The kitchen is one, if not the most important part of a home. It’s the place where great family meals are made; in some homes, it is where celebrations and gatherings with friends occur. Aside from these, the kitchen is central to a home for deeper reasons we may not even realize.
The nurturing center
Food is a basic human necessity. Without it, our bodies will lose energy and we cannot function properly. Some people even become “hangry“, coined from hungry and angry, that irritable feeling when you haven’t eaten enough food.
Hence, we can say that not only does food nourish the body but it nourishes our soul. When people eat good food, they become happier and more satisfied. Since our kitchens are where we cook food, we can also conclude that kitchens bring happiness to homes.
It starts with the aroma of a lovely-homecooked meal. Just the smell itself triggers our happy senses. Nothing spells happiness like a countertop full of visually appealing, great dishes.
To maximize the benefits of a home-cooked meal, Forbes suggests preparing healthy food in our homes. According to the site, a healthy meal can improve mental health by reducing the risks of depression. So next time you prepare meals, make sure to put in some fruits, vegetables, and grains into the whole meal plan.
The activity center
Cooking and baking is not only a necessity; it’s a great hobby and bonding activity for the family as well. It’s not only the mom who should do the cooking; dads and kids can join in on the fun, too.
Creating meals together is a great idea to spend some time together. Since eating is an essential part of life, we can all pause our jobs and school activities for a moment and squeeze in some family time by cooking or baking. This is a great opportunity to catch up and connect with one another without other distractions.
Cooking as a family can also greatly benefit your kids. It can teach them soft skills like communication and collaboration simply by doing this fun activity. This is also an opportunity for them to learn practical skills like following a recipe, measuring and preparing ingredients, and cooking techniques. Hey, they can help you with the clean-up, too.
At the end of the activity, your kids will also enjoy the feeling of satisfaction after finishing a final product. To maximize the benefit of this activity, eat together as a family.
The Washington Post mentions that the most important thing a parent can do to a kid is to enjoy meals with them. Studies have found that eating family meals is good for the brain, the body, and the spirit, especially for kids. By having dinnertime conversations, young children’s vocabulary is boosted. Some studies have even found that these conversations can increase your child’s performance in school.
Making a better kitchen
With all the internal benefits that a kitchen can bring to your family, it is important to make it a better gathering space. There are little improvements you can do to make it more conducive to your family. By doing these home improvements, Forbes mentions that it can even give a great return on your home investment.
Let’s take a look at some home upgrades you can do:
Updating your appliances
Kitchen appliances are where you cook and store food. To ensure that your food is cooked and stored properly, it’s time to replace your old appliances with new ones. If you can, match them with each other to make your kitchen look even better.
If you’re a big family, it’s a great idea to buy a dishwasher to create more time together, less washing of dishes. Having brand-new appliances will not only make your kitchen look good; it can also increase your home’s value.
Counter spaces
Speaking of increasing your home’s value, adding elegant quartz countertops can make a great impact. Having a great kitchen countertop is important because this is essentially your working station in the kitchen. It is also where some of your appliances, utensils, and other kitchen equipment are placed. For some homes, this is where the family eats or gathers around with friends instead of a dinner table.
Hence, the perfect countertop should not only look good but should also provide ample space for all kitchen activities.
In our homes, we usually have our private rooms and bathrooms. Yet, there is usually only one kitchen in a home. Hence, the kitchen serves as a meeting place for everyone at home. For this reason, when designing your kitchen, it should be something that welcomes and invites every family member to congregate and create incredible memories together.
