What Makes a Kitchen Family Friendly?
A family kitchen is all about balance. You want a space that looks great, works hard, and doesn’t make you nervous every time the kids come charging in for snacks.
Here are the core ingredients:
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A safe, sensible layout
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Hardwearing finishes
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Super organised storage
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Easy-to-clean everything
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Room for people to actually live in it
If your kitchen ticks these boxes, you’re on the right track.
How Do You Choose a Layout That Works for Busy Family Life?
Your layout is the foundation of a family friendly kitchen. It decides whether your mornings feel calm… or chaotic.
Open-plan or broken-plan?
Open-plan is brilliant for younger families — you can keep an eye on the kids while cooking. If you prefer some separation, broken-plan layouts with pocket doors or subtle dividers give you the best of both worlds.
Create clear “traffic lanes”
Kids don’t walk — they zoom.
So avoid designs where the main walkway crosses right through your cooking zone.
Keep the hob, sink and oven slightly off the main path and you’ll feel the difference immediately.
Make islands work harder
A kitchen island is perfect for:
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Snacks and breakfasts
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Craft and homework
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Kids helping with baking
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Charging devices (because someone always needs a charger…)
Just make sure you leave enough room around it — cramped islands cause more frustration than joy.
How Do You Keep a Kitchen Safe for Kids of All Ages?
Nobody wants a kitchen that feels like an obstacle course of hazards.
Here’s how to make it feel safe without turning it into a soft-play centre.
Raise appliances out of reach
Built-in ovens at adult height = fewer burnt fingers.
And position the dishwasher away from the busiest areas so open doors don’t become shin-traps.
Consider safer cooking options
A BORA cooktop is a brilliant choice for families — no overhead hood for heads to bump, and the integrated extraction keeps steam and smells where they belong.
Choose anti-slip flooring
Tiles and wet socks are a dangerous combination.
Modern LVT or textured tiles are stylish and safer.
Rounded edges wherever possible
You’ll thank yourself the first time you turn around holding a hot pan and don’t collide with a sharp worktop corner.
How Do You Create More Storage in a Family Kitchen?
The bigger your family, the more “stuff” seems to appear out of nowhere.
Pantry storage is your best friend
A tall larder or dedicated pantry cupboard instantly improves breakfast time. Keep cereal, snacks and school bits here so kids can help themselves.
Deep pan drawers > standard base cabinets
They’re easier to access, hold more, and stop you having to crouch down to find that one rogue saucepan lid hiding at the back.
Create a “grab-and-go” snack zone
One small cupboard or drawer at kid height will save you being asked 47 times a day:
“Where are the biscuits?”
Use your vertical space
Ceiling-mounted racks, tall units and high shelving keep clutter off the worktops and out of harm’s way.
How Do You Include a Family Hub or Social Space?
A family kitchen isn’t just for cooking — it’s where life happens.
Add seating that works for real life
Breakfast bars, bench seating or banquette nooks work well for:
- Homework
- Tea and chats
- Kids watching telly while you cook
- Family time without being on top of each other
Keep sightlines open
If you’ve got younger kids, being able to see them from the hob is a game-changer.
No more sprinting back and forth every time it goes quiet (which is, of course, always suspicious).
Make room for tech
A discreet charging drawer or cupboard keeps devices off the worktops and stops leads taking over your life.
Should You Add a Utility Room for a More Family Friendly Setup?
If you’ve got the space, adding a utility room might be the best thing you do.
It moves washing, laundry baskets, muddy boots and general clutter away from the main kitchen, making family life smoother and far less messy.
Schüller’s utility ranges are especially smart — raised appliances, tall laundry units and brilliant recycling solutions all help keep the kitchen calm and organised.
What Are the Best Materials and Finishes for Family Life?
Kids are basically chaos machines, so choose finishes that can take a hit.
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Fenix or matt anti-fingerprint doors — hides sticky handprints
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Laminate or quartz worktops — tough, stain-resistant and child-proof
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Glass or ceramic splashbacks — wipe clean in seconds
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Handleless designs — fewer places for crumbs to hide
Your future self will appreciate every single one of these.
Office / Work Space
In an ideal world, the perfect family kitchen would be a mobile device free zone where you get your family’s undivided attention. But, no matter what rules you lay down at the start, inevitably, they will work their way in eventually.
If you’re planning on your traditional family kitchen being the homework zone for the kids, or if you might use it as an impromptu home office, then having ample plugs and charging stations in the kitchen is a good option.
Smart Sound System
One of the most popular trends in the smart home automation area are multi-room audio systems.
These are a must in the perfect family kitchen space, as you can listen to music whilst cooking, the kids can listen to their own music when they’re around, or you can easily play music when entertaining or having a family party.
