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The Fashionable Housewife

The Fashionable Housewife

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Making the Kitchen the Heart of Your Home

Modified on January 28, 2022 at 7:04 PM

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In older homes, the kitchens are often small and purely functional. Galley style is common, especially in terraced houses, as few people saw the need to take up more space than necessary with their kitchens. They were used to make food, and that was it. The family didn’t spend any time in these rooms. They were just for cooking. 

But times have changed. You may have heard people referring to their kitchen as the heart of their home, waxing lyrical about positive family time spent cooking, eating, and playing together. You might have also seen TV shows where the families gather in the kitchen to bake together, or to simply sit around enjoying a relaxing meal. 

Unfortunately, for many of us, this feeling doesn’t come naturally. If your kitchen is small, dark, or a little dull, you won’t want to spend any more time in it than you need to. If it’s messy or cluttered and things are hard to reach, your children won’t enjoy spending time cooking with you, and if you’ve never spent more time than necessary in your kitchen, you might struggle to get into the habit. 

Why is the Kitchen So Important?

Why should you? What makes the kitchen important enough that it should be considered the heart of your home? What makes it so much better than the other rooms?

Well, to start with, there’s food. We need to eat. But, when it becomes something that we do simply because we have to, or we do it quickly without thought, then we risk developing dangerous habits with food. Make the kitchen the heart of your home, and eating becomes a more social experience, leading to healthier relationships. 

Then, there’s time. Modern lives are busy and stressful. We struggle to fit everything in, and we find it hard to keep up. We’re always rushing around and have so little time to stop and enjoy each other’s company. For many families, mealtimes are the only chance to stop and catch up. When the kitchen becomes the heart of your home, and you welcome your family in for cooking time, as well as eating times, you automatically spend more quality time together. 

The Benefits of More Family Time in the Kitchen

Of course, these aren’t the only benefits of spending more time in your kitchen. Others include:

  • Children learning to cook.ย 
  • Having more fun as a family.
  • Cooking and baking are cheap hobbies and great rainy-day activities.
  • You are all more likely to develop healthy eating habits.
  • We often find it easier to talk when we’re doing something else, like eating or cooking. Being in the kitchen can help your children to open up.ย 
  • Most of your home is segregated. Your bedrooms are your own, and the study might be an adult domain. The kitchen is a safe harbor for everyone.ย 
  • A more equal workload.
  • Improved mood.

But, if your kitchen isn’t already the heart of your home, what changes can you make to help?

Keep it Tidy

It’s hard to relax in your kitchen, enjoy cooking and want to welcome your friends and family in when it’s a mess. A cluttered and untidy kitchen will never be safe for children, and it certainly won’t be fun. 

But, keeping a kitchen, especially a smaller one tidy, can be challenging. You may need to look at kitchen renovations to help you to add smart storage, make more of your space, and create enough cupboards and counters so that everything has an easy home. Renovations from Kitchen Capital can help you to make more of your space, whether it’s large or small, and these renovations can make it much easier to keep tidy. Kitchen Capital can help you to create the perfect kitchen for your family, taking all of your needs into consideration. 

Even with more storage, however, it’s important that you stay on top of it. Organize your kitchen so that the tools and ingredients that you use most frequently are easiest to reach, dangerous items, like sharp knives are out of the reach of little fingers, and the things that your children need, such as mixing bowls and spoons, are in a low cupboard, or one that’s just for their use.ย 

Then, practice cleaning as you go and encourage the other members of your household to do the same. 

Add Seating Options

If you want your family to spend more time in the kitchen, try to make it easier for them by adding seating. If you’ve got room for a dining table or breakfast bar, great, but also add more relaxed comfortable options if possible, where your family can sit and chat or do their homework. 

Play with Color

Fill your kitchen with color, and you’ll create a happier space. Add color to your cupboards or just their handles, hang artwork, buy colorful appliances and utensils and stick your kidsโ€™ coloring pictures up on the fridge. Adding plants can also be effective.

Make it Fun

Your children will find it hard to relax and enjoy helping you in the kitchen if it’s too formal. Color will help, but adding extra fun with a chalkboard wall, cake domes filled with goodies, and other things that they might enjoy is a great idea.ย 

Get into Good Habits

No matter how family-friendly, relaxed, and fun your kitchen is, it will never be the heart of your home if you don’t spend time in it. Get into better habits, keep the door open, invite people in, and encourage participation, and soon it will start to feel more natural. 

Keep it Light

A big problem with older kitchens is that they tend to be quite dark and dull. Paint the walls light colors, add a larger window, and find other ways to maximise natural light to improve the atmosphere and create a friendlier space.ย 

Make Sure It’s Safe

If you want your children to help in the kitchen, make sure it’s safe for them. Move dangers into high cupboards, make sure the floor is non-slip and take the time to teach them how to cook safely, instead of just leaving them to it. 

Get the Sound Right

It’s hard to chat with family and friends if you can barely hear them over the sounds of your cooker hood and other appliances. Choose quieter options where possible and add a radio so that you can have fun even when you are on your own.

Consider a Bold Change

Open plan can be a great choice if you want to really open things up and create a more communal space. Knock walls through to create a large, open living space where you can cook, relax, and eat. Just make sure you get professional help. 

