Traditionally, the kitchen was solely used for preparing and cooking food, but this is no longer the case. For many homeowners, their kitchen is the heart of their home and it is the room that they spend the majority of their time in. When this is the case, it goes without saying that having a practical yet comfortable kitchen that is also designed to be a sociable area is really useful and it will prevent people from having to hover around when they’re in this space.
Thankfully, creating a sociable kitchen is really easy and there are some brilliant ways that you can transform even the smallest kitchens into somewhere that you can spend time with family or entertain friends. To help anyone who is wanting to renovate their kitchen, below are some useful design tips for creating the perfect sociable kitchen.
Keep the space open plan
If you’re going to have lots of people in your kitchen at the same time, keeping the layout open is always a good idea. Not only will this make the kitchen more spacious, but it can brighten up the room too and create more of an inviting feel. Always strategically place your kitchen worktops in a way that allows you to still speak to others in the room whilst you’re cooking too.
Install a kitchen island
One of the easiest ways to turn your kitchen into a sociable space is by installing a kitchen island. This instantly provides people with a central hub to gather around and it can also give you additional counter space and storage space. Having bar stools at your kitchen island is always a brilliant idea too and it can then become a convenient place for people to eat as well.
Have plenty of storage solutions
The one piece of kitchen design advice that all experts will provide is to have plenty of storage and this is particularly important for sociable kitchens. Ensuring everything in your kitchen has a home will help you to keep it tidy and clutter-free, ready to welcome guests at any time. It will also ensure you’re easily able to access the things you need when cooking and entertaining.
Add a home bar into your design
For the ultimate entertaining space, consider creating a home bar in your kitchen. This doesn’t necessarily need to be on display all of the time and there are lots of ways you can incorporate drinks storage into your kitchen design. From wine racks and drinks fridges under your kitchen island to repurposing a traditional kitchen larder, there’s a solution for every kitchen.
Incorporate a seating area
All sociable kitchens should be welcoming and have a relaxed atmosphere, and a great way to create this is by having a casual seating area in your kitchen. If you have the space to, using living room furniture, like a sofa and a coffee table, in your kitchen can work really well. This informal seating area will give people the perfect place to laze about in your kitchen.
Combine your indoor and outdoor space
Don’t overlook your outdoor space when you’re designing your kitchen, especially if the doors to your garden are in your kitchen area. Creating a sociable space that runs between your kitchen and your patio/decking is perfect for the summer months, so think about installing big bi-folding doors or sliding doors to make your outdoor space easily accessible.
Getting some tailored kitchen design advice
When you’re planning a kitchen renovation to create a more sociable space, hopefully, the tips above will be useful to you. There is no denying that with some careful planning, every kitchen can be both functional and the perfect place to catch up with family and friends. Should you require any tailored kitchen design advice, whether this is in relation to your kitchen layout or your kitchen cabinets, please don’t hesitate to contact our team today.
Here at Ashford Kitchens and Interiors, our design team has the skills, knowledge and experience required to assist you in creating a kitchen that meets all of your individual needs and they will help you bring your dream kitchen to life. Not only can we provide useful kitchen design advice and help when planning a kitchen renovation, but we can even assist with the installation process too and we are confident that we won’t just meet your expectations, we will exceed them. To find out more about how we work, explore the rest of our website today.