When you are deciding on a design for a house, you need to accommodate the needs of everybody that lives there. If you have a large family, this means creating a space that caters to children of varied ages, as well as the adults. The kitchen is used for more than just cooking, especially when there are a lot of you in the house. That means you need it to be an adaptable space. You should also look to the future and consider what your children may want from the kitchen as they reach their teenage years. If you are making decisions on your new family kitchen, here are some ideas that you could try.
Layout
The layout of the kitchen is important because it will direct the design of everything else, as well as defining the kind of kitchen that you want it to be. Some people may want an area that they can keep fairly separate from the children to keep them safe when you’re brandishing a knife or boiling a pot of water. The easiest way to achieve this is to have a U-shaped kitchen. That way you can keep the socializing area separate from the cooking area.
For others, separating the children from the cooking area is less of a priority. Families with slightly older children don’t need to worry about it as much, so they can focus more on creating a more open space for family gatherings. Try an open layout, perhaps with an island in the middle. Opening it out into the living room also makes it more suitable for entertaining.
Island
A kitchen with an island in the middle is perfect for a large family because it’s so versatile. Make sure that you put counter stools around it to get the most out of it. Having seating around it means that you could use it as a space for family meals, freeing up an extra room that you would normally use as a dining room. When it isn’t a mealtime, the island can then be used for the kids to do homework or drawing on, or for the parents to entertain friends.
If you aren’t in need of a dining area, you could put the hob on the island. This is a great way to inspire your children to learn cooking as they can always follow along and get involved while you cook. Remember to be careful if you do put your hob on the island because it is within reach of the children.
Cleaning
A big family has lots of sticky hands that like to grab things a lot. Keep this in mind when you are choosing materials for counter tops and drawer fronts, otherwise, you’ll struggle to keep the kitchen clean. A gloss finish does give the kitchen a sleek, modern feel, but it’s very unforgiving when it comes to fingermarks and smudges. It’s best to wait until the kids have grown up and moved out, then you can redo the kitchen. For now, opt for anything with a matt finish or, ideally, something wooden. Wood will show up the least marks and make it far easier to clean the kitchen.
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