Kitchens often carry the title of the heart of the home. Many people feel nostalgic about kitchen memories like baking cookies with their mom or dad and the conversations shared during family dinners. Homeowners who want their children or their guests to have these types of happy memories need to create a cozy kitchen that encourages people to stop and visit.
1. Add Some Seating
Smaller kitchens that cannot hold a full table may still have the potential to be a dine-in kitchen. An island or a peninsula has benefits that outweigh the loss of floor space. The new cabinets beneath increase the storage space in the room, and the counter is an extra surface area for food preparation. Make certain the top is large enough to function as a breakfast bar.
Added seating enables food preparers to have company and conversation as they work. The extra seats allow kids to get help with homework as dinner cooks. The addition makes family dinners possible in homes without dining rooms. Eating together matters because it encourages stronger family bonds and can result in better food choices for the family.
2. Freshen the Decor
Something as simple as new window treatments and a fresh coat of paint may be enough to boost the appeal of some kitchens. Choose replacement cabinets first during a more extensive renovation because the cabinets greatly impact the overall look of the room. Once the removal of dated cabinetry takes place, the room may not need any other work.
The idea of new cabinets can seem costly, but affordable options exist. Consider replacing the most visible cabinetry and painting the remainder to blend with the updated models. Remember that renovations do not have to include elaborate materials. Even the simplest of kitchens can feel warm and inviting.
3. Bring In Nature
Humans have an evolutionary predisposition for natural environments known as biophilia. The addition of plants in a kitchen can make rooms more interesting and inviting, and it does not have to be anything dramatic. Place a couple of potted plants on a shelf or grow a small herb garden on a windowsill. A vase of fresh flowers on a table is another option.
Homeowners who lack the confidence to care for plants do not need to ignore the tip. Plenty of hardy plants exist that need very little attention. Air plants (Tillandsia) need little watering, and succulents also thrive without much effort.
4. Improve the Light
In dark kitchens, rearrange anything blocking the windows and remove window treatments, or use a thinner material that allows in more light. Add accent lights above and below cabinets for a soft nighttime glow. Install task lighting over work areas, and choose ambient lighting that is powerful enough to brighten dark corners but does not make the room too bright.
Adequate lighting can add to the coziness of a room, but overly bright lights feel sterile and unpleasant. Home cooks who want their friends and family to eat heartily should keep in mind that lighting affects appetite, and bright lights tend to reduce the amount people eat.
5. Keep It Clean
Most people prefer a clean room to a cluttered mess. Homeowners who want people to sit and visit should declutter and clean regularly. The room does not need to be spotless, but wash countertops and dishes and do not allow trashcans to overflow.
The desire to redecorate or remodel a kitchen could happen as people move into a home or years later when they realize they need a room where everyone wants to gather. At Cabinet Factories Outlet Redlands, we can help you to find the right cabinet design to replace all existing cabinetry or the few key pieces your kitchen lacks. Contact us to begin your design.
