It takes a well-thought-out kitchen to help make those Instagram food pictures happen, every good amateur chef and true foodie knows this. Watch any YouTuber with a cooking show, and you’ll know it’s not about the size necessarily but these five fabulous traits of a truly functional foodie kitchen.

1) The Layout

The layout of your kitchen can really have an impact on how you use and enjoy your space. While historically we’ve looked to what designers call the ‘kitchen triangle’ (the ideal arrangement of your key working kitchen elements: the sink, refrigerator, and cooktop) as a guide for a harmonious kitchen environment, we now know it can also be a matter of personal preference and the space available to you. A great galley kitchen can be incredibly functional don’t forget!

2) Functional Food & Beverage Storage

Wine cooler, a must in a Foodie’s kitchen like this KitchenAid Wine Cooler.

The more cold storage the better is the mantra of any avid at home chef. With drawers for cold beers and a wine fridge keeping reds and whites at the perfect temperature, extra cold storage is the hidden secret of any foodie’s kitchen. Even if there isn’t room in the kitchen, a wine fridge and extra cold storage elsewhere in the house can help immensely when hosting family and friends.

3) Intelligent Appliances and Storage Solutions

Rethink how best your cupboards and drawers can work for you. Think about the space you need access to on the regular, and the items you use most frequently and make sure to give these items priority when looking at how best to organize your kitchen. House Beautiful has 35 great ways to help get and keep your kitchen organized.

And don’t let your storage be the only intelligent solution in the space, today’s appliances are redefining normal and helping you at home in so many ways.

4) Lots of Lighting

Lighting can’t be pushed to the shadows! Proper kitchen lighting means plenty of it. A great kitchen has task lighting above your counter/workspaces, overhead lights on dimmers for a variety of moods and tasks, under counter and in cupboard lighting to spotlight family cookbooks and collectable mixing bowls.

5) Plenty of Prep Space

A home chef’s kitchen should have lots of preparation space. Image source: Hibou Design & Co

Countertops can sometimes come at a premium, so if it’s prep space you crave for, be sure to banish that countertop clutter and maximize your working area. Any good at home chef knows it’s better to have room for proper knife technique than to have the entire baking row of Bulk Barn in jars nicely displayed on the counter. (That is unless, of course, you have room for it, in which case display away!) Make sure to light your prep space properly (see above) and also have it centrally located to other appliances (as part of your triangle, perhaps?).

What is something you look for in your dream kitchen? Not too sure how your kitchen can become more functional? Pop into your local BrandSource store to chat with our appliance experts who can help make your dream kitchen a reality.

Isabelle, Your Appliance Expert