Hassle-Free Kitchens: How to Keep Things Simple

While the kitchen is often said to be the heart of a home, not everyone likes – or has the room for – lots of gadgets and bits and pieces. If you prefer this space to be efficient, tidy and organised, consider these kitchen design tips to streamline the room.

Get rid of clutter

One of the main ways a kitchen becomes a hassle to cook in and clean is clutter. Whether a lack of cupboard space has forced you to store items on the worktops, or you simply are sometimes a little bit untidy, clutter makes a room appear busy and a lot smaller than it actually is.

In order to start afresh and open up the space, pull-out storage works wonders. With everything out of your way in pull-out drawers and on the back of cupboard doors, cooking and cleaning will be a lot easier. Ample worktop space is always a joy to have and certainly makes being in the kitchen less of a hassle. If you like to entertain, it makes the room a nicer space for your friends and family to relax in. Busy mums and dads will also appreciate a tidy kitchen, as it makes it easier to find things and to cook for their brood.

Streamline the design

Don’t feel as though you need to overload your kitchen with gadgets and accessories – a modern, simple and streamlined design can make the room appear larger and be more efficient. Stainless steel is a popular material to use in contemporary kitchens. Not only does it look great, but it is hygienic and simple to clean.

For an integrated look, purchase an oven, splashback, hob and extractor in the material, as well as appliances such as microwaves and fridges. The seamless appearance of the kitchen will transform it into a modern hub of the home. Consider getting a microwave installed above the oven in a unit door – this frees up worktop space and looks stylish.

Buy the right kitchen appliances

Kitchen appliances play an important role in designing a simple and fuss-free space. Electric hobs look great and effortlessly blend in with the rest of the room, but not everyone likes to cook with these. If you would prefer a gas hob, make sure it has enough rings to suit your needs. Too few, and you’ll find cooking quickly becomes a chore, resulting in food being ready at different times. Make sure the hob is made from the same material as the oven and extractor, as otherwise it will look out of place.

Smaller households or those with modest kitchens should consider combination washing machines and dryers. Rather than two bulky appliances taking up space, you will only have to accommodate one.

Another way kitchens can quickly feel cramped is when there are piles of washing up. If you have the room, purchase a double sink. Sometimes, cleaning pots and pans in one sink can be a hassle, especially if you do not have much room to stack the dirty ones and air the clean plates. With a double sink, you can either store the dirty plates in one and wash in the other, or wash them in the first sink and rinse off in the second. This can particularly make life easier for families who quickly accumulate dirty items!