Finding it hard to stick to your New Year’s resolutions now that January’s over? Perhaps the goal was to eat healthier, or to make greener choices, or maybe to spend more time at home with the family. It can be hard to turn those goals into habits without the right environment.
The design and layout of your home can have a huge impact on your productivity and likelihood to stick to goals. Discover the changes you could make to your kitchen to help you eat healthier, save money and do better for the planet!
Design the optimal cooking space
Can the layout of your kitchen affect your lifestyle? Yes, it can! Kitchens are more than just practical; they bring people together, offer tranquillity and promote healthy relationships with cooking and food.
The right kitchen design can carefully consider each zone of the room to create the optimal environment for cooking, making it easier and more appealing for you to cook at home. Nest your cooking zone in a position that catches the sunlight, for example, or at an angle that faces the rest of the kitchen and vastly increase your chances of reaching for the pots and pans, as natural light and sociability are the perfect accompaniment for cooking. Make your kitchen more inclusive with a seating area, around an island or a sofa in an open plan space, will encourage a relaxing environment. And if possible, consider a direct view to the garden from your cooking spot, as connecting with the outdoors is a natural mood booster – a perfect association for cooking.
It’s also important to consider how to make your cooking utensils more accessible to make forming a habit as easy as possible. Design the kitchen areas so that the chopping spaces are close to storage and washing up zones, as well as near the cooker. The easier it is to cook and wash up, the quicker and more attractive the process will be – and the more you’ll want to do it!
Combine your favourite hobbies
Introduce features to make the room more inviting. If you enjoy cooking along with your favourite recipes, create a nook or stand where you can place a cookbook, iPad or tablet with a plug nearby. If you appreciate a good tune while you chop, install a speaker or create a designated space for your speaker/plug. Or, if watching a cooking programme or your favourite six o’clock quiz show is your thing, consider a space for a small TV so you can make cooking more enjoyable.
Build a handy chopping station
Another way to zone your kitchen is to build a user-friendly chopping station. Keep chopping boards and quality knives next to the preparation zone by either creating surface space or installing accessible tray storage for your boards that matches the rest of your joinery. Give yourself easy access to both the sink and bins for an easy cleaning process. If you want something really handy, why not install a pull-out rubbish drawer underneath the chopping surface to easily sweep waste away.
Waste not, want not
Integrated bin storage can also encourage you to recycle and compost food. Try under cabinet storage for your rubbish and create separate compartments to make it super easy to dispose of food waste and even separate your recycling to glass, plastic and paper. Angled bins are a great example of this, as they allow you to neatly fit four bins in one drawer.
Keeping your rubbish embedded into your joinery will keep it out of sight and out of mind and make your environment feel cleaner. Tidy kitchen, tidy mind.
Don’t neglect your small appliances
Forget battling with the contents of your cupboard every time you want a smoothie. Make your kitchen appliances readily available by storing them somewhere that’s easy to access. Whether you’re trying to increase your fruit and vegetable intake or embarking on healthier cooking methods, keep your blender, steamer or Air fryer in easy reach by having a proper cupboard clear-out or dedicating a pull-out zone for these appliances that can be neatly stored away/covered. Small appliances don’t have to mean clutter, so let’s show them some love!
Organise your kitchen
Rearrange your kitchen and clear out those cupboards. It’s all about accessibility and aesthetics: having a space that looks good will boost your association with healthy foods and cooking while access will just make the whole thing so much easier! Both of which will increase your likelihood to cook more healthy foods.
Arrange your pantry, cupboard and fridge. Consider integrated joinery storage, easy-to-clean materials and compartments for your fridge. Introduce a system to prevent food waste by keeping foods with closer expiration dates easily visible. Store fresh foods properly and in sight to encourage frequent use. Avoiding food waste will do good things for the planet and your wallet.
The right kitchen design and layout can vastly improve your relationship with cooking and cleanliness, feeding into good recycling and money-saving habits.
