The kitchen is the holy of holies of every home. Here we spend a lot of time, and not only for household chores, but also for communicating with our loved ones over a cup of tea or during a family dinner. In this article, we will talk about how you can transform your kitchen and make it the most comfortable place in the whole house.
1- How to equip a kitchen: Kitchen furniture
Perhaps we will start with the basics - with furniture. After all, it is furniture that serves as a functional framework for any room, be it a kitchen, living room or bedroom.
Cabinet furniture
The basis of the foundations of any kitchen interior is cabinet furniture, which we often call " kitchen ". All these cabinets and shelves serve not so much for a pleasant environment, as they help to properly manage space, as well as organize work surfaces and store all the necessary household items: from dishes and appliances to food supplies.
If large-scale changes in the kitchen are not yet included in your plans, you can update the interior, for example, with a new buffet or display cabinet. It can be matched to the tone of the kitchen, or you can choose a contrasting model, which will become an accent in the kitchen ensemble. The modern design of buffets has nothing to do with the bulky "Helgas" that were popular half a century ago and are still found in some homes today. Among their variety, you can find stylish models that will refresh the interior and at the same time become additional storage space.
Another idea to spice up your existing kitchen is to install a shelf in it. They come in different sizes, heights and installation methods, so you can find the right one even for kitchens with little space. Of course, racks are more demanding about their contents. If you can fit everything your heart desires in a sideboard closed with doors, then the open shelves of the rack force you to store beautiful dishes , household appliances and decorative elements there. You can be creative in filling the rack and it will surely become a bright decoration of your kitchen.
Dinner table
If cabinets are the backbone of the kitchen, then the dining table is its center. For him, we share a meal with the household, communicate, share plans for the day or tell how it went. And we often receive guests at home. In general, the meaning of this piece of furniture is much more strategic than we are used to thinking. Therefore, its choice should be approached responsibly.
Of course, a lot depends on the free space in the kitchen. Does the square allow you to place a large table that can be surrounded by chairs on all sides, or will it have to be moved to the wall? By the way, its shape will also depend on this. So, for example, in a small kitchen it is better to place rectangular or square tables - they will be more convenient.
In some cases, folding tables are also used to save space. The format of the old and good book tables will allow it to be stored compactly and used as an additional surface, partially furnished for family meals, and if guests come, it can be fully expanded and accommodate all those present.
And if the area allows, restrictions on the shape can be neglected. Perhaps you have long dreamed of a large oval or round "knightly" table?
Spacious kitchens allow you to use not only a dining table, but in addition, a bar counter. The counter, of course, can be supplied with a kitchen set, but they can also be purchased separately if your kitchen suits you perfectly, and only a bar counter is not enough for complete happiness.
Kitchen chairs
Of course, any table needs an addition in the form of chairs. And, of course, there is also a huge selection of them, for any kitchen and for any interior. Chairs, just like other furniture, can be matched to the general style of the interior and can be used as an interesting accent. For example, choose lavender chairs for a classic light brown furniture set. Bold, but interesting and unbeatable.
If the space does not allow for several full-size chairs, they can be replaced with folding chairs. Of course, they do not look so attractive and monumental, but for compact kitchens this is a good solution.
Stools are also an outlet for a small space. And they don't have to be standard and boring.
Well, if you have already opted for a bar counter (or have had one for a long time), you cannot do without bar stools.
If you have babies at home, you need to make sure they are comfortable eating with their parents. For compact kitchens, booster seats that attach to an "adult" chair and do not take up much storage space, as well as hanging chairs that are simply attached to the dining table, can be an excellent solution. In the latter case, it is important that the table is stable and has 4 support points, and that the top is not made of glass.
Although, of course, classic high chairs or convertible chairs are more popular, they will also need more space.
2- How to equip a kitchen: Lighting
In the interior, as well as in photography, a lot depends on lighting . And the kitchen is the place where light is needed differently. There should be a lot of it above the work surface, and in the dining area, the light can be arranged a little warmer and more restrained to add comfort. With the help of such a simple technique, you can also visually divide the kitchen into zones.
The working area, where the worktop, sink and hob or stove are located, is usually brightly lit. By the way, in the cabinet furniture itself, a point light is often mounted for this , as well as additional light sources under the hanging cabinets. If the available lighting is not enough or it is not provided above the table, it can be organized independently. For example, place an LED strip under the cabinets. This is very popular now.
For more general lighting of the work area, you can use a spotlight which will provide directional lighting.
