It doesn’t matter where in your home you plan to host your guests; they always end up gathering in the kitchen. Certain kitchen design features can make entertaining comfortable and easy, whether for casual get-togethers or formal dinner parties.
At Easy Living Kitchens, we spend our days designing stylish and functional kitchens that are seen and enjoyed by homeowners and their guests. Here are our best tips and tricks to design your kitchen as the ultimate place to socialise.
Embrace Designs with an Open Layout
Whether your kitchen has ample space or it’s on the smaller side, envisioning how you and your guests will move around the space should be a priority in the design phase. Many people choose an open-concept layout to allow open interaction between guests, no matter the occasion.
A seamless connection between the kitchen, dining area, living areas, and patio or deck can keep the conversation flowing while you’re cooking, preparing food, or cleaning dishes.
EXPERT TIP: An open-concept kitchen layout is the best option to accommodate a large gathering, giving people plenty of room to move around and mingle.
Kitchen Islands Provide Much-Needed Bench Space
If you’re a serious entertainer, a kitchen island or breakfast bar is one of the must-have elements of your dream entertainment space. It’s a serving area, a place to pour drinks, and will be the hub of action during gatherings.
For functionality, try to avoid sharp corners on the island, as they can impede traffic flow. A waterfall benchtop is stylish, on-trend and a great way to prevent a safety hazard.
Remember to leave plenty of space between the kitchen island and the dining table, as people will need to be able to move around bar stools comfortably. Choose comfortable and practical chairs over those that just look good. Partygoers expect comfort, especially when perched at the kitchen island for long periods.
EXPERT TIP: If you can’t fit an island in your small kitchen, a peninsula is a great alternative that serves the same purpose.
Select High-Quality Appliances for Longevity
When redesigning your kitchen, high-end appliances are a great investment. Not only do they add to the functionality of your space, but a good-quality appliance is likely to last much longer, saving you from the cost of frequent repairs or replacements.
Essential entertaining kitchen appliances include warming drawers, a drink fridge, a double oven, and drawer dishwashers with different settings for washing dishes.
EXPERT TIP: Consider integrating the appliances for a stylish, seamless look.
Get Creative with Storage Solutions
If there’s one thing every kitchen needs, it’s storage. You can never have too much. Keeping things out of sight will keep your kitchen looking fresh and clean for daily family life and when entertaining.
Do you lack room for a butler’s pantry? There are plenty of alternative ways to incorporate storage into kitchen spaces, such as open shelving, display bowls or pull-out organisers.
Embrace simple ideas like drawer organisers to separate cutlery sets or hanging wire racks to prevent chips in wine glasses. You could also incorporate hidden storage into the reverse side of your kitchen island or racks inside your pantry doors to store spices and condiments.
EXPERT TIP: A banquette provides extra seating for your guests, and doubles as a place to store bulky party items like platters when they are not in use.
Lighting is Key to Kitchen Functionality
Selecting the correct type of lighting for your kitchen is essential for safety and a great way to create a welcoming atmosphere. Ambient lighting should illuminate the entire room, task lighting provides safety in cooking and food prep spaces, and accent lights can complement your decor.
Dimmer switches in the kitchen are perfect for creating ambience after dinner and when your guests are ready to relax.
EXPERT TIP: Natural lighting is also essential for functionality, which is why the sink is often placed under windows.
Use Stylish yet Durable Materials
Entertainers understand the importance of durability in kitchen finishes. It’s essential to balance style and functionality, from the benchtop material to the flooring choice. Benches made of wood are not the best material to choose if you’re a frequent entertainer, as they can be easily dented, damaged and stained. Benchtop materials like stone are better suited to the demands of entertaining.
Hardwood and engineered timber are optimal kitchen flooring options that will see a lot of foot traffic. Both options are easy to keep clean and won’t become slippery with spills.
Glass splashbacks look great but can be hard to keep clean over cooking areas. If continuing your benchtop material to your splashback isn’t cost-effective, opt for the humble tile.
EXPERT TIP: Durable and easy-to-clean surface tiles can be a wow feature of your kitchen, and you may be surprised about all the different options and types on the market today.
A Custom-Designed Kitchen is Ideal for Entertaining
The kitchen truly is the heart of the home. Done well, a kitchen renovation can add enormous value to your home and your lifestyle. So much goes into ensuring a functional, stylish space, from placing your cabinets to planning different zones and staying on budget. A kitchen design service can help you save money by getting it right the first time.
An Easy Living Kitchens designer can discuss all the considerations with you, helping you turn your dream entertainers’ kitchen into a reality. Our kitchens are fully customised for your space, and our clients are our number one focus.
EXPERT TIP: Save photos of kitchens you like on your phone, ready to show at your design consultation. This helps us get a clear picture of your ideal designs and can help with styling once your kitchen is complete.
Turn to the Experts to Help You Create Your Dream Kitchen
At Easy Living Kitchens, we don’t just manufacture your kitchen locally using high-quality materials; our fully customised kitchen design service ensures it matches your budget, style, and needs.
Call Easy Living Kitchens on 1300 650 681 to book your free design consultation, or visit our website to see how we’ve transformed kitchens in Brisbane and get some kitchen design inspiration for your space.