“Family-friendly” kitchen?

Exactly as it sounds! A kitchen with all its components (kitchen sink, worktop, island, bar, appliances, furniture), but laid out in such a way that the dining room stops being the main room in the house and the furniture is also adapted for children. In other words, a full-blown competition between these two rooms with a single objective: to turn the kitchen into the queen of the home.

But how can this be achieved?

You have several options within reach, provided space and budget allow it:

• Connect the two rooms by knocking down one of the walls separating them and turning it into a glass wall. This way, the space can be shared with whoever is in the dining room at the same time.
• If you have an island in the kitchen, nothing is better than adding a bar to it, making the most of the space and stopping the dining room from being the main place to eat.
• Install a table-and-chairs set in the kitchen – if it is large enough – and use it not only for cooking, but also for studying, talking, etc.
• Avoid installing upper cabinets, or install them with lift-up doors, to minimise any knocks that we or any of our children might get while they are in the kitchen.
• Install flooring that is durable but also pleasing to the eye. Nowadays, hydraulic mosaic is a highly recommendable option.
• Install hygienic-surface worktops so that stains do not build up and our children can handle any food in complete safety.
• If you have a small kitchen with little space, one solution is to install a wall shelf with its corresponding seat, allowing you to rest or carry out other tasks while you are cooking.
• Build a low wall between the kitchen sink and the table area. This way you achieve minimal but effective separation, differentiating the setting within the kitchen itself.

What advantages are gained?

Not only will you manage to keep the kitchen 100% tidy, but you will also cook more efficiently and quickly by investing – whenever possible – in smart appliances. In addition, you can also turn the kitchen into a safe environment by installing anti-slip mats or knob protectors.

In this way, it is very likely that before long all members of the family will fight to spend more time in the kitchen than anyone else.