The kitchen has long been regarded as the heart of the home. Modern homes are typically designed with large kitchen spaces that encourage gatherings and social connections. From renovating with an open plan to child-friendly adjustments, here’s how to make yours special.
How About an Island with Seating?
It’s surprising how much an island can transform the feel and comfort of your home’s heart. With something as simple as quality marble kitchen countertops, the whole space becomes something more. Work space is immediately added to the kitchen, meaning you have more surface area to use when making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the family. But what about seating? Some stools at the island mean the kids can tell you about their day as you cook!
An Open-Plan Layout
Older homes didn’t take social connection into account back in the day. As such, they might have cramped kitchen and dining spaces that aren’t conducive to nurturing family relationships. However, many modern families are embracing open-plan design, especially in the kitchen. An open-plan kitchen and dining area connect living and dining for a more inclusive home. Even if it means the home’s main area isn’t isolated, open-plan results in greater daily family interactions.
Encourage Heart of the Home Togetherness
The kitchen and dining space have always been an essential part of the home for nurturing relationships. A Pew Research study from 2018 found that 43% of moms who work full-time wish they had more time to spend with the family. Following COVID and economic events, this is probably much higher today. How about you? Do you feel you need more time with the kids? It is well known that families that spend more time together are closer and more connected.
Make Some Child-Friendly Additions
Kitchens aren’t safe for kids, as you already know. One minute, they’re watching Cocomelon, and the next, they’ve climbed on the counter and are headed straight for the stove. How do they even manage to do that? Whatever, a child-friendly kitchen is necessary if you have kids. You can include the kids in food preparation with stepping stools so they can reach the counter. Or if they have an artistic side, you could get them to draw the food menu on a chalkboard each day!
Think About Safety and Storage
Making the area safe for the kids is a priority. However, kitchens are dangerous for everyone, no matter your age! Creating a safe area in and around the food preparation and cooking area will make the home’s heart much more accessible and inviting. For example, smart storage means there’s less stuff to tumble over. Of course, you can also store away knives and other dangerous objects. Then there’s baby proofing so nobody (even adults) accidentally turns on the gas stove!
Summary
A beautiful kitchen island can help you craft a functional and pleasing heart of the home that encourages family interaction. This is a vital part of modern family living, as it can help forge bonds as a family. Of course, the entire area must be made as safe as possible for the kids.