Tips and Tricks to Design a Kid-Friendly Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home, where family members spend valuable time together and bond over delicious food and casual conversations.
This room of your home should be perfectly functional to cater to everyone’s needs and should also be designed to ensure the safety of the kids, as several risky things could be hazardous, including sharp knives, hot stoves, and fragile glassware, to name just a few.
At the same time, the kitchen should also suit the kids’ personalities. Fortunately, modern designers are now taking advantage of the available technology to design child-friendly kitchens, so if this is a priority for you, fret not, as there are several ways you can achieve a culinary space where it will be safe – and fun – for kids to spend time in. Check out the list below to learn more!
Consider an open layout
One of the best ways to design a kid-friendly kitchen is to opt for an open layout, as open kitchens are sociable and welcoming, and they give the impression of being larger than they are, enabling children to carry out their everyday activities in this space. Suppose you have a small kitchen; in this case, an open layout will allow the entire family to hang out seamlessly in the dining area as they interact with others in the room.
Open kitchen layouts stand out for their chic and clutter-free appearance due to the illusion of added space, and they are beneficial, particularly if you’re a mom who always needs to keep an eye on your children, giving you peace of mind that they are safe as you do the cooking.
Opt for a child-friendly counter
It’s natural for kids to create a mess, particularly when they are in the kitchen! So, consider investing in kid-friendly counters, as they are easier to clean ( after all, you wouldn’t want to spend all your time cleaning the kitchen, right?). Although the chic marble countertops may be tempting, it’s not really a good idea to opt for them because they get easily stained. Instead, we recommend going for stainless steel or quartz, as they are easy-to-clean options.
For cabinets, ideally, you should use laminates due to their ease of maintenance, and for flooring, vinyl, wood, and linoleum are among the best materials because they are easily wipeable and don’t require much maintenance.
Choose kid-friendly appliances
Kitchen appliances, although necessary, can be dangerous when you have kids in the house. So, when buying them, you don’t only have to ensure that they are perfectly functional but also kid-safe, so instead of opting for conventional stoves, for instance, you can choose a safer alternative as an induction hob, which remains cooler even when you prepare a meal.
Also, consider appliances with child lock features, such as smart kitchen gadgets that include newer ovens, refrigerators and microwaves – this can guarantee the necessary level of safety in the culinary space. However, if you can’t afford to invest in new appliances, you can consider utilizing child-lock systems like stove knobs to enhance the safety of your existing appliances.
Install skid-proof floor
Kids like running around the entire house, including the kitchen, and it’s essential to ensure no accidents happen when they do so. This is why it’s a good idea to install skid-proof floors, as they will prevent slip-and-fall accidents. Some options are bamboo flooring, cork flooring, and anti-skid tile flooring.
However, even if you install one of these floor types, it’s still important to wipe up spills immediately when operating in the kitchen, as this will help prevent mishaps.
Choose colours that will make an impact
You shouldn’t consider your kid-friendly kitchen only in terms of safety but also in terms of fun! After all, what’s the point if it’s not a space that the kids adore? In order to make it fun and playful, consider using more modern colours instead of making the space all white. For instance, grey kitchens look stunning and come in various tones, whether you want a more subtle shade or a darker one.
Of course, to make your kitchen welcoming, you can also consider more vibrant hues, such as yellow, orange, and even green – these will likely look great in the room.
Install a blackboard surface
In a family-friendly kitchen, it’s a good idea to install a blackboard surface for messages, quick notes, and even recipes that you can follow when preparing a meal that everyone will love. This simple yet engaging addition will invite the family to spend more time in this room while keeping children busy for hours as you do the cooking. When it comes to the best child-friendly kitchen ideas, whimsical blackboard surfaces won’t disappoint you.
However, since you have kids, you probably know they enjoy drawing all over the place, so consider incorporating a blackboard in a cabinet, along a wall, or the breakfast counter. No matter where you decide to place it, ensure that it is kept within the children’s reach.
Get a kid-safe kitchen toolset
If your kids want to lend you a hand as you do the cooking, you should ensure they have the right tools to do so – large tools can be difficult for them to use, so be sure to buy exclusive equipment they can use. This is a great idea because it will support children’s desire to help you in the kitchen, encouraging them to pick up necessary life skills that will be helpful for them later.
Besides, it’s an excellent opportunity for bonding as a family, having fun together, and making memories! So, be sure to buy kid-safe kitchen tools and watch your kids learn how to make their own snacks—you’ll love it!
The bottom line
Making your kitchen fun and safe for your kids will give you peace of mind because it will allow you to do the tasks in the kitchen without worrying about their safety or that they will get bored. Which one of these kid-friendly kitchen ideas do you find most inspiring?
