Thanks to the pandemic, there are thousands of families up and down the country that are now juggling working with childcare as well as keeping on top of the daily tasks that need doing. Therefore, if this is you, you’re not alone, and you will be pleased to know there are ways that can make this difficult task much easier. One of those solutions is to make use of multi-use spaces, such as in your kitchen.
Why Multi-Use Spaces?
Thanks to everyone being at home, your kitchen is likely to have been turned into a multiple-use zone, where the kids do their e-learning, you do your home-working, hubby does his work, and one or all of you still have to cook every day. These five tips will help you create a multi-use area that is perfect for busy families just like you.
A Kitchen Island
Kitchen islands, if your kitchen is big enough, are a really great idea for busy parents and families! They provide ample space for you to work on food while the kids work on their school work, and they look so good too.
To really make your kitchen island multi-use, don’t put the cooker on the islands, as this will mean less work surface space, but keep your island nice and clear. Have a look at granitetransformations.co.uk for some great inspiration for your next kitchen update.
Pop Up Electrical Outlets
If there’s one thing that’s lacking in older homes, it’s a good selection of outlets! Usually, outlets are located on walls. In kitchens, this could mean dangerous wires trailing while the kids (and you) try to charge laptops to do homework or watch TV.
Pop-up electrical outlets are the perfect solution, and when not in use, they can be pushed back into the island out of the way. Perfect!
Good Chairs or Barstools
You’ve probably found yourself doing more homeschooling than you were planning to do over the last twelve months, and if you’re like many busy parents, you’ve also found yourself trying to work at home while the kids do e-learning?
Make this situation better for you all and your bodies by getting good chairs or barstools for your kitchen and bar. Chairs that support your back and help you sit correctly for those long hours behind your laptop will benefit all of you.
Plenty Of Storage
Kitchens aren’t just places to make food anymore, and even if yours is just a food prep kitchen, it’s likely that you’re missing out on vital storage space that can be used to store all kinds of kitchen gadgets and accessories.
Getting a good variety of storage is important here, especially if you’re storing homeschooling supplies next to the cereal.
Easy Clean Surfaces
Last but not least, invest in easy to clean surfaces. More people at home for longer means increased risk in spilled drinks, pen breakages, and of course, the odd crayon finding it’s way onto your work surface.
Go for a nice granite, stone, or lacquered finish for your work surfaces to help with the clean up after the inevitable disaster that’s likely to happen!