7 Foolproof Tips to Create the Perfect Kitchen

Use this kitchen design checklist to create the perfect culinary space

Vinita Kunnath 12 September 2019

A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny blogs and all things off-beat, with an eye for good taste and aesthetics. Home, not clothes, maketh a man.....or woman.

A Houzz India contributor, freelance writer, lover of the internet, travel, funny... More

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The kitchen is the heart of the home, the place where we produce meals comforting or exotic, for family and friends – and we want a pleasant space that is efficient and easy to work in, without taking too much of our precious time and energy. It follows that careful thought needs to go into planning this central space to make it both pretty and practical. Of course, there are countless details to consider when you are setting up a kitchen, but these fail-safe tips can get you up and running, whether you are starting from scratch or refurbishing your cook space.

Contemporary Kitchen Contemporary Kitchen

1. Follow the Golden Triangle rule
For optimum efficiency, your cooking, cleaning and storage areas should sit at three functional points, forming a perfect work triangle. This helps in fluidity of movement between the hob, sink and refrigerator and compartmentalises activities, as opposed to having all work areas side by side.

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The 7th Corner Interiors

This set-up might not be feasible for every space, but you could tweak the arrangement to make it work for you, like in this image, where the hob and the sink are in a straight line with the fridge on the opposite side, forming an isoceles triangle.

Find out more about kitchen layouts

Kim Duffin for Sublime Luxury Kitchens & Bathrooms

2. Demarcate areas
Assign areas such that you have all of your utensils near each other, all of your appliances next to each other, and all of your ingredients together. This allows you to be more organised (no more mixing up of knives with ladles) and avoids wasting time looking for things where they shouldn’t be.

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American Traditional Kitchen Adding Organizational Solutions

This also ensures easy access to the utensils and cooking ingredients you use most often: oils and spices near the cooktop along with ladles and cooking spoons; knives, platters and chopping boards near the prep space; baking dishes near the oven.

Tip: A good storage ratio to have: a shallow drawer under the cooking counter, which contains cutlery and implements; below that, two deep drawers that hold everyday pots and pans.

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Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry

3. Get creative with space-saving techniques
We all want more storage and easy hacks. Pop-out prep boards when you are short of counter space, foldaway trolleys in place of an island, pull-out shelves instead of regular drawers, wall-mounted storage, built-in appliances and flush-set sinks are just a few smart and intuitive storage solutions.

Tip: Shelves which pull out are better as compared to drawers; you can see all the way to the back and do so without breaking your back.

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FACILIS architecture and interior design studio

4. Light up well
A well-lit kitchen is important when working and moving around. It makes prepping and cooking safer, it shows up dirt so you can keep your work area clean and, of course, it makes for a pleasanter environment.

When picking out light fixtures, ensure you get ambient lights, task lights, and accent lights. Down lights are best for ambient lighting and to prevent glare and shadows; strip lighting is useful under cabinets to illuminate countertops, and wide-rimmed pendant lights are a great accent over the island counter.

Read here for cabinet lighting ideas

Kitchen Update Interior Design

5. Pay special attention to the backsplash
While countertops are top priority, the backsplash tends to get overlooked in the larger scheme of things. A wall, no matter how well protected with scrubbable paint or waterproofed, is no match to occupational hazards emanating from the stove or sink. A backsplash is, therefore, a must – it is as functional as it is decorative, so choose it with care.

Find out which material to pick for a backsplash

Savio & Rupa Interior Concepts (Bangalore)

6. Don’t forget ventilation
Cooking smells can get right into the fabric of a kitchen and permeate the entire home. Windows or an exhaust fan just do not cut it the way a chimney does, which works wonders in keeping your kitchen free of smoke, odours and grime.

Know which chimney is right for your kitchen

Group DCA

7. Make it your own
Avoid trends – you’ll outgrow them soon. Your kitchen should be a reflection of your lifestyle and personality. Choose accents, textures and lighting to match your personal design aesthetic – after all, the kitchen is where you’ll be spending a good amount of time, cooking for the family.

And, on that note, happy cooking, folks.

Read more:
Fresh Design Ideas From 20 Urban Indian Kitchens
Indian Kitchens: 8 Modern Designs for City Life

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Would you like to add to these tips? Do share with us in the Comments section.