Kitchen Design
How to Design a Kitchen That Brings People Together
A social kitchen draws people in, putting the focus on comfort and connection. Here are 10 ways to achieve it
Today’s kitchen is more than just a place to cook. It’s the heart and soul of your home — where stories are told, memories are made and moments are shared with those you love. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, throwing a football watch party or simply welcoming a neighbor in for coffee, you’ll want your kitchen to be a space where people can relax and enjoy spending time. Read on to discover how to design a practical kitchen that encourages interaction.
Make a feature of your island by selecting a color or material that contrasts with the rest of your kitchen cabinetry. In this kitchen by M House Development, the designer used an island in rich, natural wood to stand out against the surrounding dusty blue cabinetry. Matching the Shaker profile of the paneling throughout keeps the look cohesive.
2. Open Up
Whether you’re hosting a large formal gathering or a laid-back lunch for two, an open floor plan makes everyone feel connected. Open up your kitchen to adjoining dining, living and outdoor areas to encourage guests to move freely among these spaces. Meanwhile, design your kitchen layout with movement in mind, making sure there’s sufficient room to maneuver between the fridge, stove, sink and seating areas.
Whether you’re hosting a large formal gathering or a laid-back lunch for two, an open floor plan makes everyone feel connected. Open up your kitchen to adjoining dining, living and outdoor areas to encourage guests to move freely among these spaces. Meanwhile, design your kitchen layout with movement in mind, making sure there’s sufficient room to maneuver between the fridge, stove, sink and seating areas.
3. Introduce Built-In Seating
A breakfast nook with built-in bench seating is a space-savvy way to incorporate a casual dining area into your kitchen while adding warmth and a sense of hospitality.
Top your bench with plump, comfortable cushions to create a cozy spot for relaxed breakfasts or somewhere to enjoy a cup of coffee when a friend pops by, eliminating the need to lug trays and cups into another part of the house.
Find a kitchen designer near you
A breakfast nook with built-in bench seating is a space-savvy way to incorporate a casual dining area into your kitchen while adding warmth and a sense of hospitality.
Top your bench with plump, comfortable cushions to create a cozy spot for relaxed breakfasts or somewhere to enjoy a cup of coffee when a friend pops by, eliminating the need to lug trays and cups into another part of the house.
Find a kitchen designer near you
This type of setup also helps if you like to cook and socialize at the same time when family or neighbors visit, or if you want to oversee the kids’ homework while dinner is on the stove.
Short of storage? Add deep drawers or a lift-up up lid to your bench seat and create handy extra storage for platters, cookware and linens.
Short of storage? Add deep drawers or a lift-up up lid to your bench seat and create handy extra storage for platters, cookware and linens.
4. Conceal Storage and Appliances
Keeping clutter and cooking messes at bay is key to a kitchen that feels calm and inviting.
A butler’s pantry is a boon for entertainers and busy families, providing the perfect hideaway for dirty dishes and countertop appliances while giving you useful extra counter space to prep meals — all while keeping your main kitchen countertops pristine.
If you don’t have room for a separate butler’s pantry, consider concealing a mini pantry behind sliding, bifold or pocket doors or installing a niche where you can tuck everyday small appliances or a snack station for the kids.
Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage
Keeping clutter and cooking messes at bay is key to a kitchen that feels calm and inviting.
A butler’s pantry is a boon for entertainers and busy families, providing the perfect hideaway for dirty dishes and countertop appliances while giving you useful extra counter space to prep meals — all while keeping your main kitchen countertops pristine.
If you don’t have room for a separate butler’s pantry, consider concealing a mini pantry behind sliding, bifold or pocket doors or installing a niche where you can tuck everyday small appliances or a snack station for the kids.
Know the 3 Zones of Kitchen Storage
Concealing large appliances such as the refrigerator and dishwasher behind panels that sit flush with the rest of the cabinetry instantly makes your kitchen feel more polished and less like a workspace.
If you’re an avid cook and entertainer, you’ll also want to ensure you have the right tools. This may include a second oven so you can cook two dishes at different temperatures simultaneously, a built-in coffee machine or an additional dishwasher in the butler’s pantry.
If you’re an avid cook and entertainer, you’ll also want to ensure you have the right tools. This may include a second oven so you can cook two dishes at different temperatures simultaneously, a built-in coffee machine or an additional dishwasher in the butler’s pantry.
With a kitchen that’s geared toward entertaining, it also pays to consider noise levels. The last thing you want is for your guests’ conversation to be drowned out by the sound of the dishwasher or the irritating hum of the refrigerator.
When choosing appliances, opt for ones with a low decibel (dBA) rating. As a guide, a quiet dishwasher will run at about 40 dBA and a refrigerator at about 35 dBA (although these figures can be affected by factors such as flooring type, the size of your kitchen and whether appliances are in contact with walls).
When choosing appliances, opt for ones with a low decibel (dBA) rating. As a guide, a quiet dishwasher will run at about 40 dBA and a refrigerator at about 35 dBA (although these figures can be affected by factors such as flooring type, the size of your kitchen and whether appliances are in contact with walls).
