Ideas for Improving Your Kitchen

The traditional look of the American Kitchen has taken a dramatic turn from average to beautiful over the years. Designers finally realized the importance of creating kitchens and accessories that make the cooking experience feel more comfortable and less like a chore. Most people still operate out of kitchens that are either too small or very basic in design. If you are considering upgrading your kitchen some time in the future, here are a few ideas that may help you create a kitchen that you can love working in.

Customizing the Counter Height

Today, there is a wide range of people stepping into the kitchen and preparing meals everyday so designers are making sure that everyone’s needs are met. The standard kitchen countertop is 36-inches and may not work for a towering giant. Many experts in home improvement recommend that there should be three different counter heights in the kitchen.

At the primary counter, where most of your food is prepared, you should be able to stand perfectly straight while you use the space. If you have to bend down in order to prepare your food, the primary counter is too short. The best way to find out the perfect counter top height is to place your palms on a horizontal surface while standing straight. You should only have to bend your elbow slightly. Next, measure the distance from the floor to the surface. Those measurements are the ideal height for your primary countertop. The sink counter should be about 3 inches higher than the primary countertop and the counter for cooking should be 3 inches lower than the primary space, making it easier to see in pots and pans.

Beautiful, but Durable Materials

Most people are still working out of kitchens that look like they belong in a country cabin made in the thirteenth century. The cabinets and countertops are made from wood that has never been refurbished and may be older than most people. Their floor tiles are peel-n-stick from Wal-Mart and very difficult to keep clean. If I just described your kitchen, you made need to find some better materials that are beautiful and durable. Wood can bring a subtle feel to your kitchen if you take care of it properly. All wood cabinets are nice as well as cabinets with glass doors and shelves. Stainless steel for countertops and refrigerators are easy to clean and last forever. They also can withstand extreme heat and cold. There are many durable materials you can use to bring beauty to your kitchen. Search DIY websites and home improvement magazines.

Create Your Own Comfort Zone

There’s nothing worse than cooking in a kitchen that doesn’t measure up to your comfort level. The ability to reach and have access to everything you need without going on a scavenger hunt while a bubbling pot is on the stove, is more than necessary. There are some ways to create the perfect comfort zone in your kitchen, like getting rid of those upper cabinets and moving closer to countertop level. By pulling countertops out (away from the wall) and bringing cabinets down, allows you to get to materials easier and faster while preparing and cooking food.

Another way to make your kitchen fit your comfort zone is by moving away from the traditional kitchen layout, the triangle. The triangle is an imaginary line that connects from the refrigerator to the sink and to the stove. Kitchen layouts are now being designed more spacious and with an island work station in the center. The island work station helps to reduce traffic as well as reducing the amount of walking you would do in a standard kitchen.

Multiple Light Sources

Most kitchens have very bad lighting, with the main light sources being the ancient fixture in the middle of the kitchen ceiling or a light above the stove. Sometimes the current lighting is not enough or maybe too much, depending on what you want to do.

General Ceiling Lighting is usually the main light in your kitchen, but task lighting (usually located over countertops) can provide efficient lighting for whatever you are doing in that specific area. There is also Mood Lighting, which can change your kitchen from the worse place in the house and into a relaxing place for meals.

Useful Additions to your Kitchen

Using a movable workstation may be necessary for most people. The moving workstation can become another workstation or a source of transportation for hot and heavy pots from one space to another. Some people I know have gotten fancy and installed trash receptacles on the sides. The rolling workstation shouldn’t take up necessary space in your kitchen and you should be able to slip under a counter or into a closet after use.

Adding a prep sink is another essential addition to your kitchen. With a prep sink as well as your regular sink, you won’t be pressed for where to prep food and where to put dirty dishes. Most prep sinks are longer than a regular sink and not as deep. A good prep sink is about 4in-5in deep so you are not bending too far down to clean food.

Once your kitchen has updated to meet your standards, it should be one of the central places to be in your home. The kitchen is (in my opinion) the most important part of the house. It’s where you curve your appetite and where you learn to be creative with new meals and recipes.

Before considering updating the kitchen, take a trip to a major hardware store and get advice and information from kitchen associates. There are also many shows on television that may help to spark ideas. Whatever route you choose, there are many options that you can choose to create the kitchen of your dreams.