One of the most frequently visited rooms in the house is the kitchen. As the hub of action, where guests may chill and socialize while eating delicious food. It is a place we enjoy good food and time with our beloved people. With the kitchen being such a high activity area of the house it’s worth finding out how to design a kitchen.
Step 1 - How you going to use your kitchen
Modern kitchens are the hub of the house, so we think of the layout in terms of moments, like places to cook, eat, entertain, and sometimes sit and work.
In your kitchen, what other activities will you engage in besides eating? How about a sitting area where you can watch television or play video games? Or you may need to do some office work on your kitchen countertop.
Our kitchen design should be in line with our living habits. We also have to consider whether we will cook at home frequently, or whether we will cook only occasionally.
Step 2 - Draw up a detailed kitchen floor and wall plan
After you’ve completed your list, you may start drawing up a floorplan. It’s critical to comprehend the space you’re working with while designing a kitchen.
After that, you can start measuring. Be precise, and measure with the correct unit of measurement for your nation. Measure the dimensions of the floor, niches, windows, and doors, as well as the location of the water pipes (and, if applicable, the gas supply).
Step 3 - Choose a design for your kitchen
It’s critical to find a style that suits the realities of your kitchen design; consider the following:
Do you want it to complement or contradict the style or period of your home? To blend in with the rest of your house or to stand out? Which unit style do you want to go with? What materials will you use to add colour and texture to the room?
Before any work begins, all of these factors should be evaluated. Once you’ve decided on a look, you can start putting your kitchen planning into action.
Other than that, you also need to find the best color scheme for your kitchen. White is the most popular kitchen colour, followed by cream, off-white, and pale grey, and it’s a good choice if you want your kitchen to serve as a backdrop for you to add your own colour and personality in decor while maintaining a timeless kitchen design that won’t date, is easy to redecorate around in the future, and won’t turn off future home buyers.
Step 4 - Choose the material for your kitchen
The materials we need to consider most in the kitchen are cabinets and countertops because they make up the largest part of the kitchen. The most expensive is not necessarily the best or most durable, and we should choose according to our budget and personal preferences.
Let’s see what materials are used for countertops, and what are their pros and cons.
Materials for countertops :
Laminate – For those with tight budget, it can mimic the color and texture of natural material price tag. Downside is it’s not durable.
Advantages :
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- Very economical
- Easy installation and maintenance
- Wide choice of colors and patterns available
- Can produce a high-end look due to very realistic imitations of other countertop materials.
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Disadvantages :
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- Sensitive to heat
- Difficult to repair
- Low-quality laminates have the risk of formaldehyde emissions.
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Granite – It’s unique, no two pieces of granite will look the same. So you’ll definitely get a one of a kind centerpieces in your kitchen.
Advantages :
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- Extremely heat resistant
- Durable
- One of a kind
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Disadvantages :
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- Can be very expensive
- Porous nature make it vulnerable to scratch and stain
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Concrete – Top of concrete countertops is usually covered with tiles. The concrete itself is solid and lasting, but the tiles may be susceptible to scratches and easily cracked.
Advantages :
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- Can be cast in any color, shape or pattern
- Heat resistant
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Disadvantages :
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- Easily cracked or stained
- Need regular sealing to maintain
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Quartz stone (Recommended) – Unlikely marble or granite, Quartz stone is manmade. It’s density is higher than natural material, so it is extremely durable and low maintenance.
Advantages :
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- Extremely durable
- Heat resistant
- Non porous (Stained resistance)
- Look like natural material
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Disadvantages :
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- Poor quality quartz can have discoloration problem
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Materials for Cabinet :
Melamine – This is the material largely used in IKEA kitchen cabinets. If you’re looking for the most affordable option, chipboard with a melamine finish is the way to go.
Advantages :
- Very economical
- Tough Outer coating (Scratch resistant)
- Large variety
Disadvantages :
- Prone to chipping
- Susceptible to water damage
Plywood – Plywood is made of many thin layers of wood glued together to form a hardboard. To give it a cleaner surface, this board is generally laminated with plastic.
