Inside: Hey Mums, Here’s How To Design A Kitchen That Supports You! Collaborative post.
Being a busy mum is half keeping an eye on the kids, a quarter trying to keep yourself upright and healthy, and a quarter trying to keep the house in working order too! It’s a lot for just the one mum to handle, and that’s why you need a home that makes all this back and forth a lot easier.
And one room in particular is better than any other for this: the kitchen! When you have a kitchen that supports you, you spend far less time cooking and cleaning week by week. So let’s go through a few design tips that’ll change the way the kitchen functions for the better.
Photo by cottonbro studio
Invest in Low Germ Countertops
Wiping down the surfaces gets awfully boring after a while. That’s why a lot of kitchen countertops come with an antibacterial, low germ guarantee these days.
You can upgrade to these kinds of countertops to stay more hygienic with a lot less effort.
If that sounds like an amazing idea, get your research done!
Start with the Rehome showroom, where there’s plenty of ex-display stock, and then move into smaller, more bespoke providers. That’ll give you plenty of inspiration for the right style, design, and colour.
Set Up an Easy Reach Storage System
An easy reach storage system is a set of jars, boxes, etc., that can be neatly arranged on your preferred work surface area. Don’t hide it behind anything; the storage system needs to be right there in front of you.
Really, be sure not to place it too high up so you have to strain to reach it, nor behind closed doors that just add another frustrating step. If you have to move more than just a normal arm’s length to grab anything, it’s too far away and needs to be closer!
Line any loose ingredient storage with towels, to make cleaning them out much easier, and buy yourself a labelling machine so you can print a new use-by sticker every time you refill.
Put Up a Chore Rota!
A.k.a., don’t be doing everything yourself! Because yes, you might be the best person for the job, but that doesn’t mean you should be doing it.
A chore rota gets the kids involved, with a bit of structure that makes sure everyone has a chance to help out without getting overwhelmed.
Assign each person on the rota one or two jobs each, stick it up in an easy viewing place, and pop a rewards chart up next to it. Every time someone does a job, they get a star (and yes, even the adults can earn stars if need be!).
One simple bit of paper (or a whiteboard you can erase and write again) and you could be spending at least an hour less in the kitchen per day.
Mums, if you need some support in your home, make sure the rooms are pitching in as well! Start with the kitchen for the best results here.