Spotlights are also perfect for these purposes. For quick installation of spotlights, you can choose surface mounted or luminaires on a mounting strip.
Above the dining table or bar, it is better to use softer and more diffused light . A chandelier, a flat ceiling lamp or the same spotlight will help to achieve this. Pendant chandeliers or elongated spotlights for 3-5 shades above rectangular and oval tables, as well as bar counters, are especially interesting. Round and square tables look more harmonious with simple chandeliers.
There is a small table and pushed to the wall, you can make a choice in favor of a sconce . They can also play the role of additional light if the main lighting is assigned to the chandelier, which is located in the center of the kitchen.
Smart lighting has a special status today. Its main advantage is the ability to create unique lighting algorithms and simply control them from your smartphone. And, for example, "smart" bulbs can be used in any chandelier (the main thing is that the base fits) and change the glow temperature, brightness and even color. With such gadgets, you can create a suitable atmosphere in the kitchen in just a few clicks.
3- How to equip a kitchen: household appliances
The segment of kitchen appliances is so vast that it is almost impossible to cover it completely. Today we will not talk about built-in appliances , since it makes sense to think about its installation only at the stage of designing new kitchen furniture. We are talking about those household appliances that help us save time and effort, while not requiring complex installation.
Big machines
There are such categories of household appliances, without which it is difficult to imagine a modern kitchen and life in general. First of all, this applies to the refrigerator and the stove , on which we prepare most of the dishes. Have you ever seen a kitchen without the first or second?
But today's dishwashers are even less common. Although this does not prevent them from being present in the wish lists of many housewives. It would seem that the thing is not the most necessary thing in the kitchen, because you can always wash mountains of dishes by hand in the old fashioned way, but how much can it save time, effort and, ultimately, money. To avoid the global remodeling of the kitchen, a freestanding dishwasher will do just fine. Some of them, by the way, have compact dimensions and can be placed simply on the table, so they can be placed even in a not very large kitchen.
Cooking technology
Household appliances, which serve as an alternative to cooking on the fire and help us diversify our daily menu, have a special place in the kitchen. These, of course, include microwave ovens . They are used not only to quickly reheat or defrost food from the freezer , but also to prepare a wide variety of dishes, from basic to desserts. Interest in these appliances is also fueled by various tricks and quick recipes shared by enterprising users on the Internet.
The multicooker can be called a lifesaver for housewives who do not like (or do not have the opportunity) to spend a lot of time cooking. In order to prepare a delicious lunch, it is enough to dip the prepared food into the multicooker bowl, choose the appropriate cooking mode and go about your business. The beauty of this device is that it does not require the constant presence of the hostess and does an excellent job of cooking on its own.
For those trying to stick to a healthy diet, steamers will come in handy. Perhaps it is impossible to find a more dietetic way of cooking.
Although electric grills can challenge this. Literally in the last year, this type of technique has become simply megapopular, and largely because it can also be used to prepare a variety of diet meals without a gram of oil. In addition, many people find grilled foods tastier than steamed foods.
Kitchen aids
Today, we rely on kitchen appliances for most of the laborious processes in the kitchen. For example, now almost no one uses whisks to whip the proteins of a biscuit - it is much faster and easier to do this with a mixer . And ideally - a multifunctional planetary mixer , on which you do not even need to stand. And in addition to liquid products, it does an excellent job of kneading any dough, even quite thick.
On a special account are kitchen machines , which are both Swiss and mowers, as they say. In addition to the fact that it performs the function of a planetary mixer, such devices often offer a wide variety of attachments and, with a slight movement of the hand, turn into a multifunctional harvester. For example, such machines can be supplemented with attachments - juicers , meat grinders , crushers, graters and others.
Of course, it is hardly possible to place such a device in a small kitchen. In this case, food processors come to the rescue , which take up much less space.
If a large number of attachments are not required, the combine harvester can be replaced with a multifunctional mixer. These devices are often a classic hand mixer with a whisk and a separate bowl with a cutting knife, with which you can prepare minced meat and grind nuts. And mixers take up even less space.
Narrow profile equipment
Specialized household appliances are usually designed for a specific function. Such appliances cannot be found in every kitchen - they are chosen if a particular dish is often prepared in your family. For example, if you are used to having breakfast with toast with different toppings, then having a toaster will greatly facilitate the process of making it. Or maybe you like to pamper your household with homemade waffles or nuts with condensed milk, like in your childhood? Then you can no longer do without an electric waffle iron or hazelnuts.
