The Kitchen

The kitchen, while being one of the most used rooms in your house, is also one of the quickest ways to add value to your home. Because of this, the layout, style and maintenance of your kitchen are incredibly important. In part one of this two part series, we will offer tips and tricks to make sure you get the most from your kitchen.

Kitchen Style:

The style of your kitchen should be reflective of your lifestyle, thus making it specific to an individual. For example, a family will need more storage than a person living alone. It is important to plan and decide how much storage, workspace, dining space etc. you will need in order to get the most from your kitchen.

However, when choosing storage units, it is advisable to choose large, spacious modern storage units as these are what have been found to add the most value to the kitchen. In a survey conducted by sellhousefast.co.uk, 72% of experts said this was the best kitchen feature to add value to the property. These storage units can span from floor to ceiling for maximum storage and value. They come in a range of styles and so do not limit your kitchen’s design.

Modern kitchen storage

A backsplash is an inexpensive way of adding value to your kitchen while keeping it fresh and stylish. Choosing the right pattern/colour is vital to ensure it blends with the rest of the kitchen. A bright, bold colour or pattern gives a neutral kitchen new life without taking from the simple, clean look. Conversely, if your kitchen units are more decorative, choosing a simple refined backsplash will compliment it well. Just ensure it is cleaned regularly to avoid grubby stains, which give the opposite effect!

Kitchen backsplash

When choosing colours for your kitchen, neutrals will typically add the most value. This is because of their versatility and practicality. If you do want a colourful kitchen, consider adding colour in backsplashes, appliances and décor rather than large storage units. This gives a similar effect with a less costly commitment.

Pop of colour

Maximising Space:

If you do not have a lot of space to work with, you can still add value by maximising the space you have.

• Corner units are a fantastic way of utilising space as they slot in without taking up room on the floor.

• You can maximise your storage space with deeper drawers, which sometimes can extend into the wall. These hidden units keep the space in the kitchen open, without sacrificing storage.

• Vertical storage is a fantastic way of maximising small spaces. If there is no room on the floor – use the wall.

• Make sure the colour palette is limited to one or two block colours to ensure the kitchen doesn’t look too ‘busy’ or cramped.

• Making use of light can trick the eye into thinking the space is larger than it actually is. Try bring in a lot of natural light as well as bright lighting for cooking and ambient decorative lighting. Darker kitchens will need more light so plan accordingly.

Planning, smart colour/decor choices and making use of the space you have will add value to your kitchen to make sure you get the most from it. After all, we spend a lot of time there and it is important to create a space that you enjoy.