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Kitchens: no longer just for cooking
New research from architectural hardware and furniture fittings manufacturer Häfele has found that consumers want multifunctional kitchens that cater for a variety of activities
A
s part of Häfele’s new ‘Functional
Spaces:
Kitchens for Living’ campaign, 2,009 UK adults were surveyed back in January to explore in detail how consumers use their kitchens, their biggest pain points and what features, fittings and fixtures would improve their space. And, how it all ties into the consumer’s quality of life and well-being.
The research found that while 91% of consumers use their kitchen for cooking, we’re increasingly using the kitchen space for other activities — clearly suggesting a need for spaces to be not just multifunctional, but flexible too.
For example, more than a quarter (28%) of respondents said that the kitchen is also used for socialising or entertaining and 18% use the room for relaxation. These two activities may seemingly go hand-in-hand, but when you consider that a further 11% use the space to work from home and another 12% want the space to be suitable for children to do homework or use as a playroom, a need for a
30
kitchen that can adapt and be flexible becomes even more apparent. Häfele says its in-depth study will provide manufacturers, designers, retailers, and installers with unique insights to help them support their own customers with creating functional kitchens that maximise the usability, flexibility, and value of the space, while balancing it with personal style and design trends to improve the day-to- day lives of users.
Changing spaces Architect and designer, Laura Jane Clark, from the BBC’s ‘Your Home Made Perfect’, partnered with Häfele for the research. Commenting on the findings, Clark said: “Traditionally kitchens have been smaller spaces added on to a home with the main purpose of cooking, but that way of thinking isn’t fit for modern living. Not only do we have more appliances, technology and features we want to squeeze into the space, but the way we live and interact in our homes continues to evolve. “As Häfele’s research shows, we need our kitchens to be flexible
enough for multiple purposes and suitable for everyone in the household. As part of this, we need to think about how to create physical and visual connections in the space, as well as carving
out specific designated purposes.
“Broken-plan design can be a really effective way to achieve this, but there are lots of design and installation tricks to maximise the usability of the kitchen, depending on the needs of the household. “For example, you can use sliding doors to create a hidden home office that you can shut away at the end of the day or use drawer fridges and freezers to avoid taking up valuable floor space with large appliances.” The research also found that one-third of respondents don’t have enough storage. As Clark explains, this isn’t just adding extra cabinets: “In even the smallest of kitchens, the right storage and layout can make a space feel so much bigger,” she says. “But this relies on the right fixtures, features, and fittings being specified and installed so they’re actually useful, and not just there
areas for
Laura Jane Clark from the BBC’s ‘Your Home Made Perfect’
because that’s what tradition tells us we should have in our kitchen. “For example, the type of cabinets and where they’re placed should have a function beyond storage. They should make cooking a more comfortable experience, with everything you need to make a meal in easy reach, and they should add to our lives rather than detract.”
For more information on Häfele, please call 0800 171 2909 or visit
www.hafele.co.uk
· May 2022
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