You might not be ready to let go of summer yet, but as autumn arrives it’s the ideal time to make sure your kitchen is ready to withstand the winter weather, while remaining a pleasant and welcoming environment to work in.

Here are our tips for winter-proofing your kitchen.

Insulation

If the kitchen is cold, nobody will feel like using it, but more than that, a poorly insulated kitchen risks damage and poor hygiene. Cold air can easily condense. The water that it leaves can harbour germs, but it can also accelerate the deterioration of the kitchen, leaving damp and possibly mould.

Check that your windows are well insulated, and if not, consider new double glazing to prevent more costly damage and expensive heating over the cold months.

At the same time, you might consider a kitchen carcass that is resistant to moisture damage. A polyester powder coated mild steel carcass is durable, wipe-clean, and hygienic by design. Similarly, an expertly design wooden kitchen with a tongue and groove system eliminates the vulnerable stress points of a screw-together system.

Heating

You may not have the space for the heating solution that your kitchen needs, and as such you might be using a small radiator, or even nothing at all. If space is an issue, there are design solutions that could resolve it and provide the heating that you need.

For example, a design expert could find a more efficient layout for a renovated kitchen that frees more space for a radiator. Or they may even be able to incorporate heating into the design, such as a plinth heater that sits at the bottom of a unit.

Steelplan’s designers are always on hand to discuss your kitchen space and your plans for it, so please get in touch on [email protected] or 0208 254 0090 if you have any questions.

Winter layout

It might not be the most obvious thing to change your kitchen’s layout for the winter, but it might make it easier to use in the cold months.

For example, the type of cooking and catering that you will be doing is likely to change in winter. You might have bigger crowds to serve and larger teams in the kitchen, but also the dishes that you serve will be different too.

You may want to make specific equipment more prominent and accessible, because it will see heavy use in the winter season, and if there is any flexibility in the kitchen layout (like moveable islands) consider what space to change or create to accommodate your winter activity.

If you want your kitchen to become a more flexible space that suits all seasons and activities, then get in touch with our friendly design team. They are always very happy to field any questions and offer some guidance. Email them on [email protected] or call 0208 254 0090.