containers, electronic appliances or even a sink into your island.
When entertaining guests or spending time with family, a large central kitchen island becomes the social hub of the entire space. It’s where you gather to chat, prepare and sip cocktails, or perhaps perch on bar stools for the duration. As the central feature of your open-plan space, your island can be as large and imposing as you want it to be.
Maximise Natural Light
The L-shaped kitchen helps to create a natural work triangle for cooking and cleaning. It brings the three main kitchen areas, i.e. the sink, stove, and refrigerator, within close proximity of each other. This triangle makes it easier for you to work effectively in the kitchen, especially when you’re preparing large meals and want to avoid inconveniences.