Don’t Forget the Finishing Touches

In other rooms, we spend a lot of time thinking about the finishing touches like soft furnishings, lighting, and accessories. But these things tend to get ignored in the kitchen. This is unfortunate, as these are the things that can really add personality and make a room your own. Add flowers and vases, mirrors and pictures, and even cushions and blankets to your chairs. Take time with the details to create a more unique space.ย 

In some cases, you’ll need to be bold, and make some significant changes to your home to give your kitchen the chance to serve a bigger purpose. But, in other cases, a few smaller changes can be all that it takes. Take a look at your kitchen, and how you use it, and think about anything that you need to do to create a proper family space.ย 

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Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on September 2, 2020 at 5:36 PM
Filed Under: Home Improvement, Home Life, In The Kitchen
Tagged With: family kitchen, home sweet home, kitchen, kitchen decor, kitchen design, kitchen makeover, kitchen remodel, Kitchen Renovation, kitchen trends

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

Disclaimer

The Fashionable Housewife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for blogs and websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We alsoย participateย in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission on purchases made through our links. There is no extra cost to you! For more info, please see our Disclosure & Privacy Policy.

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! Iโ€™m Sarah-Jean. Iโ€™m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

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The bins hold a surprising amount and I love how solid and sturdy this is. Perfect for organizing toys at kid eye level. Itโ€™s also great for seasonal home decor! ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚

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This kid blows me away daily and makes me so proud to be his mom. I donโ€™t have enough words to describe how much I love this child. ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Drop a comment and wish this boy a happy birthday! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‚ 

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Work from home? You need @flexispot_official The Work from home? You need @flexispot_official 

Their standing desk and exercise chair is a GAME CHANGER!! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

Whether you have a laptop or a desktop pc, being able to adjust your desk at the push of a button and stand for a while is absolutely essential to working long hours at a computer. 

This bicycle chair is designed specifically for this desk and a great way to keep your body moving. You could also use an under desk treadmill like @superun_fitness for even more flexibility! ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿผ

Just because you have to work at a desk all day doesnโ€™t mean you need to be out of shape. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

Motherhood and working from home is hard. FLEXISPOT makes it easier. 

Check out my blog and search โ€œFLEXISPOTโ€ for more info!!

Comment and tell me how many hours a day you spend sitting! Be honest! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #workfromhome #athomeworkouts #athomefitness #fitmoms #fitmomsofig
If putting up your Christmas tree brings you joy, If putting up your Christmas tree brings you joy, go for it!! 

Our new @kingofchristmas 7.5' Queen Flockยฎ Artificial Christmas Tree is absolutely amazing! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

The kids couldnโ€™t be happier so I have no regrets putting our tree up before Thanksgiving. ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ’๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

Follow my shop @fashionablewife on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!

#liketkit #LTKSeasonal #LTKHolidaySale #LTKHoliday #kingofchristmas 
@shop.ltk
https://liketk.it/4n9gW
Loving our new 5 bin storage unit for the playroom Loving our new 5 bin storage unit for the playroom from @guidecraft_official !!

The bins hold a surprising amount and I love how solid and sturdy this is. Perfect for organizing toys at kid eye level. Itโ€™s also great for seasonal home decor! ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚

Whatโ€™s your favorite piece of furniture in your house?! 

Tell me in the comments! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

#homedecor #momlife #homeorganization #playroomorganization #playroomdecor #homedecorideas #fallhomedecor
An often-overlooked element to planning your perfe An often-overlooked element to planning your perfect hiking outfit is finding the perfectย minimalist backpack! 

You donโ€™t want to be weighed down by an oversized, clunky backpack that boasts all the bells and whistles but delivers nothing more than unnecessary muscle strain. You want a backpack that is minimal on the outside, functional on the inside, and sustainable all around. Waxed canvas is always a top choice for me!

Iโ€™m obsessed with this backpack from @hellodayowls ๐Ÿ˜

It has that perfect boho minimalist look that I love, in the perfect color for fall. This has become my go-to handbag for autumn. 

Perfect for all our outdoor adventures, hiking in the mountains, exploring the woods with my kids, and everything motherhood throws at me! ๐Ÿฅพ ๐Ÿง—๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ ๐ŸŒฒ 

Learn more about this bag on my blog ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿป

#backpacking #outdoorfashion #wildandfreemama #mountainmama #motherhoodjourney #minimalfashion
I miss summer already ๐Ÿ˜ญ Take me back to a bett I miss summer already ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Take me back to a better place ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿป summer time at @storylandnh !! ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t wait to go again next year! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿปโœจ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

#summertime #familytime #familyadventures #motherhoodunplugged #childhoodunplugged
What they remember about their childhood is in you What they remember about their childhood is in your hands ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿป

#motherhood #motherhoodrising #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodintheraw
This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t believe my oldest son is 13 and outside helping dad do home projects like building a new deck. ๐Ÿคฏ Seems like yesterday he was in his walker on this back deck and it looked a lot better ๐Ÿ˜‚

Thankful that @homedepot has great prices so we could finally afford to do this home reno project! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐ŸŽ‰

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #hereisourhomeschool #motherhoodthroughinstagram
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