There are so many benefits to spending time together in the kitchen. Studies suggest that enjoying a meal together can have several positive impacts on your family, including:
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Encourage your family to spend more time in the kitchen by creating the ultimate family-friendly space.
A family-friendly kitchen is one that is comfortable, functional, safe and engaging for the whole family. Following these six tips to begin designing your own family-friendly kitchen:
In a family-friendly kitchen, seating is everything. Whether your family gathers around a traditional dining room table or sits on counter-height barstools around the kitchen island, make sure there is plenty of comfortable seating available. The more comfortable your dinner time seating is, the more time your family will want to spend sitting around the table.
Some of the most delicious family meals — like pasta, pizza and desserts — can also be some of the messiest. When choosing chairs or bar stools for your family kitchen, look for ones that are made with easy-to-clean fabrics. Alternatively, preserve delicate seating with washable slip-covers during mealtime.
One of the smartest family kitchen ideas is to display a large menu in the dining area so your family can look ahead at the week’s dinner plans. Construct your menu out of chalkboard paint or use a dry erase board, so it is easy to change each week.
Pre-planning your weekly menu is an excellent way to organize your grocery shopping list and give your family an idea of what to expect each night. For even more fun, consider implementing “theme nights” throughout the week, like Taco Tuesday or Leftovers Night.
Easy to clean building materials — especially for the countertops and flooring — are a must-have in family-friendly kitchens. Quartz, vinyl and laminate countertops are all easy to maintain and stand up well to the chaos of family mealtime.
Stone, tile and laminate materials are all great options for your floor, as they are typically non-porous and easy to clean. Avoid installing any carpet in your kitchen, as it will be difficult to keep clean and dry. Instead, opt for a colorful, washable rug to add more personality to the room.
Let’s be real. Life happens. When you use a kitchen, day in and day out, bad things can happen to good cabinets. But with Wolf Signature with SmartShield Technology, easy cleanups are covered. Wolf Signature cabinets with SmartShield Technology are protected with an ultra-durable finish that looks like paint but is way easier to care for. Now you can make a mess, wipe it clean and get on with life.
If babies or toddlers live in your home, you are probably already familiar with the idea of child-proofing. In a family-friendly kitchen, child-proofing means installing high shelves and closed-door cabinetry to safely hide away dangerous items, like knives, kitchen gadgets, cleaning agents and more.
Baby gates are another good option for keeping children away from unsafe areas of the kitchen. For even more protection, consider placing corner guards on the edges of your kitchen counters, island and dining table to keep your little one from bumping their head.
Make family time last longer and teach your child valuable life skills by letting them get involved in the meal preparations. Depending on your child’s age, there are several different ways your kid can get involved.
Teaching your children how to cook from a young age and letting them express themselves in the kitchen can encourage them to:
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For kid-friendly kitchen design, install child-height furniture. If that isn’t possible, designate a special step-stool for your child, so they can easily assist. You could also set a special drawer in your kitchen aside for your children’s baking and cooking supplies so they can learn how to put away their tools and dishes during cleanup.
Kitchens for families require a lot of storage space to make room for all the dishes, pantry items, pots and pans. Implement traditional storage spaces throughout your kitchen design, including kitchen walk-in pantries, drawers, cabinetry and pot hangers.
If your kitchen is small or you are working on a limited budget, implement other space-saving tricks, like:
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If you are looking for kitchen cabinetry that can stand up to the joys and messes of family mealtime, look no further than Wolf Signature Cabinets with SmartShield Technology. SmartShield Technology is a durable laminate coating that is wrapped 360 degrees around cabinet doors for superior protection and style.
For you, this means kitchen cabinetry that can:
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With Wolf Signature Cabinets, you can also add optional additional storage or personalized touches to your cabinetry like built-in spice racks and decorative trims or moldings. Select Wolf Signature Cabinets are available for Quick Ship, meaning you get your cabinetry within days, not weeks.
Families have been choosing Wolf Home Products for premium products and quality service for more than 175 years. When you work with Wolf Home Products, you get the Wolf advantage:
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To learn more about Wolf Signature Cabinets — or to browse our other premium cabinetry selections — visit Wolf Home Products online. Then, find an independent Wolf Home Products dealer near you to see the cabinets for yourself and begin designing the family kitchen of your dreams.
