How to Design a Kitchen With a Sitting Area

Not only is the kitchen a place to prepare and cook food, but it's also a place to share meals and socialize. Whether yours is a family kitchen where people gather to do homework and other activities or a place for adult entertaining, a cozy sitting area adds an extra special touch to the room.


Draw a scale floor plan of the kitchen on a piece of graph paper. Mark down the immovable features such as the doors and windows and existing services, such as electrical outlets, hot and cold water and gas points.


Make a list of the appliances that will be positioned on the floor, such as the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher. Measure these appliances -- if you have yet to purchase them, shop around and use the measurements of appliances similar to the style and size you plan to purchase -- and draw scale footprints on a separate piece of paper. Label each of the drawings and cut them out. You can now move your "appliances" around on your scale floor plan and experiment with the layout.


Include three work areas in your plan: washing up, cooking and food preparation. Include the necessary appliances in each work area, such as the sink. Using your plan, calculate how much room you have for cupboards with work surfaces on top -- known as base units -- between the appliances. Also calculate how many work surfaces you can add above items such as the dishwasher.


Ascertain where in the room you will position the seating area. In a large room, there will be several options for the positioning of the seating area, even after all the necessary appliances and base units have been added. In a smaller room, you may have a small corner or window area to position the seating area. In an oddly shaped room, such as an L-shape, the room itself will dictate where the seating will be placed.


Make a list of the items you want to include in the seating area. This will depend on the size of the space you have to dedicate to this part of the kitchen. In a large room you can include items such as a sofa, armchair, coffee table, footstool and side table with a small lamp. In a small area, add a couple of small armchairs with a small table in between.


Opt for furniture that complements the size and style of the room. A floor rug will distinguish the seating area from the rest of the kitchen, and once you have chosen a color scheme for the kitchen -- whether it's the color of the cupboards, the walls or the kitchen accessories -- you can choose a rug and cushions that match the color scheme and create a cohesive look to the room.

Things You Will Need

  • Graph paper
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Measuring tape


  • Allow a little space between each item of furniture. You will achieve a better finished effect with smaller pieces that allow for a bit of space, rather than large pieces squashed together.

About the Author

Tami Mason


Photo Credits

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