Designing a functional kitchen is about more than choosing pretty finishes—it’s about creating a space that actually works for how your family lives.
After 12+ years in my custom home (and now thinking about my next build), I’m sharing 9 tips that work for both entertaining and everyday life.
Some of these are features I LOVE about my current kitchen. Others are functional elements I’ll definitely add next time.
Plus, I’m sharing a couple of things I wish I’d done differently, so you can learn from my experience.
Because here’s the truth … the most beautiful kitchen in the world won’t make you happy if it doesn’t work for your family.
Listen to this episode or read the blog post below.
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
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DESIGNING A FUNCTIONAL KITCHEN: 9 TIPS
These 9 tips are ALL based on things I either LOVE about my own custom kitchen or things I want to add to my next build.
1. AMPLE WALKING SPACE ON ALL 4 SIDES OF MY ISLAND
This is VERY important!
We have at least 42″ on all four sides of our kitchen island.
This allows us enough space to open the dishwasher or the refrigerator and still have plenty of space to stand there without bumping our backside up to the island.
Adding this space matters because cramped kitchen walkways are one of the most common complaints I hear from people after they build.
This is an EASY thing to get right during the planning phase.
Below is a visual of my exact kitchen layout.
You can view and purchase my entire custom floor plan here!
2. PLACE STOVE DIRECTLY BEHIND SINK
When I say ‘behind the sink’, I mean that when I stand at my sink, the stove is directly behind me.
This allows for easy transportation when I have a full pot of water to boil.
I simply turn around and place the pot on the stove (as opposed to walking across the kitchen with a full pot of water).
Another option is to install a pot filler above your stove.
3. ORGANIZE SILVERWARE + EVERYDAY DISHES NEAR THE DISHWASHER
Unloading the dishwasher is much easier (and faster) when your silverware and everyday dishes are stored directly near your dishwasher.
In my kitchen, I’ve organized our silverware and everyday dishes in the drawers and cabinets closest to the dishwasher.
When you’re designing your kitchen workflow, think about the path you take when unloading the dishwasher.
The fewer steps you have to take, the easier this (boring, yet necessary) daily task becomes.
4. PULL OUT GARBAGE/RECYCLING CABINET
We included a rollout garbage/recycling cabinet by our kitchen sink, which allows for VERY easy cleanup when we’re cooking or doing dishes.
5. DRAWERS, DRAWERS, + MORE DRAWERS
This is something that I really love and am SO glad that we did because drawers allow for much more efficient storage.
We added drawers wherever possible, and we have soft-close on every drawer and cabinet door.
I especially love our large drawers under our stove because they are more practical than traditional cabinets.
I also love that we added a drawer under our wall oven to store cookie sheets.
And I highly recommend installing drawers inside any lower cabinets as well (shown below) because it makes it MUCH easier to reach the dishes at the back of your cabinets.
Do keep in mind that drawers cost more than standard cabinets, but they’re one of those upgrades that actually improve your daily life, so this is a smart place to invest your budget.
6. SINK IN THE KITCHEN ISLAND
I personally love having my sink in the island because it’s right in the middle of all the action.
When my girls were younger, I could keep an eye on them while I was in the kitchen cooking or doing dishes.
I do absolutely love the look of a sink under a window, but my husband didn’t want to have pipes on an exterior wall, so we opted for the sink on the island, and I love it.
When designing your kitchen, consider your lifestyle.
If you have young kids or love to entertain, an island sink keeps you connected to your family and guests.
If you prefer a view of the outdoors while doing dishes, a window sink might be better for you.
Ok, so those are six things I love about my kitchen.
The next three tips are what I’ll add to my next kitchen to improve functionality.
7. MORE COUNTER SPACE FOR FOOD PREP
Overall, my kitchen has a practical layout, but it needs more counter space now that we have three cooks in the kitchen.
My girls were young when we built our custom home 13 years ago, and I am not much of a cook … but my husband has turned into a little bit of a chef, and so have both of my daughters.
In my next kitchen, I’ll make sure we have a dedicated prep space so everyone can work simultaneously without bumping into each other or running out of room.
Think about how YOUR family will use the kitchen … not just today, but five or ten years from now.
Kids grow up, cooking habits change, and what works for one person might not work for three.
8. BUTLER’S PANTRY
A butler’s pantry is at the TOP of my must-have list for our next custom home.
This is essentially a separate room (or large walk-through space) between your kitchen and dining area where you can add extra storage, a secondary sink, a small fridge, and possibly even an extra dishwasher.
The main benefit is that it keeps all the mess hidden when you’re entertaining.
You can prep food, store small appliances, and keep dirty dishes out of sight while your main kitchen stays clean and clutter-free for guests.
This feature will obviously add to your budget (depending on how elaborate you make it), but if you love to entertain, it’s worth considering.
9. DEDICATED COFFEE BAR AREA
I would also love a dedicated coffee station in our next home—preferably built into the butler’s pantry.
Right now, our coffee maker sits on the kitchen counter, and honestly, it takes up valuable prep space.
A designated coffee area keeps all your coffee supplies organized in one spot (mugs, beans, filters, sugar) and frees up your main kitchen counter for actual cooking.
Plus, if your coffee bar is in the pantry or a separate area, early risers can make coffee without waking up the whole house or disrupting anyone working in the main kitchen.
It’s one of those small luxuries that makes your daily routine just a little bit easier.
Now, let’s switch gears and talk about what I would change about my current kitchen design.
WHAT I’D CHANGE ABOUT MY KITCHEN DESIGN
I’ve lived in this house for over 12 years, and I still love my kitchen … but there are two (significant) things I would change if I were designing my kitchen again.
1. HIDDEN PANTRY CABINET DOORS
The first thing I would change about my kitchen is the hidden pantry custom cabinet doors.
I love my hidden pantry … however, I will do a different type of hidden pantry door in our next house.
Our pantry doors are opened and closed at least 20+ times a day, so the tall cabinet doors take a beating.
The doors have held up amazingly well after almost 13 years of use, but they aren’t perfectly straight anymore (which kind of annoys me).
I’m not exactly sure what I would do differently (maybe a swinging pantry door?) … I just know I will NOT do tall cabinet pantry doors again!
2. KITCHEN ISLAND SIZE IS NOT IDEAL
The other change I would make is to the size of my kitchen island.
I would LOVE to have a huge (12′ -14′ long) kitchen island with tons of prep space and storage on all four sides.
My 8′ x 4′ island isn’t terrible, BUT a large island with ample storage is a MUST in my next custom home.
As I shared in last week’s episode (which was 4 Things I Would Change If I Built My House Again), the island size came down to a budget decision—a larger island would have increased our overall square footage and, consequently, the cost of our house.
I made the right call for our budget at the time, but a large island is definitely on my must-have list for our next build.
CREATING A KITCHEN YOU’LL LOVE FOR YEARS
So there you have it … 9 tips for designing a functional kitchen, plus a couple of things I’d change after 12+ years of living in my home.
Here’s what I want you to remember …
The most beautiful kitchen in the world won’t make you happy if it doesn’t work for how your family actually lives.
You might not agree with all these tips, and that’s totally fine! Take what resonates and leave the rest.
The key is thinking through YOUR daily routines, YOUR family’s needs, and how YOU’LL actually use your kitchen … not just copying what looks pretty on Pinterest.
Your kitchen doesn’t exist in isolation—it needs to work with your overall floor plan and how your family will live in your home.
Download my FREE Guided Floor Plan Creation Workbook to think through how all your spaces work together.
This resource walks you through 20 guided questions to help you get crystal clear on what matters most in your future home.
