A kitchen transformation project should be one of the most exciting ventures you embark upon. At your community centre, it really is no different.

A semi-commercial kitchen within a community centre is not just about creating a space for food prep or serving tea and coffee in abundance — it’s about opening up new opportunities to cater for your community and increase its revenue. Think seasonal events, running workshops, hosting cooking classes, and injecting a much-needed dose of community spirit into your centre, place of worship, or otherwise.

Which brings us to an important piece of advice before you make a case for — or embark on — designing your community centre’s kitchen. If you think a kitchen is all about function and maximising the space you have, you’re overlooking a very key element: fun. Your kitchen should be more than plain and practical, it should be multi-purpose and able to transform into a bustling social hub that strengthens the value of everything you have to offer.

On that note, let’s explore a few key design elements that can transform your community centre’s kitchen into a place that your community and volunteers will genuinely want to spend time in, and that could possibly open the door to new revenue streams in abundance.

Fun feature 1: An open-plan layout

An open kitchen layout is more than just a design trend – it’s a way to encourage interaction and make the space feel more inviting. By breaking down barriers between the kitchen and adjacent areas, you create a fluid space that allows for easy conversation and collaboration. This setup is perfect for cooking classes, where participants can easily see demonstrations, or for catered events where the kitchen becomes part of the overall experience.

Fun feature 2: A kitchen island

A central kitchen island can be the heart of your community kitchen, because it’s multi-purpose. Think, extra prep space for busy event catering, a casual dining area if you add stools, a gathering spot for your volunteers and community to chat, share food, and build great connections.

An island can completely transform your kitchen from a purely functional space into a social hub. If you have the right sort of space,

Fun feature 3: Lighting

When it comes to creating a fun and inviting space, good lighting is essential. After all, where would the fun be without the right sort of ambience?

• Large windows or skylights can make your kitchen area feel open and welcoming.
• Under-cabinet lighting will ensure safe, accessible, and easy food preparation.
• In-cabinet lighting improves accessibility for the visually impaired by shedding light on what’s stocked on the shelves and the contents of your kitchen clearly.
• Ambient lighting with dimmer switches allows you to set the perfect mood for any occasion.

Fun feature 4: A dash of colour

Who says community kitchens have to be bland, clinical or cold? With Steelplan Kitchens, you can blend the durability of powder-coated mild steel with the vibrancy of any colour palette you can imagine. We offer 20 basic colours, but you can mix and match over 1,000+ RAL colours to create a kitchen that truly reflects your community’s spirit.

For inspiration, you can take a look at how these community centres brought their kitchens to life in their colours. Whether it’s a calming blue to create a serene atmosphere or a vibrant yellow to energise the space, the right colours can make all the difference.

Fun feature 5: A Window to the outdoors

If your community centre is blessed with green space, why not take advantage of it in your kitchen design? Large windows or bifold doors connecting your kitchen to the outdoors can:

• Make the space feel larger and more open
• Provide a perfect setup for al fresco dining or outdoor event catering
• Bring in more natural light, making the kitchen feel bright and welcoming

Imagine preparing food for a summer fair while looking out over the very grounds where the event will take place – it creates a wonderful sense of connection and anticipation, and will help you keep an eye on the buffet, just in case the food needs replenishing.

We hope we’ve made you realise that when investing in your community centre kitchen, your designs should go beyond choosing the right appliances or the most optimal layout for your space. It’s about creating an environment that really reflects the vital role you play in your community. A space that will become the true heart of your community offerings.

At Steelplan Kitchens, we know that community centres come in all shapes and sizes, and with that so does your kitchen. From design to installation we’ll create a semi-commercial kitchen that’s effective, tailored to your premises, long-lasting, and with a strong sense of fun (amongst a whole host of other great things). You can arrange a design consultation with our team today by calling 0844 809 9186 or emailing [email protected].