Designing the perfect wellness kitchen

Wellness design applied to the kitchen

The concepts of design are often focused on aesthetic, or functionality, but recent trends have also leaned towards human wellness as an intrinsic core feature.

By incorporating wellness into a design, the modern architect is looking to promote a healthy mind and a living area which acts as a positive space for those dwelling within. Maybe design has focused on aesthetic and function too much over the years, with clutter, sharp edges and wide-open spaces not always conducive to comfortable and safe living.

There has been a recent shift in home renovations within the UK sector, with increasing numbers confined to the home and often with disposable income to invest. 59% of Britons will be investing in their home in 2021, with an average spend of around £6,500. Within that figure, there will be extensions, full renovations and the most popular projects, new bathrooms and kitchens.

The kitchen is a highly functional space which acts as a meeting place, a food preparation area and a key storage location within the home. Getting your design right is not always easy and with so many options available it can all feel a little overwhelming even at the design stage. If you are looking for a kitchen space that is functional, but also promotes the key principles of wellness, then it might be wise to incorporate some of the tips we have outlined below.

Glass Doors

One of the major concepts of a wellness kitchen is to promote a healthier diet by using the philosophy of a retailer. In your local store, the manager knows you will not buy a product which you cannot see, and often the ones featured prominently will sell quicker. A wellness kitchen works in the same way, but it promotes fruit and vegetables. This can be achieved by investing in a glass-doored fridge, for example. If you can see a nice crisp carrot or a fresh banana, you are more likely to reach for that than something hidden away behind a chunky door.

Minimalise

It is easy to clutter the kitchen with gadgets and accessories. Look at your kitchen right now. Is there a microwave on the worktop? Maybe a toaster, too? Do you have a jar with utensils by the hob space, and maybe even plates and crockery on display? All this clutter makes the kitchen feel busy, complicated and muddled. A wellness kitchen should seek to have everything out of sight, with nice clear worktops and spaces for you to prepare food, or just relax in with the family. One popular aspect is to incorporate an ‘appliance garage’ in the space. Within this expansive cupboard, you might have your blender, coffee maker, toaster, slow cooker and a host of other useful appliances, but they will be out of sight until needed. As for the microwave, get rid now. Food has a better nutritional content without radiation.

Function

Another key aspect of personal wellness is time. If you have time to pursue the satisfying elements of your life, then naturally you will feel better about yourself. Today’s smart kitchens can help automate many jobs you have previously been forced to endure, and even some simple gadgets such as a hot water tap allow you to remove the traditional kettle, saving energy boiling water and time waiting for it to happen. Of course, if you do make functional changes to your plumbing system, it is worth adding in some peace of mind for yourself, such as plumbing insurance. HomeServe’s breakdown of insurance cover, details how protection for your system can be low cost, but a malfunction can be anything but. To maintain wellness and eradicate worry, knowing that a leak or a breakdown is covered for a nominal fee each week is another great option for your wellness kitchen. That can extend further, with cover available for the boiler, electrics and other aspects that could result in costly repairs.

In Summary

In the future, wellness kitchen guru Veronica Schreibeis Smith believes the Internet of Things will further develop personal wellness in our functional rooms, but until the tech catches up, there is still plenty you can do. Each aspect of a wellness kitchen will be tailored to you personally, your trigger points and personal needs. Hopefully, we have given you a good starting point, but if you want to keep up on all wellness and sustainability design news, be sure to pay regular visits to Biofilico.