Make the busiest room in the house work better for you.
It's one of the busiest rooms in the house, so make sure your kitchen is used to its full potential. Browse through some stylish and practical ideas to create more space and achieve a streamlined look.
As kitchens become more social spaces it's a great idea to incorporate comfy seating. Create a cosy nook by adding seat pads to a low run of cupboards and paint the wall behind in a rich matt black to set it apart from the rest of the room. Add even more storage above with a group of open shelves.
Ekby Osten wall shelves and Ekby Valter brackets, from £9 each; Janinge chairs, £40 each; Melltorp table, £30; all Ikea
If you love cooking with fresh herbs, go for a vertical garden in your kitchen. Place near a window and next to the sink for maximum sunlight and easy watering. These pots hook onto the wooden ladder-style stand, which takes up minimal worktop space.
Satsumas plant stand, £30, Ikea
Clear out a messy cupboard and reinvent it as a mini utility room. It only needs to be wide enough to fit the washing machine. You can then add a clothes airer above, a hook for the ironing board and hanging storage on the back of the door for detergents and pegs.
Algot wall shelf and drying rack, £37; Torkis flexi clothes basket, £5; Danka ironing board, £19; hooks and containers, from a selection; all Ikea
A central island unit can give you extra worktop space, storage and in this case, additional seating. You don't get more multipurpose than that! The banquette creates a comfy place to sit and eat in the kitchen. Curved seating is set into the island and works perfectly with the compact round dining table. Painting the island in a soft rose pink makes it stand out from the rest of the kitchen.
Artisan kitchen in Blush (island) and Slip (inframe cabinetry); worktops in Honed Flash Blue granite; from £25,000, John Lewis of Hungerford
Combining a small kitchen with an adjoining room by knocking through creates a more spacious kitchen-diner and will have a huge impact on how you use the space. Keep the lower part of the wall to act as a mini breakfast bar. This is a job for a builder – find a reputable local one by clicking on to fmb.org.uk. Retain the feeling of light by painting walls and units in a warm white.
Cabinets painted in Simply White advance satin; walls painted in Mascarpone Regal select eggshell; floor painted in Mascarpone Floor and Patio low sheen; from £17 for 0.94L, Benjamin Moore
If you're lucky enough to be designing a new kitchen, be creative with every bit of space. The end of a breakfast bar can house a wine rack, gaps between or at the ends of units can be stores for trays, and a redundant chimney breast makes a great tea and coffee station. Additional storage is cleverly designed beside the eating area in this beautifully streamlined space.
Custom-designed high lacquered and walnut kitchen, £40,000, Hub Kitchens
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