Advantages :
- Very economical
- Tensile
- Resistant to dents and scratches
Disadvantages :
- Lack of uniformity, two different boards could not match perfectly
- Termites issue
- Susceptible to water damage
Aluminium (Recommended) – An aluminium kitchen cabinet is exactly the same as regular kitchen cabinet, but made out of aluminium components.
Advantages :
- Immune to termites, or other infestation
- Heat resistant and waterproof
- Hygienic and non toxic
- Extremely durable
Disadvantages :
- Can be noisy
- Can dent
Step 5 - Choose the flooring for your kitchen
Kitchen flooring ideas are another aspect of kitchen design that should be considered throughout the planning stage.
A kitchen floor should be sturdy and preferably easy to maintain, but it can also be a feature that adds to the room’s design and success. The material you choose is determined by your budget as well as your attitude toward character, beauty, and usefulness.
LVT – They’re waterproof, long-lasting, and cost-effective, with a 4mm thickness that’s ideal for when build-up is an issue.
Porcelain tiles – Because they are strong, non-porous, extremely stain and scratch resistant, and work well with underfloor heating, and because they come in such a wide variety of shapes, colors, and forms, they are by far the most popular material these days. Porcelain tiles with stone, wood, concrete, and terrazzo effects score well.
Real stone – If you like the natural beauty of actual stone, such as limestone, you must accept that it is porous and may stain and weather with time, necessitating frequent upkeep to keep it looking its best.
Real wood – The same can be said for wood, which is appealing due to its distinct qualities and warmth.
Laminate – It is cheaper, and also durable and stable, may be less attractive to those wanting a natural look.
Step 6 - Choose the wall tiles for your kitchen
Whether you’re creating a new kitchen or updating an existing one, picking the right kitchen tiles is critical. They’ll protect working areas on walls, such as behind the stove and the splashback, and they’re tough, easy to clean, and attractive as kitchen flooring. We’ll go over all of your options below so you can choose the ideal kitchen tiles for your needs.
There is a huge selection of tiles that are suited for kitchen walls. The most cost-effective and easiest-to-maintain alternative is manmade tiles. You can construct a scheme that you adore with a variety of designs and colors, both plain and patterned, as well as a variety of finishes. Natural stone is more expensive, but it is more beautiful and unique. Stone tiles demand more attention than artificial tiles, but if you follow the principles, you can keep your stone looking beautiful.
Porcelain tiles (Man-made) – are fired at a higher temperature and have a higher density than ceramics, making them extremely durable. Because of this, they are frequently used on floors, but they can also be used on walls.
Ceramic tiles (Man-made) – might be an extremely cost-effective kitchen option. They’re great for the walls, but not all of them are acceptable for the floor. When purchasing, keep in mind that a tile designed for walls will not withstand the wear and tear of a busy room like the kitchen. Ceramic tiles do not require sealing and are easy to maintain.
Limestone (Natural) – is widely obtainable. Its beige, grey, cream, and dark colors allow it to be utilized to create a variety of looks. Limestones come in a variety of hardnesses, so make sure that if you’re using it on the floor, it’s durable enough for a high-traffic area.
Travertine (Natural) – is commonly found in beige and grey tones, however warmer colors are also available. On the surface, it contains natural voids that are filled in most finishes or when the tiles are grouted.
Step 7 - Plan in kitchen lighting
From low light for a dinner party to brilliant light for cleaning and working, kitchen lighting ideas set the mood and set the scene. The kitchen has evolved into a beautiful as well as functional place, and proper lighting can make or break a design.
In a kitchen, dimmable ceiling downlights are a popular alternative for general lighting. When you want to clean the room, turn them all the way up; when you want a gentler mood, turn them all the way down.
Black track lights are also becoming more popular, as they can produce a lot of light while also adding a touch of 1970s style. Use them instead of a pendant, or hang a single pendant over the island instead of a set. One enormous and beautiful pendant, possibly suspended to one side of the island or above a breakfast bar, can appear to be a work of art.
Consider lighting inside pantries, breakfast dressers, and wall cabinets, preferably on switches that turn the light on when the door is opened and off when the door is closed. A simple table lamp on a console or dresser can help link the kitchen with the dining or living areas in an open plan room, while lighting inside glazed cabinets can be used to make a feature of glassware, while a simple table lamp on a console or dresser can help link the kitchen with the dining or living areas in an open plan room.