This is a collaborative post
Having the dream house is sometimes hindered by functionality purposes, especially when you’ve got small kids roaming around the rooms. We know how challenging it is to balance the aesthetics with the purpose and safety of your kids, so you may need to compromise on a few aspects.
However, make sure you’re negotiating on the right thing. Installing the kitchen cabinets by yourself due to the high personnel costs might lead to hazards, so it’s best to prevent this possibility by using the services of professionals. At the same time, blocking ventilation or not choosing the proper-sized hood can also pose a risk to the house, so don’t compromise on these aspects.
Making your home child-proof can be overwhelming, but you can start with the kitchen, where you’ll spend a lot of time together, whether at dinner or homework. So, let’s see how you can design it with safety in mind.
Secure the cabinets
As kids grow up and become curious about the world, they start exploring everything surrounding them with their little hands. While this is exceptional for a parent, learning how to open and close cabinet doors and peek at what’s inside can be dangerous. Certain utensils can injure kids, and they might swallow small trinkets from the cabinets, so it’s best to secure them through locks.
So, whether you’ve got replacement kitchen doors or new ones, consider installing magnetic locks, spring-action latches, or adhesive locks so that kids cannot open them. These locks are easy to install and will keep your kids’ attention from the cabinets. Additionally, you could store potentially dangerous appliances higher up.
Design their own cabinet
Kids love copying their parent’s movements, so they’ll try to cook alongside you or do some chores that might expose them to dangers. While keeping an eye on them is not always easy, and stress cannot always be tamed, it’s best to create a unique cabinet for kids to play around safely while you cook or clean.
A low-lying space is the perfect distraction, as they can play with toy cutlery, utensils, pots, and pans. There are numerous pretend-play appliances and products for kids to use in their kitchen, so just designate a space in which they’re easy to spot and allow them to get creative!
Opt for soft wedges for furniture
Unfortunately, kids also get bored quickly, meaning they can give up on cooking a few seconds after starting their special recipes. This means they’re either tired or too energetic, so they might start running around the kitchen, which is one of the most significant risks as they can fall, slip, or hit themselves into sharp edges and corners.
While you might not be able to change all the furniture around the kitchen, you can get special pads and wedges that stick to most materials. These will help minimise the impact if your kids hit their heads or bodies on the corners.
Change the layout
Sometimes, the kitchen’s layout is what’s wrong, which can make it unnecessarily dangerous if it is not designed with safety in mind. It would be best to consider a layout that maximises space so you can easily avoid clutter or disorganised stuff throughout the kitchen.
Open-plan living is one of the best options because it allows you to play with your kids while doing chores. An L-shaped kitchen is optimal for families because it’s versatile and promotes interaction. The island kitchen layout is also efficient because it optimises the seating and countertop space.
Consider touch-free and handless appliances
Whether you want fewer fingerprints to clean around the kitchen or simply fewer risky possibilities, it’s best to look for appliances that have touch-free features or handles cabinetry. There are numerous options for touchless faucets, for example, which are considerably useful and safe for kids. The same goes for touchless trashcans or light switches.
When it comes to handless appliances and furniture, there’s a vast option available on the market, as they’re part of the modern kitchen design. At the same time, many parents are demanding handless cupboards to protect their kids and effortlessly clean the kitchen.
Search for special flooring
As mentioned before, kids love running around the house, especially around you, as it’s more entertaining. Therefore, the chances of slipping and getting injured increase when you’ve got the wrong type of flooring, including marble, porcelain tiles, and vinyl flooring.
The best flooring options to minimise the outcomes of a slippery run include cork, bamboo, or any type of anti-skid tile flooring you can find in your area. In addition, door mats and area rugs can help, but only when placed correctly. The last and most important tip is to always clean water or any liquid off the floor, as it creates an immediate hazard.
Add some colour
While ensuring the kitchen is safe enough for the kids is essential, you might want to make the space more enjoyable and fun by adding a splash of colour. Whether you paint the walls yellow or add some plants around the kitchen for more greenery, we’re sure this will matter to them.
Many parents hang their kids’ art on the walls or the fridge, as it boosts their confidence and
adds a bit of personality to the room. You could also encourage your kids to create decorations for the kitchen through simple DIY projects. These can bond your relationship while helping you learn meaningful things about your kids, so don’t shy away from experimenting with colour!
Are these tips helpful?
Whether you’ve got one or more children happily roaming around the house, you want to ensure they’re always safe and sound, even when they’re not behaving. Therefore, it would be best to tackle each room, especially the kitchen, and analyse its potential dangers. That’s why kitchen appliances should always be well-secured by professionals when it comes to cabinetry and verified for electrical components. In addition, you can round the edges of furniture and get handless doors for enhanced safety.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post