If you like homemade plain yogurt without "E-shek" or preservatives, then the yogurt maker will help you prepare it with maximum comfort. No more thermoses or checkered cans!
Tea and coffee lovers
What could be more comfortable than getting together in the kitchen with a cup of aromatic tea or invigorating coffee ? If your family prefers tea, to enjoy a pleasant drink you need a kettle , a teapot and a favorite brand of tea.
For coffee lovers, of course, there are many other ways to make coffee. Lovers of classics usually prefer to brew coffee in Turkish or geyser coffee makers . Although automatic coffee makers - carob , drip , capsule - are gradually replacing manual methods of preparing coffee drinks.
And if electric coffee makers in most cases can prepare coffee according to a recipe, then coffee machines can significantly diversify the range of coffee drinks. In addition to the fact that such devices provide a large number of preset recipes, they are supplemented with coffee and milk variations of an invigorating drink. Whisk up a stable milk foam for a latte or serve an espresso macchiato at the touch of a button - it's as easy as shelling pears for a coffee machine. In addition, most coffee machines have a built-in grinder, so that the taste of freshly brewed coffee is always rich and rich, and there is less hassle.
4- How to equip a kitchen: Dishes
Household appliances are household appliances, and we certainly cannot do without dishes in the kitchen. Of course, many recipes can be delegated to household appliances, but there are some dishes that are better to get on the stove or in the oven. For example, for frying cutlets or pancakes, they have not yet come up with anything better than frying pans , and baking dishes allow you to cook curly pastries, which children love very much, and, for example, puff casseroles. The latter, of course, you can try to cook in a multicooker, but removing the dish from a deep bowl without spoiling its appearance is unlikely to work.
Serving utensils have two functions at once. On the one hand, they are quite practical household items, and on the other hand, table decoration. Or less decorated plates , polished cutlery , elegant glasses and glasses - this setting instantly creates a festive mood.
In addition, with the help of all kinds of containers and kitchen utensils, you can organize storage conveniently and stylishly. Jars for spices and bulk products, aged in the same style, look very impressive.
Read also: Kitchen utensils and accessories: Basic selection rules
Read also: Kitchen trends 2022: Adopt a trendy kitchen!
5- How to equip a kitchen: Finishes: kitchen decoration
The final step in the arrangement of the kitchen is, of course, the decor . All these nice little things create a feeling of comfort and help to make the kitchen interior complete and unique.
How to organize windows
In modern kitchen interiors, curtains are rarely used , as this is not the most practical solution. Firstly, curtains falling from the attic tend to absorb, and secondly, they get dirty quite quickly in the kitchen, especially if the stove or hob is located next to the window. And stubborn grease splashes, as you know, are quite difficult to wash. To save themselves from this hassle, many today choose blinds or roller shutters . Even if you choose fabric roller blinds, it is much easier to care for them than for curtains - it is enough to periodically wipe the dust with a dry cloth, and more significant dirt can be removed with a damp sponge with a weak soap solution.
And you can complement the window decoration with flowers. Some prefer fresh flowers , while others prefer artificial compositions . The advantage of the latter is that they can be placed not only on the windowsill, but also on open shelves or a table. And in order for the cultivation of fresh flowers in the kitchen to be beneficial, some housewives turn the windowsill into a small vegetable garden and grow herbs: basil, green onions, mint, etc. Nice, healthy and without chemicals
Kitchen linen
A beautiful fabric tablecloth can become the main decoration of the dining room . The main thing is not to succumb to temptation and not use oilcloth tablecloths, which, no matter how comfortable they are, can ruin even the most thoughtful interior. Of course, if there are children in the house, and fabric tablecloths are clean only before the first dinner, it is better to abandon this venture. A good solution to this situation is to use narrow tablecloths, which are placed in the center along the table and have a more decorative role, or dish racks. The latter can be both textile and denser materials: soft plastic, vinyl, etc. They not only look cute, but also protect the countertop from dirt and scratches. And it is very easy to clean.
You can make kitchen chairs or stools more comfortable with small flat cushions or covers. They can transform even furniture that has served you faithfully for more than a year.
Conclusion
In the kitchen, you can not do without an apron , oven mitts and tea towels . Especially if you collect these necessary little things in a single color scheme, which can repeat the main color of the kitchen or contrast with its background. Or you can assemble a set with an identical print or choose a ready-made set.