Three tips for creating a stress-free kitchen

This year, working from home has become the new normal. As a result, many people are spending a greater proportion of their day in the kitchen… but not for the usual activities.  

What was once the place for a quick bite and a morning coffee has become the office, the lunch spot, and the make-shift bar for a post-work drink. 

If anything, people are spending more time working and socialising in the kitchen than actually cooking in it!

As a result, priorities are changing when it comes to kitchen design. These evolving demands are revolving around creating a versatile space. But with so much going on in one room - things can get overwhelming. 

Discover how you can achieve a tranquil environment for you and your family in the kitchen, by making a space which is both easy to maintain, and easy on the mind... 

Tip 1: Get Your Layout Right

 The most fundamental element to reduce kitchen chaos - is designing the right layout. 

Ideally, you should be aiming for an ergonomic kitchen. This involves making your space work for you, rather than you working around the space - which will have knock-on effects to your daily life in the kitchen. 

 You may be thinking ‘ergonomic’ is a more appropriate term for your office chair than your kitchen… but fundamentally it’s describing how to design a space around efficiency and comfort. Ultimately, this will lead to a calming environment because it will reduce time spent on chores, and make your kitchen flow better. 

So where to start? ‘Kitchen zones’ are usually the first phrase on most kitchen designer’s lips. 

Kitchen zones refer to positioning elements in your kitchen according to function. For example, you may place your dishwasher close to the sink, and the drawer for the pots and pans next to the oven…

But arguably more than functionality, kitchen zones are all about designing a space around your lifestyle. 

Ask yourself honestly - how do you and your family use the kitchen? (If you’re unsure where you sit, check out our article ‘what is your kitchen personality’.)

 For example, if you’re a single person who uses the kitchen to make coffee, bin takeaway wrappers and throw the occasional cocktail party - your kitchen layout will require something very different to a busy family of five. 

 The idea of segmenting the kitchen into zones was incepted at the start of the 20th century - with the concept of the ‘kitchen triangle’. The goal is to reduce movement between the fridge, hob and sink to make cooking more efficient. The triangle shape allows for rotational movement between the tasks of cooking (hob), chopping, peeling and washing (sink), and food storage (fridge). 

Of course, the role of the kitchen has evolved since the 1900s - transforming from a behind-the-scenes, closed-off space where one individual would prepare food - to a space where families congregate together. Therefore the kitchen triangle evolved into ‘zones’, to cater for the modern lifestyle and changing demands of the space.

Here, flow is self-contained around particular tasks - for example, your ‘prep zone’ would include your knives, chopping boards and a bin nearby. Your ‘hot drinks area’ may include a cupboard for tea and coffee close to your mugs, kettle, tap and fridge.

Whether you go for the classic triangle, or a more edgy shape, evaluating how and your family you flow around your kitchen is the best starting point in creating a stress-free kitchen.

Tip 2: De-Cluttered Space, De-Cluttered Mind.

Your environment plays a pivotal role in your well-being. With many more of us working from home, creating a peaceful background has a direct correlation to our daily experience. 

A key point of call to creating a stress-free environment, is to hide clutter. 

Remove all items which aren’t in daily use from view by designing your kitchen around smart storage solutions (check out our blog for more storage ideas!)

For example, you may want to consider concealing storage in your kitchen island or installing floor-to-ceiling cupboards to make use of otherwise ‘dead space’. 

Or perhaps you can design storage around specific items... Here’s a pull-out cabinet we designed for a client’s bread mixer. It emerges on a hinge, plugged in and ready to go - but out of view from daily life in the kitchen. 

And here’s a bespoke storage solution we designed for a client’s spices. 

The beauty of bespoke kitchen design is - you can be highly specific about making your kitchen work for you. Say goodbye to awkwardly opening cupboards! 

Some of our favourite storage solutions are those which make the day-to-day more efficient - such as magic corners for pans. Combined with the idea of kitchen zones, i.e. placing the smart pan storage next to the oven, you can begin to see how kitchen design can impact your life in the kitchen. 

With everything in its right place - you can think a little clearer.  

And not only does decluttering your space make it less stressful - spacious work surfaces allow for all the versatile activities in the kitchen to unfold throughout the day: cooking, working and socialising.

 Which leads onto the next point: installing easy to clean and durable surfaces and splashbacks.

Materials such as Corian and other solid surfaces such as Hi-Macs are seamless - meaning they are incredibly easy to wipe clean. Without joins and porous materials - dirt has nowhere to hide, making it much easier to maintain a hygienic space. Check out our blog on how to choose the right kitchen worktop to learn more about the best materials for your space.

Combine this with a splashback behind your oven and sink, and all you’ll need is a quick wipe between tasks to get your kitchen sparkling - and get on with your day. 

 Tip 3: Soothe the Senses

Amongst our hectic lives, cooking and working in the kitchen can become another box to tick off the list of daily tasks. But with careful design, the kitchen can become a space for relaxing, and cooking a time for reflection. We think the way to achieve this, is to tend to your senses. 

Visuals

 Choosing calming and natural colour palettes is a great place to begin when catering for the eyes. Soft, off-white tones work wonders in creating a stress-free environment. 

Lighting is also a key consideration. Ideally, you want to aim for a balance of natural and artificial light which will keep you alert without feeling clinical, and have the ability to dim the lights depending on the mood. Read our blog on bright ideas for getting your lighting right for more intel on that…

Another instant way to achieve relaxing aesthetics, is to include house plants. They quite literally will bring your space to life. Herbs, in particular, are a practical solution which can also help those taste buds! 

Sound

More than anything, eliminating unwanted sounds is a key consideration for your sonic sense. Choosing the right appliances - such as the Bora hob extractor fan - can reduce intrusive noises. You may want to consider a separate utility room for any noisy appliances such as tumble dryers (check out our case study of a Leyton kitchen which did this.)

Then of course, there’s inviting in the right sounds. Installing speakers or simply adding a radio to your kitchen is the route to an instant vibe! 

Smell

Managing smells in the kitchen is a matter of airflow. Consider where your windows or french doors are placed to ensure sharp smells and spices in the air don’t linger! And again, investing in a good extraction system will keep scents neutral and non-intrusive in your kitchen.

Taste

It goes without saying in the kitchen… but a fruit bowl or fresh bread works wonders in making a kitchen into a welcoming place to lounge and work.

Kitchens, like our priorities, are evolving. With bespoke design, you can make every element work for you, and craft an environment which moves seamlessly from a place to work to a family hub - without the chaos. 

Get in touch to book a free 30-minute consultation to discover how you can design a stress-free kitchen.