The beauty of building a modular home is that they are customizable. If a homeowner wants to create a specific look, employ a certain style, or put a lot of attention into a specific room, they can do so. For instance, some homeowners might choose to put more effort into designing the bedrooms than the bathrooms, or vice-versa. However, nearly everyone can agree on the importance of choosing kitchen options for your modular home.
The kitchen is the heart of the home and deserves to be designed as such. This is the place where families connect, meals are prepared, and guests are entertained. With such an important role in the home, the kitchen should be given due attention during the designing, building, and decorating processes.
What Are the Kitchen Options for Your Modular Home?
Designing your modular home kitchen is actually very exciting. This is the time when you get to set the mood and create the style of this very important room. When this time comes, your custom designer will have some questions for you, so it is best to be prepared.
Preparing for kitchen design will require that you do a bit of research and gather the ideas you have so they can be shared with your builder or designer. Below is an outline of the areas you will need to research and prepare for prior to having this conversation.
1. Layout
The first step in designing your kitchen is deciding how you want it laid out. This is the foundation that every other design feature will rest upon. You’ll need to decide how big you want your kitchen. Will it be an open floor plan, a small but space-utilizing plan, or something midrange?
There are so many options and combinations available to you that may be best to consider how you plan to use your kitchen. Knowing your habits in the kitchen and how often you plan to use it will help you understand what layout will work best for you. If you need help with this decision, reach out to close friends or family, browse magazines or websites focused on kitchen design, or chat with your custom designer for suggestions.
2. Lighting
Lighting does a lot to affect the mood of any room. While most prefer bright lighting for their kitchens, you may be interested in a little ambiance. Diversity in your lighting set-up can be both fun and beneficial. Consider that adjustable lighting can create the mood for an intimate date or it can bring illumination to a baking party. There is so much good that can be said about investing in a custom lighting plan, so consider adding it to your design.
3. Flooring
This is an area of your kitchen that will face a lot of wear and tear, so it is best to find something durable, but inexpensive. There are plenty of options when it comes to kitchen flooring so the style does not have to be disregarded just because you need something durable. Try a nice tile or stone floor, even vinyl flooring can be rather spectacular due to modern styling techniques.
4. Countertops
When you consider the type of countertops you have installed in your kitchen, remember that you want them to coordinate with the flooring, the cabinets, and the walls while still holding up under constant usage. Countertops will make a bold statement in the look of your kitchen, so be sure to choose something of quality.
5. Cabinets
Cabinets should be chosen as a complementary item to the countertop of your choice. These items will be seen and utilized daily, so don’t skimp on looks or quality. Remember, they will be holding heavy items and you don’t want to have them creaking or cracking under the weight. The perfect cabinet-countertop combination will make the biggest impact on the look of your kitchen, so if you are uncertain about choosing them, ask a few friends to give their input or chat with your builder.
6. Appliances
It is important to plan ahead for appliances (oven, dishwasher, microwave, etc.) as they will take up space in the kitchen. These sorts of items will require access to electricity, plumbing, or both and this must be taken into consideration when designing the room. There is also the added decision of what brand and look of each appliance will best suit the layout and previously chosen design elements.
For this decision, it may be best to discuss your options with a custom designer who can explain what you need and why you need it. At the very least, it will steer you to the correct appliance brands and give you perspective on how these appliances should be installed in your chosen layout.
7. Paint or Backsplash
Choosing the paint and the backsplash of your kitchen may be the most fun part of the design process. This is where you get to show texture, color, and personality in your design tastes. Take your time to find backsplash and paint that will complement each other while coordinating with the rest of the kitchen design. A simple way to find design ideas is to look through magazines or websites detail kitchen design. Because this is such a fun project, you may find the research is actually cathartic.
8. Shelving and Storage
Sure, you already have cabinets for your kitchen, but consider adding extra shelving and storage too. After all, a kitchen can never have enough storage space. These can come in the form of store bought shelving and racks or they could be custom built storage spaces that are permanently set into your kitchen.
9. Furniture
Much of the furniture found in kitchens is limited to a table with a set of chairs. These pieces of furniture are important. With a modular home, you can have the table and chair built into the kitchen, buy a set, or refurbish an old set. While the table and chairs should fit and complement your kitchen design, you will have many options available to you.
There Are So Many Options! How Can You Choose?
Most kitchens are high-traffic areas, and most are located in the center of the home. Consequently, the best thing you can do before making any decisions is to evaluate the rest of your home. Decide if you want your kitchen to have a coordinating color scheme with other rooms, make a statement, remain neutral, etc. If the rest of your home is modern, you might not choose to go with a rustic kitchen.
It is also important to evaluate who will be in the kitchen and how much it will be used. If you have pets and children, it is better to choose more durable materials for flooring and countertops. However, if you are the sole occupant of the house, you likely don’t have to worry as much about spills, stains, and scratches.
If you’d like to know more about the kitchen options for your modular home, do not hesitate to call us today. At Next Modular, we know that choosing a home is likely one of the most important financial decisions you will make. As an experienced modular home builder, we are committed to being your guiding light through this process.
