Ask most people and they’ll tell you that the kitchen is the heart of the house. It’s where people stand to chat while sharing a hot drink. It’s where there’s a dining table that can double up as a place to use a laptop in the evening, either for paying the bills or doing homework and everything in between. It’s also where we spend time each evening cooking our meals – and who among us doesn’t love food?
A home without a kitchen that we enjoy being in is a home that fails us on multiple levels. It may sound like a big statement to make, but if you get the kitchen right, the rest will follow (that’s why you may wish to research things like ‘what are the best temperature settings for my refrigerator/freezer?‘). Now let’s look at how to plan your existing kitchen, because ripping everything out and starting again can cost a small fortune when minor tweaks might be sufficient.
Declutter – if you don’t use it, consider throwing it out
Kitchens accumulate all sorts of oddities. From gifts like aprons and ladles brought back by travelling friends and relatives, to old mismatched cutlery and a machine that cooks eggs that you never use, there are things lurking in just about every corner of your kitchen that aren’t essential.
Now, the general rule about what to keep in your home is to get rid of anything you do not find to be beautiful nor has any practical use – apply that principle. Do you need the big green ugly apple peeler you bought on a whim? Is it really necessary to keep that old second microwave when you haven’t used it since inheriting your mother’s bigger and better one when she upgraded?
There’s also probably a notice board you occasionally pin things to then leave it there for months before looking at it again then binning it. If you stripped your kitchen and looked at it with fresh eyes, you might find that there’s a lot to be said for the old bare design.
Add finishing touches – even if it’s unfinished
If you’re looking to upgrade an old kitchen, we’re not going to suggest things like considering what the kitchen is used for and buying a new 12-foot peninsula breakfast bar to sort you out. That would be tantamount to redesigning the whole thing. No. Instead, follow step one above and clear the space, then paint the walls and/or cupboard doors a new colour (relatively inexpensive) and add fixings that match. This means cupboard door handles and taps. Get a new matching kettle and toaster too, and you’re done for your instant kitchen face lift.
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