Kitchen appliances are the engine of any kitchen and are there to make cooking easy and convenient. However, their usefulness can be hampered by disconnected or inconvenient placement.
That’s why it’s important to organise your kitchen appliances in the best possible way – ideally, during the initial kitchen design. In this article, we’ll take you through how best to arrange and install kitchen appliances to maximise your kitchen’s usability.
Why is it important to plan the layout of kitchen appliances?
Simply placing appliances wherever there’s a spare plug or in a gap that fits may seem logical, but actually may cause you headaches further down the line. Bumps, knocks and general to-ing and fro-ing can amplify in a poorly laid out kitchen. For example, if the stove is right next to the kettle, expect your family to intrude on your cooking space on their quest for a cuppa. Take a look at our kitchen design ideas and organisation tips to make the most out of your appliances.
How to organise kitchen appliances for maximum convenience
- Declutter: Is the old toastie maker gathering dust? Is that pile of recipe books lying untouched? Once you have a tidy up, you may realise that not all your appliances need a home – rather, they need throwing out, recycling or donating. You may also discover that some appliances have essentially the same function e.g. a food processor and blender, and so you could question whether you need both. Similarly, a declutter could free up new space where appliances could be placed. Also, pay attention to your crockery cupboards – if you have more plates than you know what to do with, that shelf spot could house an appliance instead.
- How often do you use them? Toasters, blenders, microwaves or anything else that receives daily use can go pride-of-place on your countertop. Here, it will be easily accessible without having to remove it from storage every time you need it. Less frequently used appliances, such as a waffle-maker or crockpot, can go in a cupboard or cabinet for storage and be brought out when necessary.
- Repair rather than replace: During your kitchen redesign, you may be wondering whether your older appliances could do with a replacement. When it comes to larger and more costly appliances, such as cookers, washing machines, dishwashers and the like, all they may need is a little TLC rather than full-on and more pricey replacement. Specialist appliance repair companies, such as Domex offer appliance repair for a wide array of large appliances to keep them performing at their best.
- Divide into Zones: You’ve heard the phrase too many cooks spoil the broth. To prevent kitchen users from getting in each other’s way when performing different tasks, it’s recommended you split your kitchen into zones. This tip is more useful for those who are at the beginning of designing their kitchen, but could also be a source of inspiration for those having a kitchen revamp. There are no hard and fast rules for how you do this, but one suggested set of zones could be:
- Food storage: Generally this refers to your fridge-freezer, but you may also wish to have a food cupboard in this area for salt, pepper, herbs, condiments and any dry food such as pasta, noodles and rice.
- Crockery and cutlery: Depending on how large your family is or how often you like to entertain, this could take up quite considerable space. Ideally, you will want a dedicated crockery cupboard, with also extra storage cupboards available for seldom-used appliances. Positioned below your crockery cupboard at waist height should be your cutlery drawer.
- Cleaning area: In this zone should be your sink and drainage rack with a dishwasher fitted below or to the side, and also a cupboard for household cleaning materials.
- Cooking area: This zone is for cooking meals, so will require the hob, oven, grill and also plenty of countertops to chop and prepare vegetables. You may also wish to move the pots and pans cupboard to this area for easy access. A nearby bin could also be handy.
- Quick food area: For tea, coffee or any quick food preparation (i.e. breakfast) consider having an area especially for this. Here, you’ll place a toaster, microwave, kettle and coffee machine – anything that requires quick, easy access throughout the day. You may also want to move the snack cupboard to this area, too.
This isn’t the only way to divide up your kitchen. You could simplify it even more by building the design around the three key areas: sink, stove and fridge. Ultimately, think about what layout would work best for your needs.
- Wire Up: Of course, any design plans need to be supported by the appropriate power supply, especially where appliances are concerned. Sometimes rewiring may be necessary if the plug layout doesn’t support your plans.
We hope you found these kitchen design ideas useful. So, remember – with some smart placement and tidying up, anyone can transform the functionality and convenience of their kitchen space.