5. Step Down the Dining Zone
Create an appealing spot for family dinners or for guests to relax with a glass of wine while you finish cooking by stepping down a section of your kitchen island. This subtle change in elevation helps define the area, making it feel like a cozy nook within the kitchen.
Create an appealing spot for family dinners or for guests to relax with a glass of wine while you finish cooking by stepping down a section of your kitchen island. This subtle change in elevation helps define the area, making it feel like a cozy nook within the kitchen.
For a seamless look, use the same countertop color and material across both levels. Or add visual drama by choosing a contrasting tone or finish, such as a stone island with a stepped-down dining section in warm wood, like the designers at Meadowlark Design+Build have done here.
6. Install a Beverage Fridge
A wine or beverage fridge is a small addition that can make a big difference to your social kitchen. Not only does it keep beverages handy, but it also adds a touch of hospitality — after all, a cold drink at the ready is always a welcome sight.
You’ll want to position the beverage fridge away from your main prep and cooking areas, such as at the end of the kitchen island facing out toward the living area or at the end of a run of cabinetry, so guests can help themselves without getting in the way of the chef.
A wine or beverage fridge is a small addition that can make a big difference to your social kitchen. Not only does it keep beverages handy, but it also adds a touch of hospitality — after all, a cold drink at the ready is always a welcome sight.
You’ll want to position the beverage fridge away from your main prep and cooking areas, such as at the end of the kitchen island facing out toward the living area or at the end of a run of cabinetry, so guests can help themselves without getting in the way of the chef.
7. Add a Wow Moment
Every room benefits from having a focal point, and the kitchen is no exception. Including a single standout feature, such as a bold artwork, a striking light fixture or a backsplash in a unique tile or richly patterned stone, will infuse your kitchen with personality and capture guests’ attention as soon as they step inside.
It can also be a great conversation starter, helping to create that warm, inviting vibe that shifts your kitchen from functional room to vibrant gathering space.
Every room benefits from having a focal point, and the kitchen is no exception. Including a single standout feature, such as a bold artwork, a striking light fixture or a backsplash in a unique tile or richly patterned stone, will infuse your kitchen with personality and capture guests’ attention as soon as they step inside.
It can also be a great conversation starter, helping to create that warm, inviting vibe that shifts your kitchen from functional room to vibrant gathering space.
8. Light It Right
Lighting can make or break the mood in your kitchen, so it’s worth taking the time to get it right. A layered lighting scheme that includes a mix of task, ambient and accent lights will create a warm and inviting environment that’s perfect for socializing, whether you’re hosting a large-scale festive get-together or an intimate meal.
Think about adding undercabinet LEDs to brighten your work surfaces, a pendant light on a dimmer over the kitchen island so it can transition smoothly from prep zone to meals area, and wall sconces or directional downlights to highlight special features such as art.
How to Properly Light Your Kitchen Counters
Lighting can make or break the mood in your kitchen, so it’s worth taking the time to get it right. A layered lighting scheme that includes a mix of task, ambient and accent lights will create a warm and inviting environment that’s perfect for socializing, whether you’re hosting a large-scale festive get-together or an intimate meal.
Think about adding undercabinet LEDs to brighten your work surfaces, a pendant light on a dimmer over the kitchen island so it can transition smoothly from prep zone to meals area, and wall sconces or directional downlights to highlight special features such as art.
How to Properly Light Your Kitchen Counters
9. Make Comfort a Priority
When your kitchen is designed with comfort in mind, it becomes a space where people want to gather, relax and stay awhile. Dial up the cozy factor by introducing padded bar stools with footrests, cushioned dining chairs with supportive armrests or a plush bench seat topped with a few throw pillows.
When your kitchen is designed with comfort in mind, it becomes a space where people want to gather, relax and stay awhile. Dial up the cozy factor by introducing padded bar stools with footrests, cushioned dining chairs with supportive armrests or a plush bench seat topped with a few throw pillows.
10. Soften With Curves
Whether it’s a curved island, an arched range hood alcove or round edges on countertops and cabinetry, gentle curves will soften the harsh lines of your cooking space and make it feel more welcoming.
Eager to bring in the look without making heavyweight changes to your kitchen? Consider adding a curvaceous pendant light above your island, bar stools with rounded backs or a circular area rug.
Tell us: What’s your must-have feature for a sociable kitchen? Share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen design stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for your kitchen
Whether it’s a curved island, an arched range hood alcove or round edges on countertops and cabinetry, gentle curves will soften the harsh lines of your cooking space and make it feel more welcoming.
Eager to bring in the look without making heavyweight changes to your kitchen? Consider adding a curvaceous pendant light above your island, bar stools with rounded backs or a circular area rug.
Tell us: What’s your must-have feature for a sociable kitchen? Share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen design stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for your kitchen
An entertainer’s kitchen is rarely complete these days without a generous central island, and it’s easy to see the appeal. A kitchen island acts as a social magnet, drawing people to a central gathering spot in your home while giving you plenty of space to prep meals. Add a few comfortable bar stools and it becomes the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed breakfast or weeknight meal.
Shop for bar stools on Houzz