How To Design A Sustainable Kitchen

The kitchen is the very heart of your home that brings family and friends together to socialise and eat. The kitchen is the most important room and experiences the most traffic in the house. Therefore, if you’re planning a complete kitchen makeover, then it would be a good idea to create a more sustainable space. Taking an eco-friendly approach can save you money and create unique design opportunities for your kitchen. While this approach is more environmentally friendly, it doesn’t make decision making any more straightforward.

Luckily, our expert team at DAMCO can help make your choices a little bit easier! Here are our top tips on how to design a more modern and sustainable kitchen:

• • Create A Timeless Kitchen Design
    One of the easiest ways to create a more sustainable kitchen is to have a timeless design. You want to design a kitchen that will be just as comfortable, functional and beautiful now as it will be in the next 10-20 years. Therefore, you want to make sure the materials and products in your kitchen don’t require many or any replacements. The more you have to re-do or replace in your kitchen, the less sustainable it will be.
  • Reface Cabinets
    Resurfacing and refurbishing is the eco-friendliest option of them all, therefore if you don’t feel like you need to upgrade or replace – don’t. Think about resurfacing your current cabinets as in most cases it will yield the same look as new ones. Not only that but, the process uses fewer materials and result in your cabinets being stronger and more durable. You’ll also save money too as refaced cabinets cost a lot less than new, custom-designed options.
  • Use Sustainable Materials
    When you sit down to plan out your kitchen renovation, think about the materials you’d like to incorporate. You’d want to use materials that are strong, durable and renewable so they can last over the years. Eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, Marmoleum, PaperStone and Natural plaster are a perfect choice for countertops, partitions and flooring. Not only are they sustainable, but they will make for a unique design feature.
  • Choose Energy Efficient Lighting
    To create a more sustainable kitchen, make sure you make the switch to more energy-efficiency lighting. Look for lighting fixtures that have the energy star symbol to ensure that they meet the guidelines for energy efficiency. You can also add dimmer switches to lights as it will allow you to adjust the voltage and save some energy in the process. As for your lightbulbs try to replace them with LED bulbs, as they reduce your lighting bill by up to 80% and last longer than other replacements.
  • Buy Eco-Friendly Appliances
    Another energy-saving and sustainable tactic to introduce is upgrading your appliances. Appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators and even ovens are the main culprits when it comes to waste in the kitchen. Making up as much as 30% when it comes to household energy and water usage. Therefore, look for appliances with high energy and water performance ratings as it will help save the environment, and save money on your bills too. However, before you decide to make a purchase, check to make sure you need an upgrade and not just a repair.

Are you interested in designing a sustainable, eco-friendly kitchen? Then reach out to one of our friendly professionals today! Our kitchen renovation experts at DAMCO have been creating sustainable cooking environments for homes in Melbourne for years. We can help you with important decisions on materials and products, and find a solution that will transform your kitchen. To get started, call us on (03) 9855 2310 and make an appointment with our team of renovation experts.