Today’s world moves fast and we find ourselves filling our lives to the max. There are 24 hours in a day and as a society, we feel the pressure to occupy every sinlge minute of it. When you’re planning your kitchen renovation, plan for one that helps you make the most of your busy lifestyle and incorporate renovations that help you move quickly through your kitchen routines.

An Efficient Design

Tailor every basic design to fit into your household kitchen routine. A standard kitchen walkway is 36 inches wide, for example, but if you have a very busy family or if the kitchen is near the main entrance to the house, you’ll want to expand that walkway up to 48 inches. You’ll be able to move through the kitchen and around each other easier. Consider the work triangle as well – the sink, cooktop and refrigerator. You want this to be as efficient as possible, so consider the main cook. Is that person left or right handed? What type of prep space does that person need? Creating an efficient work triangle will increase time saved.

Reduce the Maintenance

Saving time means spending less time maintaining the kitchen you’ve created. When you’re renovating, consider quartz countertops over granite because the quartz does not require periodic sealing. Stainless steel is very popular but it reflects fingerprints and needs to be wiped down after every touch; consider a different smudge-resistant surface if you feel you will spend extra time cleaning stainless pots and pans. Consider using vinyl on the floor for a surface which does not scratch easily and cleans up quickly. Finally, consider resurfacing kitchen furniture with outdoor fabrics so spills will roll off instead of sticking to the furniture surface.

Watch Clutter

When you’re renovating the kitchen, consider what you have to store and think about how much time is wasted searching for the lid to that pot. Make sure you allow yourself adequate storage space for fast access to everything in your kitchen. Create a landing spot for things such as mail and other papers near, but not in, the kitchen to help keep clutter off counters and food prep areas.

Consider an Island

Kitchen islands are in high demand this year, and adding an island will serve many purposes in a busy kitchen. The surface will provide a work area if necessary while the base provides extra storage. Add stools along one side and you have the perfect place for kitchen visitors to sit while you work, such as your preschool child who wants to be with you but is too young to cook with you. You’ll spend less time worrying about who is in the way and more time focusing on accomplishing kitchen tasks.

If you have any other questions, please contact us today.