The kitchen is probably the most functional place in the house, so it should be comfortable and ergonomic. And it should also be beautiful and cozy - the kind where it's nice to cook breakfast and dinner, drink your first cup of coffee before work. If you plan the design and environment correctly, you can make even the most routine work in the kitchen simple and pleasant.
How to properly plan space, how to conveniently place kitchen appliances - in this article you will find useful advice from designers, learn the main secrets of designing the interior of an ideal modern kitchen.
Principles of rational kitchen planning
Competent organization of space is the main rule in the design of a comfortable kitchen - the "most active" room in a house or apartment. Cooking, family dinner, friendly gatherings, cleaning - how to achieve order and harmony in such conditions? There are universal ways to solve this task:
1. Zoning.
Separating the work area from the dining area is the best way to prevent chaos in the kitchen.
2. Compliance with the rule of the kitchen triangle.
The main working areas of the kitchen are the storage, cooking and washing areas (refrigerator, stove, sink). The distance between the vertices of the working triangle should be within 1.2-2.7 meters. It is close enough to spend a minimum of energy moving between the refrigerator, the stove and the sink, but at the same time far enough not to restrict movement during the cooking process.
3. Correct calculation of the height of the working surface.
The optimal location of the work surface is between the sink and the stove. Its length and width depends on your preferences and the area of the kitchen itself. It is better not to save on the width of the tabletop, otherwise it will be inconvenient to cook on it. But the height should be determined taking into account the height of the household members who will most often be engaged in cooking. Usually, the work surface is placed at a height of 75 to 114 cm.
4. Arrangement of kitchen utensils and appliances taking into account your needs and habits.
Based on what you usually do in the kitchen, in open access, at arm's length, you should leave only those items that are used most often. The rest can be placed higher, further or put away in cabinets for storage.
5. Sufficient storage space.
When planning kitchen furniture, you need to lay down enough storage space to accommodate all kitchen utensils, products and still have free shelves. They will definitely find use in the future. Do not forget about the convenient location and ergonomics of kitchen cabinets. We categorically do not allow the cabinet to separate the work surface.
6. Free door opening.
It is not only about the entrance door to the kitchen, which should be wide and open freely. It is equally important to take into account the freedom of moving drawers, opening furniture and household appliances. They should not create an obstacle to movement, and if the furniture is in 2 rows, then the doors should open without touching each other.
7. Open shelves.
Open shelves provide lightness of the interior and quick access to the most necessary things, containers with products. By the way, dishes can also be placed on such shelves. If all the elements of the tableware are combined with each other, they additionally perform a decorative function in the design of the kitchen. At the same time, we advise you to leave exactly as many dishes as are necessary for your family, and remove the excess.
8. Transparent dishes for storage.
Coffee, cereals, tea, spices can be stored in transparent glass jars or plastic containers. First, during the cooking process, you immediately see what container you need to take. Secondly, it is easier for you to control the stocks of various products. And finally, it has a nice and original look.
9. Striving for minimalism.
Refuse accumulation, unnecessary decor, multi-color in the design of the kitchen. The more concise the design, the more stylish and sophisticated your kitchen will look.
Household appliances in the kitchen
A kitchen sink and a cooking surface are basic appliances that are in every kitchen. When choosing a sink, you should immediately choose a high-quality kitchen faucet with a high spout and a convenient lever (valve) for adjusting the temperature and water pressure.
There are also many appliances and household appliances that simplify our household work and save time.
- Microwave - it is better to place it not on the table, but in a hanging cabinet or a specially provided space of kitchen furniture. The height of the microwave should be such that you can easily reach it. Experts consider the optimal height to be 7 cm below the shoulder.
- Oven cabinet. In modern kitchens, built-in ovens are increasingly preferred, which are located both in the lower part of the kitchen furniture and at eye level. Regardless of the location of the oven, do not forget to leave space in front of it for the door to open freely, free access from the front and the side, as both comfort and safety of using the equipment depend on this.
- Dishwasher. The best place for a dishwasher is near the kitchen sink.
- Lighting. Correct lighting creates a special atmosphere in the kitchen. And for comfortable cooking, you need to install a tacoand a good work surface lighting system.
It is impossible to imagine a modern kitchen without a hood. This is an effective way to remove unpleasant odors from the kitchen. The only smell that the hood will not get rid of is food waste in the garbage can. But for them, Japanese engineers have created their own efficient device - a food waste shredder. It is installed in the sink, and this solves a whole set of problems - minimizing garbage, eliminating the cause of unpleasant odors and the appearance of insects in the house, maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen.
The kitchen is one of the most difficult rooms in the house in terms of design and proper use of free space. However, with proper planning and the use of modern technologies, you can implement any interior design and create the kitchen of your dreams.
