Making Your Kitchen a More Social Space

Where they were once the hearts of our homes, our kitchens have over time become more functional. We cook in them; we grab quick snacks and meals, and we get out. Few families today spend more than the necessary time in their kitchens. But those that do are often more sociable. They spend more time together, cooking together, talking and sharing the news of their days. They invite friends and family into their kitchens. They raise children who are more likely to cook as adults and have healthy relationships with foods.

Much of our social lives revolve around food, so why not spend more time with the people that we love in the room that we cook and prepare it? Here are some of the things that you can do to turn your family kitchen into a more sociable space.

Design a Kitchen That You Love

If your kitchen is dated, impractical, dirty, and cluttered, or if you just don’t enjoy the décor, you are less likely to spend time in it when you don’t have to. You’ll never be able to relax and enjoy spending time with friends and family if your kitchen makes you uncomfortable or doesn’t bring you joy. If it’s time to make some upgrades, look at granitetransformations.co.uk for some ideas and inspiration, and then to get help creating the perfect kitchen for your home.

Be Bold

Open plan living spaces, or at least open plan kitchen and dining rooms offer a great option when it comes to creating a more social kitchen space, somewhere you can cook and eat together without walls and doors taking up space. If your kitchen is especially small, opening to a larger, open plan area might be effective. Even the smaller step of removing doors can work well.

Add Seating

If you want people to be able to hang out for more than a few minutes, you’ll need somewhere to sit. If you’ve got a larger kitchen/diner, adding a large table and chairs is ideal. Other options include adding small sofas, comfortable benches, or a breakfast bar.

Keep It Cosy

A sociable space needs to be comfortable and relaxing. People shouldn’t be on edge or feel awkward. Add cosy touches like cushions and throws to your seating area, a soft rub on the floor, and artwork to your walls. Kitchens can be fairly bland, concentrating on functionality above all else. So, use this as a chance to add some personality to your space with accessories and soft furnishings.

Open to the Outdoors

If your kitchen has a door leading out into your garden, try to open things up a little more, perhaps by installing a French door and patio space. Add an outdoor eating area and see it as an extension of your kitchen.

Keep the Space Bright

Bringing more people into a room can make it feel smaller and crowded. Combat this by keeping the walls bright and maximising natural light as much as you can.

A social kitchen space is a fantastic option for modern homes. We’re all so busy and rushed, but having somewhere to spend time with the people that you love while you cook and eat is a great way to make the most of your time together.