I desired a much more kid-friendly kitchen area because we moved into this home five years ago. Last year, with two elementary-age youngsters as well as one preschooler, we believed it would be a fantastic concept to totally upgrade the downstairs and make a much more open kid-friendly kitchen area style that would grow with our family.
I like the end result as well as am grateful everyday that we were able to produce much more social, open, family-friendly connection between the kitchen area as well as other rooms. however it is not just the open floor-plan, I’m so pleased with a few of the smaller details we included to allow our youngsters to be bigger helpers in the kitchen area — particularly as they grow bigger as well as eat more.
Here are a few suggestions for kid-friendly enhancements that don’t need a sledge-hammer as well as a general contractor:
Make helper tasks easier. Do you want your kiddos to set the table or make their own lunches? produce bit work stations as well as keep the prep materials close by. Leverage shelves, drawers, as well as cupboards that you already have to invent these areas. Here’s a lovely (like org porn level 10) example of allocating a few shelves in a common pantry to youngster food.
Put youngster dishes in reach. We keep children’s cups as well as plates in a low drawer where even the two-year old can serve himself. I likewise store cereal on a low shelf as well as milk in a little pitcher in the fridge. The very first fantasy is that we can sleep in while the youngsters make breakfast. The second fantasy is that they empty the dishwasher every day. We’re getting there slowly.
Plan it best as well as your youngster can empty the dishwasher
Give them a boost. keep a kid-friendly step-stool nearby so little people are welcome to laundry hands as well as prep food at the huge sink. Ours folds flat for simple storage, however anything can work from those elegant discovering towers with all the features to the small restroom stools we already have for brushing teeth.
Hot water, count on me. Family-friendly implies parent-friendly. I liked having an immediate hot water dispenser in my last home however I am similarly thrilled with our hot water kettle. This pretty capresso kettle gets utilized every single day for pour-over coffee, speedier pasta, wilting spinach, warming frozen peas, heating infant bottles, as well as hot tea.
Banish soft fabrics. For pillows as well as upholstered material, we love outdoor materials inside since they withstand spots as well as spills as well as are much simpler to clean. best now, we have difficult plastic stools in the kitchen area instead of anything plush. No utilize crying over spilt milk.
Bigger bang for bigger bucks or “As long as you’re opening up the wall, why don’t you…?”:
Make helper tasks easier, part 2. We installed a ton of low drawers for lunchbox supplies, youngster dishes, tupperware, as well as fabric napkins; each of the young boys has table setting jobs. We installed the microwave within simple reach of our smallest child — though I should admit, he’s not completely trained on it yet. My older kids can quickly warm things — typically remembering to eliminate forks! — so I understand he’ll get there soon enough.
Aim for simple clean-up. I won’t tell you which countertops as well as sink styles to buy, however do think about exactly how resilient vs. stainable different materials are. We bought Quartz counters that can stand as much as hot pans best out of the oven as well as the  “overnight ketchup test” in which the counter surface is not irreparably discolored if youngsters clean up the kitchen area as well as I don’t see up until morning. Can your kitchen area designer deal with the truth?!
Imagine your line of sight. If you’re moving walls to customize your home’s flow, believe about what the cook can see. Can you inspect out youngsters playing in the backyard or quickly glimpse to see why it all of a sudden got so quiet. Do guests see your stack of filthy dishes when they open the front door (guilty!). envision different scenarios before you open whatever up.
Think big. Is there one huge enhancement that would make your kitchen area life happier? For me, I complied with the suggestion of a trusted good friend as well as got two dishwashers — we run both many days with all the lunch boxes. I went against that exact same good friend to select a red stove that I LOVE. For you it may be something like a fireman’s pole, industrial refrigerator, or full skylights. If you are dreaming up a space that you’ll see everyday forever, make sure to plan for your own happiness.
Designing a mom-friendly kitchen: I like my red stove
I’d like to hear your huge as well as little style concepts to make a family-friendly kitchen area work!
[All pictures by Rookie mothers Heather Flett]