The kitchen is one of the most used spaces in any home. It becomes the focal point for family life at several times of day; when getting ready for work or school and quickly preparing breakfast, grabbing a snack at lunchtime and preparing a wholesome family meal for dinner. Many adults also enjoy hosting dinner parties, and a fully functioning modern kitchen is vital to ensure that guests enjoy a sumptuous meal that can be quickly and efficiently prepared.
Kitchens tend to age quite quickly due to the amount of use they have on a daily basis. If your kitchen is showing signs of wear and tear or isn’t functioning effectively, it can be wise to consider giving this space a full upgrade to modernize it and make it a centerpiece of your home. In this article, some top tips for modernizing your kitchen will be discussed.
Consider the flooring
Poor quality or damaged flooring in a kitchen can detract from the overall aesthetic appeal of the space and can pose a risk of slipping when liquids are spilled. If your kitchen flooring needs a complete overhaul, it’s important to make a complete renovation of the area.
Take out the top surface completely and level the concrete underneath to ensure that it’s completely flat. It’s important to add a layer of screed to the exposed surface so the new top layer of flooring will be completely level and smooth. Consider searching for a screed pump hire company that can supply you with the machinery to effectively put down a layer of screed. These devices can effectively mix the screed to exacting levels of consistency to ensure that a perfect layer is achieved which is perfect to hold your flooring.
In terms of flooring types, tiles are a popular choice as they are water-resistant and hard-wearing, whilst coming in a range of finishes. Vinyl flooring is also popular for giving the space a modern feel, although it may not be as durable after years of use. For more information on specific flooring types to consider, click here.
A raised central area
An increasingly popular option in modern kitchen design is to have a raised central area (or a “kitchen island”) in this space. It tends to have two specific uses, which are the creation of a breakfast bar or a dedicated area for cooking and preparing food.
If you have a family and don’t have a dedicated dining room, a breakfast bar can be the ideal upgrade for your kitchen. Click here to find a range of breakfast bar designs to provide inspiration. Conversely, if you often enjoy holding dinner parties for your friends and family, a raised central area can be the ideal location to showcase your culinary expertise. In this situation, the area will have most of the cooking and food preparation appliances built into the space. You can then undertake all parts of the meal preparation without needing to move around your kitchen.
Whether you use the raised central area as a breakfast bar or as the main space for creating meals, it’s important to light it up effectively. Click here for some examples of ideal lighting solutions for this area of your kitchen.
