Inclusive design has become a bit of a buzz word in the kitchen industry, which is great as for far too long kitchen design has been too restrictive and exclusive. Having been involved in exploring the idea of inclusivity for several years, here at Qudaus Living we have evolved our thinking to encompass sensory design.

Creating a sensory kitchen involves designing a space that focuses on all five senses – sight, touch, sound, smell and taste. By considering the impact of the design on the senses you can create a space where cooking and dining become more immersive and enjoyable.

Sight

What we see can impact on our mood, making the use of colours, textures, and lighting important when considering the visual appeal of a kitchen.  Good lighting design is essential to enhance how the kitchen is used for different activities.

Bringing the outside in wherever possible is a good starting point. Making the most of natural light, and views out to a garden if possible. 

Providing lights that can be dimmed or change colour, and choosing the right kind of light for the most appropriate activity will ensure that the light works with the design, rather than an afterthought. 

Colours can also impact on how a room looks and feels. Neutral tones and soft pastels can be calming, making the space feel relaxed and welcoming. Other colours can promote a feeling a wellbeing, such as green and adding in the colours of nature can also bring a sense of calm.  Oak and other warm woods provide a link to nature, which can also soothe the senses. 

Touch

There is great potential for adding in variations of texture and how things feel in the kitchen. From worktops, handles, appliance controls, to tables, chairs and even how the floor feels beneath the feet.

For those that rely on touch rather than sight, tactile markers and textured surfaces assist for appliance controls. Contrasting textures can also define where one part of the kitchen starts, or finishes. 

Smell

If we take away eyesight, humans’ most powerful sense is smell.  There are smells that we want to take away from the kitchen, with extraction, and those that we may wish to add, with a planting area for herbs or scented plants. 

Technology provides an array of versatile solutions for extraction for every kind of kitchen design.  It can be on display as a design feature or hidden away.  It can be very quiet so as not to intrude in a sociable kitchen.

Taste

Taste is perhaps the sense that most would associate with the kitchen, because it is the room for cooking and eating.  Choosing state of the art appliances that can make the most of the food we cook, such as steam ovens, can help us maximise on taste.

Designing a layout that encourages creativity and experimentation with flavours, and ensuring that there is an area for social interaction over the sharing of food, also enhances the sense of taste. 

When designing for the senses, a designer can not only create a space that enhances the user experience overall but one that caters for different abilities, preferences, and needs.

Considering all five senses in kitchen design ensures inclusivity, accessibility and useability, for a diverse range of users.