If you’re fed up with the poor traffic flow and cramped nature of your current kitchen, you may be chomping at the bit to tackle a kitchen renovation project that fixes all these challenges. Here are some things to keep in mind when designing your new kitchen and surrounding spaces.
1. Widen Walkways
When you cram all your gadgets and cabinets into one space, the inevitable result will be compromised traffic flow. It’s important to give yourself enough space to comfortably navigate the room while accounting for guests or other cooks. A good rule of thumb is that you’ll need at least 42 inches between appliances and your other surfaces, which will make it easy for someone to walk behind you while you’re washing dishes in the sink or chopping onions on the countertop.
2. Have Plenty of Seating
If you want to add an island to your kitchen, you need to make seating as accessible as you can. Your family members and guests should face you while you work, but they should remain outside your main walkways. Have at least 36 inches of space behind the seats so you can maximize traffic flow while allowing for personal interaction at the same time.
3. Consider Entry Points
Blocked entryways present a major obstacle to an open kitchen. Your refrigerator is your most used appliance, for example, and should ensure all entry points remain accessible even when you have the fridge door open. You should also make sure your other appliances are still accessible when the doors to nearby cabinets have been opened.
4. Plan For Small Spaces
Most kitchens are gathering spots for guests and family members – just as much as they are for preparing and serving food. But if you are plagued with a small space for your kitchen and nothing can be done about that, you’ll have to compromise on the furnishings and accents.
- You may want to purchase a rolling island cart that you can put in a corner rather than a permanent one that would simply be too cramped.
- You’ll want to incorporate fewer cabinets but perhaps with deeper spaces or Lazy Susan attachments.
- You should place appliances side by side to maximize what space you have.
By optimizing the flow of traffic while promoting functionality and accommodating for family gatherings, you can plan the layout of your kitchen with the ideal navigation in mind. The end result should be something you’re comfortable being in, day in and day out. Partnering with a kitchen designer who does this for a living can be extremely helpful as you come up with the layout for your kitchen renovation.
Contact AD Construction
AD Construction has more than 40 years of experience handling kitchen renovations throughout the Back Bay, South End, Cambridge, Brookline, Milton, Newton, and the Boston Metro area since 1980. To book a consultation from one of our kitchen contractors, contact our experienced Boston Metro designers at 877-345-BUILD.
