Did you know that, in 2016 alone, more than 10% of Americans invested money into remodelling their kitchen? The kitchen is, after all, a lively place where many people spend a lot of their time. So, where should you start if you want to give your kitchen a new look with a simple kitchen design?
Before diving straight into your remodelling project, you need to consider a few things. If you don’t plan, there’s a good chance your resulting kitchen won’t look how you wanted it to. The perfect place to start planning is by considering your kitchen layout and working out from there.
The Complete Guide to Simple Kitchen Design
Start Your Simple Kitchen Design with the Layout
Many people get so carried away with colourful kitchen counters and cabinet designs when remodelling a kitchen that they forget what is most important: the kitchen layout. When designing a kitchen, aesthetics are critical, but if you don’t have enough space for all your new designs and styles, your kitchen will look cramped and unattractive.
This is especially true with small kitchen layouts. If your home is generally small and your kitchen is tiny, you can’t expect a bit of remodelling to turn your kitchen into a highly spacious area. However, some tricks can make your kitchen feel more spacious.
First, you’ll need to balance the appearance of the kitchen floor plan with the functional design. A kitchen needs to be functional more than it needs to be stylish. For example, putting the dishwasher on the other side of the kitchen across from the sink wouldn’t make sense, even if you think it might look better.
L-shaped kitchens are best if you have little space. On the other hand, U-shaped kitchens are better if you have a lot of space. Both of these designs aim to give you as much counter space as possible with your available space.
You can also decide whether or not you want a closed or open kitchen. Closed kitchens are great if you like your privacy and don’t want anyone to watch you cook. They are also preferred if you often have a lot of formal guests visiting your house.
Open kitchens, on the other hand, are more casual and can make your home feel roomier.
Choosing the Materials and Color Scheme
Most people love choosing suitable materials and colours when remodelling a kitchen. After all, a kitchen’s materials and colours make it stand out to people who see it for the first time. If the colours in your kitchen don’t harmonize, you shouldn’t expect them to look good.
Dark colours should be avoided at all costs in kitchens. Remember that the kitchen should be a calm and harmonious place. Dark colours can make it feel cramped and uncomfortable.
Instead, find more soothing colours like light greens, yellows, or blues. White is also a nice colour in your kitchen, although it may show more dirt and stains than other shades. Try mixing and matching a few colours, but remember not to overdo it; otherwise, your kitchen might look gloomy.
Wood is never a bad choice for your kitchen. For example, oak cabinets can give any kitchen a warm and comfortable feeling. When you use wood in your kitchen, you can dare to use warmer colours, such as orange or light shades of red.
Countertops are, of course, essential as well. There seem to be endless choices regarding countertops but try not to be overwhelmed by them. Instead, focus on what you need and what your budget can handle.
Many people love granite or quartz countertops because they are durable and stylish. A good quartzite countertop could also make your kitchen pop. Because countertops can have so many variations in color and patterns, they can make your kitchen truly unique.
Take Storage into Account
Again, it is essential to remember not to go overboard when choosing the style of your kitchen. This is because you could easily forget about another critical functional aspect: storage space. You’ll need space in the kitchen for pots, pans, bowls, silverware, and more.
If you forget about storage space, you’ll be forced to pile all of your kitchen supplies on the countertops, and your new kitchen will look like a mess. Some might fear that too many cabinets and drawers might ruin their kitchen’s minimalistic look, but there are ways to add storage that will still render your kitchen sleek.
For example, you can decide to have your cabinets without handles. You can still open them with ease, and they will look very stylish. Remember to put your storage spaces in convenient areas, such as near the stove or above the microwave.
Your storage spaces should always be within reach. Nothing is more frustrating than climbing on top of a chair to reach a cabinet. You should also only keep as much storage space as you need. Otherwise, you’ll have a bunch of empty cabinets for no reason.
How to Design a Kitchen
By the end of this article, you should know everything about simple kitchen design. Whether you want to remodel your whole kitchen or give it a minor upgrade, there are many things you should consider before you get started.
To learn more, check out the section on home decor on our website.