A new kitchen is a big investment for your home. So, you don’t want to dive straight in without careful consideration and planning. Below are some of the things you should think about when getting a new kitchen.

Think About How You Use Your Kitchen

Probably one of the first things you should do is think about how you use your kitchen. For example, when cooking do you tend to use certain equipment more regularly. If that is the case, it would make sense that those become the easiest to access.

For us we have realized how little we use our oven now. Therefore, when we invest in a new kitchen, we would probably take it out completely. Then we could use the extra space for storage, add an electric hob and stick to air frying our food.

Who Will Use The Kitchen

You might also want to consider who will use the kitchen. With younger children you might want some cupboards that are easy to reach so they can get their own healthy snacks. Everything also needs to be easy to clean and wipe down because children can be quite messy.

If the elderly are using the kitchen you will need to make sure you have anti-slip flooring, that the handles are easy to grip, and you also invest in bright lighting as eyesight deteriorates with age.

Wasted Areas

Portree Kitchens is a bespoke kitchen design company. By choosing to have a handcrafted kitchen you do not have to worry about cupboards being built to a standard fit. Instead, everything is made to measure to the precise requirements of your room. This helps avoid wasted areas.

Future Proofing

It’s also worth noting that your new kitchen will be likely there for the next 15 to 20 years so your circumstances might change. You might have your first child or encounter health issues as you get older, so think about future proofing when picking out a design. As you get older you might need more walkway space to accommodate a wheelchair. Also invest in these kitchen work aids which will make your life easier.

Adequate Storage

If you decide to have an island in the middle of the room, make sure it has plenty of cupboards and drawers. Adequate storage is essential in a new kitchen so that everything has a place. Plus, its then easier to keep worktops tidy and clean.

Just having lots of cupboards and drawers is not the answer either, you need to know what you plan to do with each one. Then you can get the best out of your storage for example adding space racks or a pullout pantry.

Hygiene

You can actually buy kitchen cupboard paint with anti-microbial properties. These will help slow the spread of micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses that can make you quite poorly. Its all down to the silver ion technology in the paint which attack the microbes DNA.

Let’s be honest it is really easy to touch different surfaces and quickly spread micro-organisms around the kitchen. Some bacteria can even survive for months on surfaces so alongside wiping them down, it’s a relief you can also get that protection built into your kitchen with special paint.

Efficiency

Make sure you consider where everything is in the room to optimize workflow. Lots of people mention the working triangle, because of the need to keep the sink, cooker and fridge in close proximity to one another. Whatever design you ultimately pick (U-shaped, galley, L-shaped or island layout) keep that in mind.

Ventilation

Adequate ventilation is essential to help with cooking smells in the kitchen and reduce the build up of steam and condensation. If you cannot open a window, then make sure you have a good extractor fan or extractor hood to keep on top of things. Condensation can lead to your kitchen paint peeling and mould starting to grow.