When you have children, you suddenly look at your kitchen in a different light. 

Once it was all about style and functionality and but then suddenly your focus switches to safety and protection.

However, it’s possible to have a child-friendly kitchen without compromising on style. By taking practical steps to prevent potential hazards, you can still have the type of kitchen you really want.

Avoid sharp edges

To remove the risk of nasty bumps and bruises, choose cabinets, worktops and kitchen tables and chairs that have smooth rounded edges rather than sharp lines.

It’s also a good idea to choose heavy furniture. Young children will invariably want to use furniture as a climbing frame, which makes sturdy items a safer option. If your furniture is too lightweight, it’s easy for it to topple over.

Make use of high cupboards

The more high cupboards you have in your kitchen, the better as these are the ideal place to store dangerous items. And with children, there are so many things that can prove hazardous such as knives, plastic bags, glassware and chemicals.

Anything with a sharp edge, including peelers, graters and food processing tools should be kept out of harm’s way in a high cupboard. If you have a particularly inquisitive child, it may be wise to move toasters, coffeemakers and other electrical appliances into a cupboard when they’re not in use.

Also, always remember to unplug electrical appliances when not in use such as kettles, food processors and toasters as these can be switched on by curious fingers.

Lock low cupboards

It can be hard work to lift heavy items like washing powders, detergents and other cleaning fluids in and out of high cupboards. Instead, you should have at least one low-level cupboard that’s lockable. That way you can keep any toxic household chemicals secure.

It’s also a good idea to keep your collection of plastic bags under lock and key.

Another tip is to fit all your lower cupboards with a soft-close mechanism as this goes some way to preventing children from slamming their fingers in fast closing doors.

Use magnetic child locks

For other low-level cabinets, oven doors, microwaves and fridge freezers you can install magnetic child locks to stop your children gaining access.

These magnets can be fixed to the inside of a door, leaving the exterior of the door free from attachments such as knobs and handles. The magnetic key can be stored in a safe place. When you need to open the door, you simply touch the key in the right place and the door springs open.

Make your oven safer

There are obvious precautions you can take when cooking such as ensuring the handles of pots and pans on the hob don’t protrude over the edge of the countertop. Place pans at the back of the hob with handles turned so that small children can’t reach them.

You should also never leave a hot pan unattended when children are around.

If you really want to minimise the risks an oven poses, you could decide to install an induction hob with a child lock or put guards on the knobs of a traditional hob.

Would you like to discuss designs for a child-friendly kitchen?

At Phoenix, we can design a completely bespoke kitchen to match your lifestyle and home perfectly. We’re dedicated to delivering a seamless experience from initial project planning and kitchen design through to ordering, delivery and install.

Why not book a FREE kitchen design consultation and let us show you how we can transform your kitchen?

Call us on 01525 851830 or email: sales@kinteriorskitchens.co.uk