The kitchen is often the heart of the home, a place for people to spend time together and socialize. Because of this, a kitchen should be both welcoming and cozy, while also being fully functional. Here are a few ways to make your kitchen feel more welcoming:
1. Make Sure You Have Plenty Of Seating
If you want your guests to feel at home in your kitchen, make sure you have plenty of seating. There are plenty of ways to add seating, such as barstools at a kitchen island, a banquette, or even just chairs around your eat-in kitchen table.
Making sure your kitchen island has ample seating is a popular luxury kitchen design idea to try. Extra seating, especially comfortable seating, can make any space feel luxurious and spacious. If you have a feature like a banquette or built-in bench seating option, this could be a great place to add more kitchen storage.
Ask for built-in cabinets or drawers to maximize that space. This is a great place to store things that you don’t need very often, but may need access to at different times of the year. You can store extra cookbooks or create an appliance garage for larger kitchen appliances, as well as specific kitchen items you only use once in a while.
2. Think About How You Want People To Gather
A popular kitchen design trend is creating a space that isn’t just for cooking, but for socializing and spending time together, too. This is why the kitchen often becomes a spot where children do their homework, or a place where you catch up on some paperwork.
Making sure you think about these potential uses is a tip to remember as you design a kitchen for a busy family. Keeping this in mind, you may want to choose a much wider island counter or design a specific home office or homework spot. That way, the whole family can be together and feel connected.
3. Invite in Warmth and Color
To make a kitchen feel warm and inviting, there are a few methods to try. Adding different textures and colors through accessories, like rugs or art, goes a long way in giving your kitchen some personality and some warmth.
You can also add some color through countertop designs or backsplash tiles. These options are a little bit more permanent, so take your time in deciding what you want and play around with a few different options to select the right choice.
You also don’t want to go overboard in both design and color. While it might seem tempting, a busy pattern and bold color can overwhelm a kitchen. Not finding the right balance is a kitchen backsplash mistake to avoid.
4. Think About Lighting
Lighting is also important in creating a welcoming kitchen. Stark, overhead lighting can make your kitchen feel cold, while softer, more strategically placed lights can give the kitchen a nice warm glow.
Choose the Right Mix of Lighting Options
There are so many kitchen lighting options to try to get the right look and style that you’re looking for. Try pendant lighting above your kitchen island or eating area. Sconces and track lighting are also great options for lighting the whole room, but much more evenly.
Vary and Layer Lighting
Layering your lighting is a popular home lighting trend because it allows you to choose exactly the right level of lighting for any occasion. Food prep may require bright, well-lit areas, while other tasks only need specific spot lighting. It can be hard to illuminate valuable space under cabinets, so try incorporating under-cabinet lighting.
Include Natural Light
Taking advantage of natural light is important. Natural light makes any space feel fun and cheerful. Embrace it by incorporating plenty of windows into your kitchen design. Thinking about how much natural light you want in your kitchen is one of the useful tips for planning window placement in your custom home.
Use Window Treatments Strategically
For privacy or for keeping the bright sun at bay, try some window treatment ideas like blinds or light and breezy curtains. This will allow some natural light in, keeping your kitchen feeling airy, while blocking out the harsh rays. Light and breezy curtains are also popular sliding glass door treatment ideas if your kitchen will connect to an outdoor area.
5. Connect Indoor And Outdoor Living
Another way to make your kitchen space feel welcoming and inviting is to connect to the outdoors, ideally to an outdoor living space. The natural flow from indoors to outdoors gives your kitchen a casual feel and encourages a relaxing vibe. The easiest way to do this is to have sliding or French doors that lead from the kitchen to a deck or patio.
Make sure your outdoor dining space has plenty of comfortable seating and places to put drinks or plates. You can even have an outdoor kitchen to make outdoor entertaining even easier. However, be sure you’re aware of the pros and cons of an outdoor kitchen. They’re great for entertaining, but they are more permanent fixtures and may not be for everyone.
These are just a few ways to make your kitchen feel more welcoming. If you’ve tried some of these ideas and your kitchen still doesn’t feel welcoming enough, maybe it’s time to think about a custom kitchen and home. If you’re ready to start bringing your dream home to life, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090!
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