Imagine a seamless space where you can cook, eat, gossip, hang out and still call it a kitchen? Yes, you can safely erase from your mind the image of a kitchen that was used only for cooking, was messy, had storage around and was not meant to show your guests. By using the best layouts such as U shape, L shape etc., it is now evolving as a special room where you can cook, receive guests and eat – all at the same time.
Why go for an open kitchen design
The open kitchen design quickly attracts attention with its ability to accommodate kitchenware and dining space and at the same time have a smooth extension into the living room, where the first receive your guests. This is a more comfortable design that allows conversation in both spaces even while cooking. Whether you have a small or large space, open plan kitchen design can be incorporated into both. While a small space may have few seating arrangements for its island or dining space; a large kitchen can certainly accommodate a more lavish dining space, not just an island but a complete dining table set.
The design of the open kitchen serves many purposes
An open kitchen design with an island is a great idea because it serves multiple purposes:
- It serves as a temporary worktop area.
- You can create extra storage space by building cabinets in it.
- It serves as a dining space.
- It can be meticulously used to hide the view of an unwanted portion of your kitchen from the living space. For example, you can place it in such a way that your cooking area or the sink area is almost hidden by the arrangement of flowers or the arrangement of cutlery on the top of the island.
The organization of an open kitchen design
Small kitchens may not have the luxury of arranging everything in a flow as is the case with large kitchens, but things can certainly be planned for a small open kitchen design. Folding or extendable furniture or even a mobile island can be used for dining. Use more wall rods with hooks to accommodate your kitchenware. However make sure it doesn’t look too cluttered. As far as possible, try to fit most of your not-so-pleasant kitchen items inside the cabinets or place them in your mobile island cabinets. This gives a clean look to your kitchen.
The cooking area and basin area also need to be kept clean at all times to avoid giving an unkempt look to your living room space. Even the dining area or the island should not be cluttered. Keep decor simple to give a clean look. Remember, an open kitchen design is not just a kitchen, it is an extension of your living room and should sync well with the overall decor and cleanliness.
Light and demarcations
Lighting arrangements can also play a significant part in how much of your kitchen is exposed at any one time to the living area. During the course day, there may be little you can hide; but in the evening, keeping only the dining area well lit with lamps can help take the focus off your cooking areas or sink area.
You can also have a variety of floor tile patterns to practically demarcate the end of the kitchen, the end of the dining space etc. with different designs and arrangements of tiles, carpets, rugs or laminates of -land.
Design an open kitchen properly
When designing an open kitchen, think of it as just one room with two or three virtual partitions that require different levels of emphasis. Perhaps an initial design on paper or an online layout will make the picture clearer. Keep the decor in sync so no area looks out of place or too stark in contrast. And plan for a simple but appropriate dining space to suit your needs.
Open kitchen design is like keeping a beautiful painting or piece of art on display for others to see. And why not, when cooking itself is an art, why not show it as one of your masterpieces?
What are your thoughts on open kitchen designs?
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