The kitchen is one of the rooms in the house where we spend the most time living. Either alone or with family or friends, the room dictates how welcoming you and your guests feel. However, finding the balance between aesthetics and high quality can be tricky. Trends are always changing, and the price of durable, high-quality materials keeps rising, so how can we have the kitchen of our dreams that also lasts as long as possible?
The answer lies in how we use and maintain it. If the kitchen will be used by one person, ensuring it has a long lifecycle is easier than for a family. At the same time, taking care of furniture, keeping the kitchen clean, and frequently calling maintenance to check the pipes is a must.
With so many things in mind, let’s see how you can design a long-lasting kitchen.
Research kitchen unit providers
Analysing every provider of furniture, kitchen units, and bodies will help you understand the current market supply and determine the average upgrade costs. You could narrow the range of businesses by opting for specific features, such as ethical manufacturing and product quality certifications.
It’s important for the provider to be within your budget, to include important services such as transport and installation, and to offer excellent customer service. These factors will improve the buying process and make the renovation easier, especially when undertaking a significant project like kitchen remodeling, as you can work with professionals to sort out the kitchen’s measurements and your needs.
Prioritise functionality over looks
The aesthetics of a kitchen are important, because the room can make you feel better or simply blue by its colours. However, given its use, prioritising functionality is better, as it can make cooking, cleaning, and organising faster and easier.
This could mean designing your kitchen like an industrial one, featuring many stainless-steel appliances and a mix of metals that are easy to clean, heat-resistant, and highly durable. Or, you could mix the old with the new with modern shaker kitchen doors, retro appliances, and handmade artwork. A huge sink with two faucets and enough space for the dishes is also important, while closed storage will help keep things under control. Also, investing in raw materials for the furniture will complement the industrial look.
Consider floor heating for the kitchen
Floor heating has been trending for some time, and introducing it in the kitchen may have more benefits than you think. Since kitchens tend to be colder in winter, warming them up can be difficult, but such a heating system is not only flexible but also clean and comfortable.
Just make sure you choose the appropriate flooring for the heating system, such as tile, marble, or stone, as they have high thermal conductivity and retain heat. Be wary of softer, less dense wood, as it can act as an insulator, blocking heat. This is also true of laminate: the denser the product, the better it transfers heat throughout the room.
Invest in high-quality worktops
Kitchen worktops are the most important for someone who cooks a lot. Choosing high-quality materials for the worktops will make cleaning easier and will contribute to long-term resistance to heat, humidity, and use. The two best products for timeless worktops include:
- Stone. Granite and quartz are natural materials that are not only aesthetically pleasing ― they’re also highly resistant to scratches, stains, and heat. Other options are limestone and marble, but they need sealing to prevent staining;
- Wood. Traditional wooden blocks in the kitchen are amazing for a rustic, warm kitchen —they’re durable and functional, especially when it comes to timber. Still, it needs protective sanding and varnishing every now and then;
- Stainless steel. Although this is more common in commercial kitchens, it can be introduced in regular ones due to its durability, high resistance to heat, and antibacterial properties;
Go with the basics for the colour scheme
The classics can be timeless in the kitchen, so if you’re looking for a colour scheme that won’t be left behind the trends and is pleasing to the eye, you can consider the shaker style. While it’s a traditional interior design, you can adjust it to your liking. While the overall theme is simplicity, you can spice things up with:
- A combination of neutrals, like different shades of grey, white, and natural stone for furniture;
- Warm neutrals, like cream and beige with blush-red undertones;
- Olive greens and forest greens mixed with wood fixtures and furniture;
- Blue shades in different hues, from lighter to darker, and even green-based blues;
What’s most important in a shaker kitchen is enough storage that can disguise appliances or awkward spaces, so designing cabinets, peg boards, and various pantry furniture is essential. Clean lines and sturdy constructions are at the base of the Shaker-style kitchen.
Focus on clear and dry air in the kitchen
The best thing you can do to preserve the kitchen’s longevity is to manage the room’s humidity and keep odours out. This prevents mould and mildew from forming, as well as damage to the wood furniture and cabinets caused by excess moisture.
Keeping humidity at low levels includes:
- Getting a strong range hood;
- Opening up the windows when possible;
- Cooking with lidded pots;
- Having a portable humidifier;
You can also decorate the kitchen with moisture-loving plants to improve air quality. Consider plants like Peperomia, which don’t require much care, English ivy, which thrives in low light, or aloe vera, which is also low-maintenance.
Are you ready to have your dream kitchen?
As the kitchen is one of the rooms we spend the most time in, investing in high-quality materials that enhance its durability and efficiency is a power move. Take the time to research providers for units and pick the ones with the best rates, choose sturdy materials like wood and quartz for the countertops, and minimise humidity to protect furniture and prevent mould.
Cyber Geek Girl
