The kitchen is probably the most important room in any home. It’s where food gets cooked, kids hang out, and people entertain. It’s the heart of the home. Make sure your kitchen can handle it all by remembering these key items when designing and building your kitchen.

Place sink and dishwasher closer together

This eliminates food, grease, soap, and water dropping onto the floor after you rinse plates. Doing dishes is already a hassle, so cut down on the annoyance by putting these two close together.

Place garbage bin where it is easily accessible

The kitchen garbage can is usually the main one used for the whole house. Make sure it's placed so that it is convenient for kitchen scraps and trash from the rest of the house.

Electrical outlets placement should make sense

Not having enough outlets in a kitchen makes everything so much harder. Think about placement and quantity when designing your kitchen. Under-cabinet outlets are great because they’re out of sight. Don’t forget to put an outlet on your island if you have one.

Leave enough space between counters

A tight kitchen is claustrophobic and challenging. There should be a minimum of 1 meter between countertops but if you have space 1.2 meters will give you enough room to walk around an open dishwasher.

Make sure your pantry is well organized

An organized pantry will save you so much time and money. Consider adding special spice racks, pull out shelves, and baskets for maximum space and organization.

Consider the working triangle

The work triangle is the idea that the stove, sink, and fridge should fall into a triangle arrangement. This allows for easy access between all three. It isn’t necessary for every space but it’s a good rule to keep in mind.

Plan for counter space

Counter space makes all the difference in a kitchen. Make sure you plan to have enough. You want at least 24 inches to the right of the stove and sink and 18 inches to the left (swap measurements if you’re a lefty!)

Cabinet height will affect your overall look

Cabinet height is a personal choice so think about it. Some prefer floor to ceiling cabinets. Not only is this more storage but it can make a room look bigger. Other’s like space above for decoration or because they never use the extra space anyways.

Plan lighting accordingly

Lighting is so important in a kitchen. Under cabinet lighting is a new hit trend. Don’t just think about lights think about shadows too. You don’t want any cast on work prep areas. Consider dimmers too. They can change your kitchen from bright morning wake up to a dim party ambiance.

Style and design are important

Home builders encourage homeowners to think about two things- resale value and aging. Even if your family doesn’t use an oven, not having one will really lower the value when you try to sell it. And a timeless design means you won’t have to redo your kitchen every five years. There’s nothing worse than putting in so much money only to have it look outdated in a year.

Contact a Custom Home Builder today to begin designing your dream kitchen.