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Back To School: How To Create A Family-Friendly Kitchen

Preparing the family to transition back to their routine after a delightful summer break may feel daunting. The image of the morning school rush accompanied by a sense of apprehension can be overwhelming. At Mulberry Kitchens, we can lighten this load by offering valuable insights into how your kitchen design can simplify your morning regime, ensuring that all family members are prepared to conquer the day ahead!

Whether you are changing the existing features of your space or integrating these ideas into a fresh kitchen project, you have the potential to revolutionise your daily activities. This entails creating an environment that is not only more child-friendly but also safer for every member of the family to navigate. Here are some suggestions to help streamline the functionality of your family kitchen.

 

A Logical Layout

When considering a new kitchen project for a family, layout is pivotal. For a family-friendly kitchen, you want the layout to allow traffic to flow easily around the space without any collisions. An open-plan kitchen is ideal as it provides easy movement and interaction. It gives you a clear line of sight to keep an eye on your family and creates a sense of togetherness. Opt for wide walkways that prevent crowding and ensure that cooking and food preparation areas are accessible. An L-shaped or U-shaped layout is advisable as it allows traffic to move freely along the design and complements this open-plan interior.

White Handleless Modern Kitchen

 

Smart Seating

Including a family-oriented dining space within or adjacent to your kitchen enhances its child-friendliness and infuses a social element into your environment. Contemplate the idea of a cosy dining nook featuring comfortable seating, fostering a welcoming atmosphere for family members, including children, to gather and relish meals together. Moreover, selecting sturdy and easy-to-clean upholstery materials simplifies the post-meal tidying process.

Ensuring that the appropriate height of both seats and worktops is essential. This consideration ensures that children can safely and independently access the dining area. Incorporating a seating zone into your design cultivates a sense of togetherness, transforming the kitchen into the heart of your home.

Bright and Elegant Family Kitchen

 

Helpful Handleless Cabinetry

Traditional cabinet handles can sometimes pose a risk to children, as they might catch on clothing or result in accidental bumps. Consider handleless cabinets and drawers for your kitchen design. These sleek alternatives not only enhance the aesthetics of your kitchen but also eliminate protruding hardware that children could encounter. With their slab-like appearance and carefully concealed pulls, handleless kitchens are slightly more difficult for younger children to access. Also, the flawless finish of the handleless cabinetry is an easy platform to attach child locks to if necessary.

White Sleek Modern Kitchen

 

Appliance Safety

Your appliances are the driving force of your kitchen, and their functionality underpins every aspect of your design. Ensuring your appliances are placed mindfully within your kitchen and out of reach of children is paramount. Taking a thoughtful moment to consider your kitchen’s functional triangle is worthwhile, as it allows you to evaluate the seamless transition between appliances and how they can be integrated to enhance mobility and safety. Many of our appliances at Mulberry Kitchens have special safety features, such as stovetops with touch controls that can be locked when not in use. Another idea when placing your appliances is to artfully conceal them within your units. This offers distinct advantages, particularly when it comes to children. By blending these appliances seamlessly with the surrounding cabinetry, they can appear as ordinary units rather than attracting undue attention from curious young minds. Whilst planning your kitchen design, you can discuss with our expert team which options may suit your needs and lifestyle best and how you can maintain safety and harmony in your space.

Glossy White Kitchen With Modern Features

 

Luminous Lighting

Lighting is always a vital element to consider when planning your upcoming kitchen design. It is of particular interest when ensuring all features of your space are accessible to all the family. Depending on the time of year, lighting plays a significant role, particularly in the winter when you want to access those kitchen essentials in the morning rush. To provide easier access and brighten your space, different lighting arrangements can help with the ergonomics of your design. From handleless trim lighting helping you to navigate through your space to panel lighting under cabinetry to illuminate your worktops, adding additional lighting features can improve the function of your kitchen and make it easier to access for all the family.

White Kitchen with Modern LED Lights

 

A Child Cabinet Or Interest Area

As you go about preparing and getting yourself ready for the day ahead, it’s essential to have the convenience of easily finding everything you need. To avoid congestion and maintain a sense of calm for your family during busy times, consider designating a special area or cabinet for your children. This can be a wonderful distraction, offering them a space to engage with, while you manage your daily tasks.

You can transform a cosy nook or allocate a unit within your cabinetry to store your child’s favourite items or toys. This gives them a sense of ownership over the space and provides you with uninterrupted time to tackle your routine responsibilities. Furthermore, dedicating a child-friendly cupboard is an excellent way to store their belongings and house kitchen-themed role-play toys. This inclusion not only involves them in kitchen activities but also contributes to their developmental growth.

Green Kitchen With Wooden Finish

 

Ingenious Storage And Open Shelving

Incorporating ingenious storage solutions and open shelving into a family-friendly kitchen design can bring remarkable benefits. They can enhance the functionality and aesthetics of the space, making daily routines smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. Ingenious storage options, such as pull-out drawers, hidden pantries, and adjustable shelving, provide dedicated spaces for various items, reducing clutter and promoting organisation. As well as this, integrating open shelving as a storage solution offers a stylish way to display frequently used items and stow away essentials quickly. It also encourages children to engage with the kitchen environment, fostering a sense of involvement and responsibility. By having items easily accessible and well-organised, family members can navigate the kitchen effortlessly, allowing for a more seamless experience.

There are plentiful ways to modify your space to ensure it is family-friendly. Creating an easily accessible environment is achievable and can streamline your lifestyle so everyday chores feel like a breeze. Hopefully, some of our ideas have sparked your creativity and given you thoughts on how to make busy family times more relaxed and stress-free. At Mulberry Kitchen Studios, our design team can help you explore your options, no matter what your family size or preferences are, we specialise in creating beautiful living spaces that facilitate all your needs.

In Frame Kitchen With Classic Features

 

If you’re ready to take that step in your design journey and are looking for a family-friendly kitchen, call us today on 01502 711210. We look forward to hearing from you.

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