Ideas for designing a low-maintenance kitchen

If you’re about to begin redesigning your kitchen, you have to determine what’s most important about your new space. Do you want it to be stylish? Would you rather it be an ultra-efficient kitchen fit for a chef? One priority many people have when renovating their kitchen is designing a space that’s as low-maintenance as possible. That way, even if the kids spill something on the floor or you use the faucet with dirty hands, your kitchen will be easy to clean – and it’ll stay that way. If low-maintenance is important to you, take a look at these tips for designing an easy kitchen:

Layout
Believe it or not, the layout of your kitchen design has a lot to do with how simple it will be for you to clean up and take care of the room. Make sure your sink, refrigerator and range are all relatively close to each other and easy to access without carrying dishes or food from one end of the room to the other. You may also want to think about the countertop space. Having one uninterrupted stretch of countertop is a lot easier to clean than several smaller sections scattered around the room.

“Stainless steel kitchen sinks are a low-maintenance option.”

Sink
When considering your sink, there are a few aspects to think about. First of all, stainless steel kitchen sinks are a great option for people interested in low-maintenance materials. According to Consumer Reports, stainless steel is easy to clean, resists stains and is the most durable option. You should also think about the style of sink, though. Undermount sinks, or those that are installed below the countertop, make for much more manageable cleaning than top-mount sinks.

Faucets
Kitchen faucets – particularly faucet finishes – are another sink-related factor to keep in mind. Remember that shiny faucet finishes like chrome and stainless steel show fingerprints, smudges and dirt much more than matte or distressed styles. So, opt for brushed nickel, antique brass or oil rubbed bronze kitchen faucets. Any of these will hide day-to-day wear while retaining their style.

Flooring
Your best options for low-maintenance flooring are those without grout lines or gaps, like linoleum and vinyl. Either of these flooring types are easy to clean and don’t require much more than mopping every so often to keep them looking nice. Hardwood is a good option as well, although it requires a bit more maintenance than linoleum or vinyl. Tile, while durable and stylish, has to be cleaned and dusted regularly and collects dirt in the grout lines, making it a bit more work to care for.

Countertops
Like flooring, smooth and uninterrupted countertop materials are a bit simpler to clean than those that need grout, like ceramic tile. However, remember that many counter materials, including granite and marble, need to be regularly resealed since they’re porous. Still, granite is one of the most popular countertop materials for its aesthetic as well as its ease of care. Try to avoid stainless steel or marble, both of which can show scratches and smudges more.

Appliances
As mentioned above, stainless steel is difficult to keep clean, which is one reason people may opt for black or white appliances instead. However, some brands are now coming out with lower maintenance steel appliances for those who love the modern, streamlined look. When choosing your stovetop, electric is the much better option when it comes to cleaning. If you prefer a gas range, opt for sealed burners which are a bit more low-maintenance than open ones.

Backsplash
If you haven’t planned on including a backsplash behind your range or sink, you may want to think about adding one. Tile backsplashes are often much easier to clean than plain walls – go for larger tiles to reduce the amount of grout that could potentially stain.