Your Build – Summer 2019

Nina Bailey, UK Design Manager at Formica Group, looks at the

role of the kitchen in our busy lives and how to get the most out of the space

K

itchen f loor space in the UK

peaked in the 1960s at 15.37sqm

and now averages at just 12.61sqm.

With growing populations, rising

prices and increasing demand for

space, particularly in urban areas,

many of us are really feeling the squeeze.

With this in mind, we commissioned a survey

looking into how Brits use their kitchens and

also asked for their thoughts on kitchen design.

2,000 UK homeowners and renters were

approached.

Different variations of the same problem, a

lack of space, were identified as the biggest

frustration for homeowners and with UK homes

getting smaller the problem will likely persist.

Common complaints offered by respondents

included ‘it’s far too small’, ‘there’s no room for

table and chairs’ and ‘if more than one person is

in it, we get in each other’s way’.

Nearly a third of the respondents were frustrated

by a shortage of storage space, making it the

biggest issue across all age brackets. Similarly

a quarter complained about not having enough

food preparation area.

Broken down by age group, the figures show

this issue is biggest among young people,

undoubtedly due to typically lower average

incomes and the tendency for co-living. For

example, whilst 55% of 18-24 year-olds said they

were shy of enough cupboards, only 23% of the

over 55s agreed.

Less space, multiple functions

The results also made it clear that today’s

kitchen plays a role beyond being a space for

culinary pursuits, especially among younger

generations. 72% of 18-24 year olds and 65% of

25-34 year olds reported cooking as the main

activity they typically used their kitchens for,

compared to 90% of 45-54 year olds and 96% of

those over 55.

Significant numbers of younger respondents

Phase 3 Interior & Exterior Finishing

IMPORTANCE

Shrinking in size,GROWING IN

(27% of 18-24 year olds and 32% of 25-34 year

olds) listed entertaining guests and spending

time with family as other important uses of the

space, yet only 14% of the over 55s agreed.

The survey also found kitchens are being

increasingly used for work/studying, by 17%

of 25-34 year-olds but only 7% of those over

55. Other activities include listening to music
    and doing the laundry. Perhaps this explains
    the design trend we see in magazines and on
    television to use textiles such as rugs in the
    kitchen; people are adapting to the fact it’s now
    a living space.
    Gender-wise, there was little discrepancy
    regarding the primary use of the kitchen. Of
    1,131 female and 869 male respondents, 91% of
    women and 88% of men reported using their
    kitchens mostly for cooking, with eating (41%
    of women, 37% of men), entertaining guests
    (23% of women, 13% of men) and spending time
    with family (27% of women, 15% of men) as
    secondary functions.

Aesthetics vs. functionality

Design-wise, dated style was the main bugbear

for just over one in five (21%). However, even

with people rating the look and feel of their

kitchen as highly important, no particular

style dominated in terms of design popularity.

Modern/mid-century was preferred by almost

a quarter (23%) of those surveyed, followed

by country/farmhouse/shaker (18%) and

then contemporary style (12%). A fifth of

those surveyed showed no preference for a

specific style.

Despite the survey indicating a professed

preference for good aesthetics, it appears

that practicality remains the number one

consideration for the majority of us. Most people

still update their kitchens due to need over want.

Over half of those asked (54%) had last done

this to address wear and tear, while less than a

fifth (17%) had been driven by the objective to

add value to the property, indicating that most

people view the home as a place to live rather

than an asset to have.

Small steps for a small space

The lack of space in our homes is part of a

much bigger problem, specifically the size of UK

homes getting smaller. While finding solutions

to this may take time, there are ways to address

this problem in the more immediate future.

For example, one way to achieve a minimal and

sleek look is to have handleless cabinets and

built-in appliances. Another way is to keep your

colour and material palette simple by ideally

sticking to one or two colours and an absolute

maximum of three shades.

For a quicker fix, by making small updates,

such as including smart appliances and

reorganising storage space, you can personalise

your kitchen to meet the demands of your daily

life and create a little extra space.

http://www.formica.com

@formicagroup