We have all adapted to new patterns of living, witnessing a substantial change in the way we spend time in our homes. For instance, men used to endure a peculiar wave of anxiety when passing by the kitchen, an almost suffocating dread that they might be summoned to clean off the table. Today, they spend most of their time hanging out in the kitchen, connecting with good food and their beloved company. This particular shift occurred when the rise of the social kitchen subtly persuaded us to regard the living room as something outdated, even redundant in the modern home. Thus, one day, society woke up and said, “The living room is out, let’s invest in designing the perfect social kitchen.”
A social kitchen follows an open concept floor plan, leading directly into other rooms without being obstructed by walls. The absolute best advantage about a well-designed social kitchen is its power as a social change, having a quietly revolutionary impact on family members who usually come to the kitchen, eat their meals, and then fade back into their rooms and fuse into their beds. Technically, the social kitchen fights the rise that occurs in hormones after eating calorically dense meals or meals rich in tryptophan that promote sleepiness, encouraging individuals to socialize during digestion and overcome symptoms of fatigue.
Friendship Togetherness Party Drinking Cheers Concept
Tips For Creating The Perfect Social Kitchen
Picture An Open Plan Design
To create a larger, multipurpose living area, you must consider removing any walls or objects that cause your kitchen to feel isolated or cramped from the rest of the house, establishing a seamless flow that empowers socializing. Supposing structural changes are not really an option for you, then you have to focus on creating visual openness by incorporating open shelving, low-profile furniture, and, if possible, even glass partition walls. By prioritizing this open-plan design, you will automatically create a de facto social hub in the house, maximizing a single large cohesive area.
Incorporate A Large Island
Expansive islands are a must-have for designing a social kitchen, acting as a workstation, prep area, and entertainment surface. The secret for turning the island into a multi-tasking place that enhances both cooking and socializing is to incorporate a built-in sink, drawers, or cooktop into it. Scene-stealing kitchen islands are all about looking permanent, as if they were always there. For a fresh look that can complement both minimalist and high-end aesthetics, consider materials such as reclaimed wood, concrete, quartz, and marble. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that bold colors can immediately transform any kitchen island into a focal point, so deep blues or greens, matte black, or bright pastels might be precisely what you need. To add even more character, you should explore textured finishes, such as matte, gloss, or satin sheens.
Think Of Comfortable Seating Options
Comfortable seating options are a great way to capitalize on the social aspect of your space and make cooking a pleasant experience. Here are some ideas:
- Built-in booths integrate different areas and functions of a social kitchen, allowing you to create a brilliant effect around windows or in awkward corners.
- Kitchen island seating is a great way to enhance casual dining and socializing, with the mention that without enough room, this option might obstruct the flow of traffic and make the kitchen feel cramped.
- Dining chairs deliver the most design impact, transforming your kitchen into both a cozy haven and a sophisticated space.
- From L-shaped to restaurant booth-style U-shaped, banquette seating comes in various designs to suit any place.
Innovative Storage Solution For Convenience
Innovative storage solutions are the blueprint for a social kitchen, transforming your space into an organized and aesthetically pleasing retreat. Overwhelming clutter is the enemy of open-space kitchens, so before starting to look for storage solutions, you must decide what things you actually need and what you no longer use and can throw away. Once you finish decluttering, open shelving, grid storage, baskets, and rotating shelves are good options for innovative storage solutions. Anything that suits the vision of creating the kitchen of your dreams is accepted.
Focus On Lighting For Ambiance
Lighting is of paramount importance when creating an inviting atmosphere, fostering the overall feeling of any room. The types of kitchen lighting that are typically needed when designing a have-it-all space are:
- General Lighting can be incorporated through ceiling lights such as glass pendant lamps, recessed spots, or surface-mounted fixtures. Experts recommend choosing a warm white spectrum color temperature (about 2700K to 3000K) to create a welcoming and comfortable ambience.
- Task Lighting takes care of the functional part of your kitchen, ensuring you can see clearly when preparing food or washing dishes. Under-cabinet Lighting and wall lamps with focused light at the countertop are a popular solution.
- Accent Lighting enhances the appearance and functionality of your kitchen and can be used in various ways, such as LED strip lights, recessed lights, and directed light sources.
- Ambient Lighting creates a base level of illumination through flush and semi-flush mounts, chandeliers, pendants, and dimmer switches.
Don’t You Dare Forget About The Wine And Beverage Station
In case you were wondering why every kitchen should include a designated beverage zone and thought that the most obvious answer would be “Because we are all closeted alcoholics”, your approach is valid. Still, the beverage station doesn’t have to be exclusively dedicated to alcohol. Interesting, though, that alcohol was your first thought. Anyway, it could be your morning espresso, mid-day tea, or afternoon vibrant smoothie; the convenience is unlimited with a beverage station. It fosters a welcoming atmosphere where family members and guests are encouraged to serve themselves and socialize.
What do you say? How does it sound so far? Is the social kitchen what you were looking for? Supposing that is the case, good look with your design and do not forget to have fun.
