The kitchen is part command center, part gathering hall, part conference room, part comfort station, not to mention the place where we do most of our eating and partying. It beats the living room hands down when it comes to actual living. So how can we make it the kind of space the whole family will want to spend time in? For starters, you need to impose some order: Kitchens attract not just people, but all the clutter they bring with them. And we have to adapt the kitchen to reflect the needs and personalities of our families, especially the youngest members, who are often overlooked by kitchen designers. To that end, here are some bright ideas to help you keep disarray at bay and make the kitchen a welcoming place--from the latest in fridge magnets to tips on fitting out the main room for the smallest of helping hands.
HOME-TO-SCHOOL PLACE MATS
If getting your family out the door has started to feel like a timed treasure hunt ("Mom, where's my math workbook?" "Has anyone seen my recorder?"), these breakfast place mats will go a long way toward restoring morning sanity.
A KITCHEN THAT WORKS FOR KIDS
Many hands lighten the load--and to enlist the maximum number of hands, you'll want to make your kitchen accessible to even the smallest members of the family.
INSTANT ORGANIZERS
1. Invest in a lightweight stool and store it in a place where kids can get to it easily.
2. Designate one of your lower cabinets for vertically challenged family members. Stock it with cups, bowls, and other items kids are likely to need.
3. Set up a snack station. A basket set on your kitchen table and stocked with eat-anytime healthy snacks--raisins, granola bars, cheese-and-cracker packs, trail mix--makes a nifty edible centerpiece.
4. Label drawers and cabinets so kids know where to find things (and where to put them away!). This is also a great way to jump-start young readers (bet you they learn to spell c-o-o-k-i-e-s in a week).
5. Buy a few brightly colored kid-friendly utensils and keep them in an easy-to-reach place.
6. Start a recipe file specifically for chefs in training. Once they start collecting their favorite dishes, they might even help in dinner planning and preparation.
7. Let older children take over morning or evening pet-feeding duties. Boost their enthusiasm with a trip to a ceramics shop, where they can craft a personalized pet bowl.
