Principles of Kitchen Design

Principle #1: Focal Points
Focal Points are what catches your eye in a room; in a living room, it could be patterned piece of furniture — a fireplace, a piece of art, or even how you arrange your portraits.
It is the same way with your kitchen; some of the most common kitchen focal points include sinks, islands, or even a window. Adding things like lighting and backsplashes will help accent and support your decided focal point. In larger spaces, you should consider using multiple focal points to help draw attention to your area.
In this kitchen, they have used the hood as an accent piece, drawing your attention to the stove area. The wood grain makes the white cabinets look clean and crisp. Without a focal point, the kitchen can look bland and uninteresting.
Principle # 2: Balance and Symmetry
A well-balanced room helps demonstrate a sense of relaxation. When you enter a space that is “off,” there may be too much dead space. When you open an area after a kitchen remodels, it should feel centered and balanced throughout the whole room.
Starting with a center point is the best practice for the start of your balanced room. Where does your gaze land? The center of the room is a great place to start, build symmetry around that center.
Take, for example, the above image. The chairs, cabinets, and décor are all symmetrical around the center point; the island is the strong focal point. Having different color cabinets on the island, it helps focus your attention on the middle of the room. A balanced place can create a sense of calm among you are your guests.
Principle # 3: Scale
The kitchen design principles ensure that elements in a room are sized correctly to one another. Any object should be scaled relative to its surroundings so as not to seem too large or too small for a place.
Designing your space can feel intimidating, overwhelming, or even hard at times. There’s a whole world of detail and even creative freedom available in designing your area, which can make it fun but also hard. Remember, you don’t need to be a professional kitchen designer to create a kitchen you love.
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- Dakotah Herman