Designing a kitchen for your home—whether it's out of necessity or just to give your kitchen a makeover—can be an intimidating task. Before you begin, you should become familiar with key concepts and principles to create the kitchen layout and design you want. One of the most important kitchen design lessons is understanding your kitchen space. Measuring your kitchen is the best way to plan the layout and design of the room. Don't just guess at the measurements, use a tape measure to take accurate measurements and create an outline of the room with all the dimensions. The best way to get a feel for the space is by using a gridding method, which involves dividing the room into several smaller sections. Use a ruler or graph paper to create grid lines. Once you have the measurements and a visual representation of the space, you will have in-depth knowledge of what layout and design options work best for the kitchen.Understanding Your Kitchen Space: A Primary Kitchen Design Lesson
You will want to take note of the windows, doors, and electrical outlets so that no major planning complications arise. Knowing which areas have access to plumbing and electricity will also help you plan out kitchen appliances and fixtures like the sink, oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Utility and lighting, including overhead, recessed, undercabinet, and countertop lights, are key components of any kitchen design. You may need to consult additional resources and understand the various sizes of cabinets and appliances like an oven, range, and sink. Having this information right away allows you to plan your layout more easily.Kitchen Design Lesson: Use Measurements to Aid Kitchen Design
Designing with access and visibility in mind is crucial for a functional and attractive kitchen layout. This means having access to your cabinets and drawers while standing in front of the counter or having enough open storage between two cabinets for optimal movement. The concept of "line of sight" is also important, as it pertains to how well you can see what's inside your cabinets or drawers. Lighting is your friend when it comes to anything concerning kitchen design. Utilizing natural lighting or artificial lighting to create an inviting atmosphere is an important lesson to remember during your kitchen design journey. Research the types of lighting options to determine what works best for your space before committing to a purchase. Choose fixtures that are pleasing and have a calming effect.Concepts & Principles in Kitchen Design Lesson Plan
When it comes to kitchen design, it's important to have an idea of what type of design scheme you'd like to implement. Remember, it’s your kitchen, there is no right or wrong style. Popular designs tend to include modern, traditional, rustic, industrial, transitional, farmhouse, and mid-century. Knowing your style ahead of time will help you narrow down your design choices when selecting materials, appliances, fixtures, and accessories. Don't forget to consider your lifestyle—will you be prepping large meals on a daily basis? Do you entertain often? Kitchen design is a personal experience so ensure you are designing your kitchen with your needs and desires in mind.Kitchen Design Lesson Plan: Understanding Your Style
This is probably the most fun lesson plan when it comes to kitchen design—figuring out the layouts. When considering your layout, your goal is to create an efficient workspace that maximizes flow and storage. As mentioned, the grid method plays an important role in this lesson. Popular kitchen layout options include one-wall, galley, horseshoe, peninsula, and U-shaped. Take into consideration traffic patterns as well; do you often entertain in the kitchen? Will people be walking past the workspace when cooking? Having a sense of spatial awareness in the kitchen is important and will ensure a user- and guest-friendly kitchen. Layout Options in Kitchen Design Lesson Plans
Lighting and storage are essential for any kitchen design principles. Lighting should be used to not only add visual aesthetic to the space but to provide functionality. Consider using ambient, task, and accent lighting. Accent lighting is used to emphasize decor and design features, while task lighting is focused on specific tasks, such as cutting or prepping food. Storage is essential, and one of the most important aspects of a kitchen. Proper storage ensures there's a place for all of your kitchen items and cookware. You should consider incorporating deep drawers, adjustable shelves, and an array of hanger rods and hooks. Utilize Lighting & Storage in Primary Kitchen Design Lesson
Materials, appliances, and fixtures play a major role in the overall look and feel of a kitchen. These three categories should be used in combination with each other to create a polished kitchen. What materials are used should depend on your budget and lifestyle. High-grade materials tend to be the most durable and the most expensive. Consider options like solid wood, granite, marble, and quartz. If durability isn't the utmost priority but you still want to create an aesthetically pleasing kitchen, consider materials like laminate, ceramic tile, stainless steel, stone, and concrete. Materials, Appliances & Fixtures: Kitchen Design Lesson Plan
Accessories bring a kitchen design to life. There are so many options to choose from—dishtowels, canisters, cutting boards, and utensils. Utilizing accessories will ultimately make your kitchen design unique and personal to your preference. You can also look for pieces that add a bit of texture, such as pottery and plants. Furthermore, mismatching accessories, no matter what style, is acceptable. Layering accessories and using a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors will make your kitchen look more interesting and vibrant.Kitchen Design Lesson Plan: Utilize Accessories
Choosing the right color scheme can be both intimidating and exciting. Color is known to evoke various feelings and emotions and is a great way to bring together all the design elements of your kitchen. Colors can be bold or muted and used in combination to create an interesting and attractive kitchen. Don't be afraid to utilize multiple colors. In addition to this, there are also neutral tones to consider. Neutral colors are great for those who are apprehensive about experimenting with color or find it difficult to commit to a particular color scheme. In this case, a few accent pieces can be used to add a touch of color and vibrancy to the kitchen. Choosing an Appropriate Color Scheme for Your Kitchen Design Lesson Plan
Another great way to aid your kitchen design process is by making a visual representation—a mood board. Mood boards are made to give you a sense of inspiration and are great for creating cohesiveness in the kitchen. Plus, you can be creative with them as they can include photographs, drawings, text, and fabric swatches. Mood boards are an effective way to show how elements will interact together. You can create a mood board by using a corkboard, a bulletin board, or a handful of sheets of large paper on a wall. Get creative with the mood board by tearing clippings of fabrics and shapes from magazines and layering the board. While creating your mood board keep in mind materials, colors, and themes.Using Mood Boards to Guide Your Kitchen Design Lesson Plan
Lastly, consider special features for your kitchen design. This includes open shelving, furniture-style islands, breakfast bars, and pantry cabinets. These features can be used to maximize your space either for storage or for entertaining. Open shelving is an easy way to create layers and interest. This is an inexpensive way to increase storage in the kitchen and is great for displaying dinnerware, smaller appliances, plants, and art pieces. Pantry cabinets are great for those who have large kitchens and need extra storage. They can also be used to hide any items you don't want out on display.Maximizing Your Kitchen Design Lesson Plan with Special Features