Select Category
A low-maintenance kitchen adds value to your home, especially in today’s modern fast-paced life.
Whenever you think of your dream kitchen, the first image that comes to your mind is that of an elegant and large kitchen. But, beauty comes at a cost — we also need to remember that the more detailed a kitchen is, the harder it will become to take care of it. So, how do you design a low maintenance kitchen? A strong kitchen layout strategy is significant here to strike the perfect balance between aesthetics and practicality. Consider the work triangle between your refrigerator, sink and cooking appliances to create an ergonomic flow since it will make movement in the kitchen easier and reduce the number of spills. Here are some kitchen design tips and tricks that you can implement to achieve a more functional and efficient kitchen space.
Points To Remember For Low-Maintenance Kitchen Cabinets
Opt for closed cabinets with glass doors if you’re a neat freak so that you can view and access kitchen items easily. Ensure that the kitchen cabinet doors don’t have many embellishments or raised panels as they are tricky to clean. Avoid open shelves and/or open kitchen cabinets as they tend to accumulate more dust and attract more clutter. Shaker-style modern cabinets and slab-front traditional cabinets are easier to clean and blend into any design style. You can also go in for a full-sized pantry if you have enough space in the kitchen or another room to spare.
The best colours for low maintenance kitchen cabinets are shades like grey, pastel yellow, brown, cream and beige. Make a decision to paint or stain the cabinet doors depending upon your working style in the kitchen. A stain offers more longevity while paint scratches and chips easily. Choose glossy finish over matte finish for kitchen cabinets as kitchen work involves a lot of grease, oil and spices. When it comes to kitchen cabinet material, PVC and Plywood/MDF are the most common boards used. Wondering why PVC kitchen cabinets have low maintenance and are preferred over plywood kitchen cabinets? PVC kitchen cabinets are easier and quicker to install, lightweight, more economical, fire-resistant, termite-resistant, moisture-resistant, rot-proof, easy to clean, and also last longer. It is also available in a variety of colours.
What To Know For Low-Maintenance Kitchen Flooring
Since kitchen floors are prone to maximum wear and tear, laminate and porcelain are the best materials for flooring. They are resistant to stains, waterproof, easy to clean and scratch-proof. Wooden flooring can also be considered but you need to be careful while cleaning it since it is more porous as compared to other flooring materials and stains very easily. Choose a colour for the kitchen flooring that is ‘just right’ — neither too dark nor too bright — for easy maintenance. Go for a polished texture for the kitchen flooring as it will be difficult to clean it otherwise.
How To Select A Low-Maintenance Kitchen Chimney
Invest in a quiet and powerful modern kitchen chimney or kitchen extractor as it is a one-stop solution to help absorb the greasy residue, smoke and oil from cooking. A few factors to keep in mind while choosing the perfect kitchen chimney for your cooking space are suction power, kitchen size, chimney filter types, the cleaning method, budget, after-sales service and warranty.
Install A Low Maintenance Kitchen Countertop
Opt for larger tiles or slabs to keep the grout lines to the minimum which then makes the clean-up process easier. Popular kitchen countertop materials that require low maintenance are laminates, quartz, non-porous porcelain, marble and granite. Some of these kitchen worktop materials require periodic sealing (6 months to 1 year) but not that frequently.
What Makes For A Low Maintenance Kitchen Backsplash
Kitchen backsplash materials that require low maintenance are mirror, quartz, marble, laminate and back-painted glass. They are low maintenance because you can simply wipe off oil marks, grease stains and spills with a sponge or soft cloth. Opt for a high-quality durable kitchen paint to save money and effort in the future. Avoid mosaic tiles for the kitchen backsplash as cleaning them demands a lot of time and effort.
Get A Low Maintenance Kitchen Sink
You can choose an integrated sink which is a perfect substitute for an under-mount sink with the same features. Two kitchen sink designs are also a suitable option for homeowners as far as cleaning the kitchen space is concerned. You can use one sink for the preparation and cooking of meals and the other sink for cleaning purposes. Opt for an under-mount kitchen sink with/without a drainboard on the side that will give you a seamless transition between the kitchen countertop and the kitchen sink. This allows you to wipe crumbs/messes/dirt directly into the sink without letting it get caught on the edge trim that you’d definitely have in a drop-in sink.
That’s all there is! Hope this blog has given you ample tips and tricks on how to design a low maintenance kitchen that saves you money, time and effort in the long run. If you have a favourite low maintenance kitchen design from the list above or need some guidance on your kitchen transformation project, contact our team of interior designers at DesignCafe for a consultation.
