How to make your kitchen the heart of your home

When it’s gloomy outside, you want your kitchen to be warm, snug and welcoming.

Here are a few ideas to help you turn your kitchen into the heart of your home.

Warm and cosy kitchens

Have you ever thought of installing a fireplace in your kitchen or rejuvenating an old one? A modern fireplace can replace a traditional one if you want a cleaner environment. A gas or electric fire can be a stylish and energy-efficient addition to your kitchen and a focal point for family gatherings.

Nowadays, there are many types to choose from that offer a clean and safe way to have the warmth of a fire without the hassle. Alternatively, why not invest in a woodburner stove?

The benefits of a woodburner stove

A wood-burning stove brings warmth and charm to a kitchen and is an excellent source of renewable heat energy.

If you don’t have a chimney, you can still install a woodburner stove. A flue or system chimney can be positioned to run up inside your kitchen or externally, depending on the layout of the room.

However, ventilation is essential if you install a woodburner stove to ensure an adequate supply of air for combustion, and you must fit a CO alarm.

Invisible underfloor heating

Warm water underfloor heating is perfect if you don’t want radiators taking up wall space in your kitchen. A controlled flow of warm water through tubing embedded in the floor emits a gentle, constant heat.

This is an unobtrusive way to heat your kitchen, providing a lovely warm floor underfoot. The layout of the tubing must take into account any units storing food and fridges and freezers. The tubing should run around these units and not under them to ensure the temperature of food storage areas is not altered.

Soft and snug furnishings

There’s no reason why you can’t include soft furnishings in your kitchen as long as they’re safe and don’t get in the way. Rugs on the floor can make the room more comfortable underfoot, but make sure that they have grips and are non-slip.

Cushions tied to wooden dining seats give a stylish touch in both contemporary and cottage style kitchens. Or you can upholster existing chairs to bring comfort and colour to your dining area.

Soft furnishings are an ideal way to add charm and personality to a kitchen, giving a relaxed, welcoming feel. Window dressings can be part of this colour scheme. Choose high blinds or curtains without too much dressing to allow maximum light into the kitchen.

A coordinated colour theme running through all your soft furnishings can be enhanced by the addition of paintings or prints on the walls.

Bring your kitchen to life with art

Don’t leave your walls bare. Colourful paintings and prints or striking photographs will bring life to your kitchen.

Pick a theme, one that blends with your soft furnishings, and you can produce a highly personalised feel to your kitchen design. It’s these finishing touches that really make a statement about what’s at the heart of your home.

Would you like to design your own kitchen?

To find out more, contact the German Kitchen Store. Our customer service team is on hand to help with any questions or queries you may have regarding your order and delivery.

Alternatively, if you’re local to our kitchen showroom in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, you can pop in and take a look at the kitchen ranges we have on display.

Call us on 01525 851 642 or email hello@germankitchenstore.co.uk