The planning process is the most important part of your kitchen remodel. We can build a great kitchen based on your needs, but it becomes an impressive kitchen design when we really dig into the space available to efficiently plan the design. Here are 15 kitchen design tips that will help transform your kitchen.

1. Wasted Space: Deep cabinets are a great idea in theory, but they create a lot of wasted space when you can’t reach certain items. Then they just become long-term storage for items you rarely use. Avoid wasted space by designing more efficient storage.
2. Wasted Steps: We understand that your pedometer pushes you to hit 10,000 steps a day, but they don’t all have to be in the kitchen. Food prep shouldn’t be a chore.
3. Define Traffic Flow: Your kitchen design should effectively direct traffic without causing chaos.
4. No Banging Doors: Make sure all appliances and cabinetry can open without banging the door or corner beside it.
5. Microwave Placement: There is actually a scientific method to placing your microwave in the kitchen. It can cause burns and other injuries if it is too high, too low, too far away, or too enclosed.
6. Double Appliances: Add a dishwashing drawer in addition to the traditional dishwasher and a mini fridge in addition to the family fridge. These secondary appliances may seem like overkill, but they will be used.
7. Landing Space: You should ideally have at least 15 inches of space on each side of the range as well as on each side of the kitchen sink. This area is called the landing area because this is where dishes and food land while you’re preparing meals.
8. Plenty of Counter Space: Create your kitchen with plenty of counter space in mind. Cabinetry will likely be below most of the counter space in your kitchen, so you’re doing yourself a favor in the long run by adding more.
9. The Importance of the Triangle: We mentioned wasted steps as tip #2, and this tip follows that same idea. The purpose of the kitchen triangle is to have the sink, refrigerator, and range within easy reach. A few steps between each would be a good distance. But you don’t want to leave a boiling pot to walk 15 feet across the kitchen, past the kitchen island, to get something from the refrigerator only to discover that the pot has boiled over and there’s a big mess to clean up before you can continue on with dinner.
10. Knife Storage: Knives and other dangerously sharp items should always be kept out of reach of children. A metallic strip attached to the backsplash or a knife block are great options.
11. Eat-in Areas: A breakfast nook, an eat-in kitchen area, or space for eating at the kitchen island are excellent ideas for in-kitchen snacks or meals.
12. Electronics Charging Center: Create an area for electronics to be safely stored and charged away from food and liquids.
13. Message Center: Phone messages, medication lists, and grocery lists are common messages for a chalkboard in the kitchen. This allows every member of the family to get creative while leaving messages.
14. Kids Center: A couple of our previous tips mentioned doubling up on a few appliances. This is a good lead-in for that discussion. You can create a specific area for after-school drinks and snacks that won’t interfere with dinner prep areas when kids come in from school.
15. Pet Appropriate Areas: 68% of American households have a pet. That means more than half of the people we work with probably have a pet to take into consideration. Pet-safe areas are becoming more common in time.