kitchen furniture tips
It goes without saying that the kitchen is the most important part of the house where food is prepared. Hence, the kitchen should remain neat and orderly as it helps in easy functioning and makes cooking enjoyable. Thus, having kitchen furniture or opting for a modular kitchen is ideal today to keep it more organized. Some of the tips that you can consider while doing your kitchen furniture are mentioned below.
kitchen work triangle
Before planning the kitchen furniture design, decide the kitchen work triangle. In simple words, before going ahead with the kitchen layout and kitchen furniture, decide the triangle for the location of fridge, hob and sink. Once this is done, you can proceed with your planning of kitchen furniture.
Source: House Beautiful
Sometimes all three – sink, hob and fridge – fall into a straight line. Then the kitchen furniture should be planned in such a way that on one side there is kitchen furniture cabinet and on the other side there is kitchen workstation. So, the layout of kitchen furniture changes according to the shape of the kitchen – U-shape kitchen, L-shape kitchen, corridor kitchen or open kitchen.
draw a floor plan
Everyone has their own style of working in the kitchen. So, try and identify your working style. While one may require a large fridge and does not use a microwave oven, another may require space for both a microwave oven and an OTG. Some people may also want a dedicated shelf for cutlery. So, once the kitchen equipment is decided, it becomes easy to design the kitchen furniture.
kitchen furniture and counter height
Remember, the difference between the height of the counter and the height of the kitchen furniture is an important point when designing kitchen furniture. The difference should not be much otherwise the purpose of working conveniently will not be proved. Also, it will cause discomfort to people of average height working in the kitchen where things are kept at some height. They will constantly need a kitchen ladder or stool to get things from the upper cabinets of kitchen furniture. As a rule, the height of the kitchen countertop should be around the person’s waist and other kitchen furniture should be planned accordingly so that things can be easily reached while cooking.
kitchen furniture colors
Colors play a major role while deciding your kitchen furniture. While whites and pastels are soothing to the eye and look amazing, Indian kitchen furniture tends to get dirty very quickly due to strong spices including turmeric, coriander, and red chili powder. Hence, maintaining light colored kitchen furniture would be a major task. Instead opt for dark colors, but not overwhelming ones. If you love pastels, choose dark pastel shades to minimize the risk of staining the kitchen furniture. You also have the option of choosing a single tone color and doing the entire kitchen in a single color or going dual tone. Remember that kitchen decor should match and complement the rest of the home, even if it is a style statement. It should not contrast with the rest of the house.
Some of the kitchen furniture colors and designs are shown below, you can take ideas from here.
Source: Ideal Home
The open kitchen in a single dark shade looks classy and matches with the rest of the decor of the house.
Source: Elle Decor
You can also experiment with dual tone kitchen furniture. Here earthy white complements wood-brown, giving the kitchen a classy rustic look.
kitchen furniture material
In the case of kitchen furniture, the design and material used for the cabinets will have a direct impact on the budget. Choose materials that are durable, maintainable, and available in abundance.
- Fragments: The use of laminates is the most recommended option for kitchen furniture as they are long lasting, easily maintainable and are available in various designs and colors that please the users.
Source: SK Modular
- Param Vir Chakra: They are easy to maintain as they are water resistant and unaffected by insects like termites. In addition, kitchen furniture made of PVC is easy to install. However, the PVC kitchen furniture material is not very strong, it may start to sag or bend after some time. In addition, they are prone to surface scratches that must be taken care of.
Source: Aashirwad Interiors & Home Automation
- wood veneer: The surface is made of wood, but not the entire cabinet, which reduces its cost. In addition, they protect your cabinets from termites and mold while giving your kitchen an exquisite wooden look.
Source: Pepperfry
- steel: While kitchens centuries ago were made of steel, they are not preferred today due to the high cost involved. However, steel is preferred on the inner surface of cabinets and racks as they are rigid and a better option than other metals available in the market.
Kitchen Furniture: The Right Time For A Makeover
You can revamp your kitchen furniture if your kitchen falls into the below mentioned categories:
- Damage to existing kitchen furniture: Kitchen is the most important part of the house which involves a lot of functionality. Frequent opening and closing of the cabinet can cause damage. A broken hinge or channel can be repaired and used. However, cracked cabinet walls, the alignment of kitchen trolleys may demand a major revamp.
- Space Required: If you have a modular set-up of kitchen furniture with basic amenities and want to redesign your kitchen for more space. The kitchen needs to be remodeled so that the newly available space can be put to the most efficient use.
- To increase storage capacity: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people continue to live and work from home, so your kitchen should have enough storage capacity to store enough groceries. If your kitchen furniture lacks storage, create more space in the form of additional cabinets or shelves.
- Outdated: If your kitchen furniture is out of date in terms of utility or looks out of fashion, it’s time to revamp it.
make your kitchen multifunctional
- Go for a proper kitchen furniture plan so that storage cabinets are built on top.
- A drawer should be included under the hob with all the cooking necessities like spoons, forks and ladles.
- Storage for daily use vessels
- Build shelves to hold extra groceries and spices
- Kitchen furniture should have a place to keep all the expensive crockery and cutlery.
consider your wardrobe
If the kitchen is to be seen clean and orderly, then all the kitchen items should be at their designated place. Apart from kitchen accessories, it is also good to hide appliances as they improve their life expectancy, keep them looking clean and protect them from dust and rust. It is good to invest in kitchen furniture cabinets and cupboards to protect kitchen equipment. It also gives grand look.
Source: Elle Decor
questions to ask
What are the criteria for choosing the color of kitchen furniture?
Choose dark shades or one that is easy to maintain. While white looks classy, it needs frequent cleaning and maintenance as stains can change its color to yellowish white.
What are the things to be kept in mind while planning a kitchen layout?
While designing the kitchen layout, remember that the kitchen furniture should not be too close to the gas or exhaust fan/chimney as this will have a negative effect on the kitchen furniture. The kitchen should be well ventilated and the kitchen furniture should not be a hindrance.
