How to design the right kitchen for your rental property

The kitchen is often thought to be the heart of any home, so we tend to invest a lot of time and money into it. However, when it comes to rental properties, we don’t always show the kitchen the same love and attention, often opting for something cheap but not always cheerful.

It is important to make the most of this area of the home as it can be a big deciding factor for a tenant. To explain further, Tara Neil, specialists in bespoke kitchens share their expertise on how to design the right kitchen for your rental property.

Kitchen cabinets

Ripping out a kitchen and replacing it with a brand new one can be an expensive task that can take time, but there are ways to give a kitchen an upgrade without breaking the bank. Refacing the cabinets in the kitchen is a quick and easy way to change the entire look of the room, whilst also getting rid of dodgy colours or damage.

Storage space is often something that a lot of kitchens lack, so try to maximise what you offer with ceiling height cabinets and lots of drawers.

When it comes to materials, think about using plywood under the sink to handle water better and use more resistant textured melamine for cabinets to protect them from stains, heat and moisture.

Colours

Everyone wants a big kitchen, but this is not always possible. However, choosing the right colours for your kitchen can give a great impression of space. Light colours and woods can not only make it look larger, but also give a sense of cleanliness and light.

Neutral palettes are often the safest choice as they have the widest appeal and will not cause offence to anyone. They will also fit in with the personal belongings of any tenant. Dark coloured cabinets might be on trend, but as the fad passes, your kitchen will date and need replacing. These colours look fantastic, but they can make a kitchen look darker and smaller and are not always easy to keep clean or find matching replacements.

Worktops

As a landlord, you can never expect your tenants to look after the property as well as you might, so you have to use materials that are resilient. Stone worktops can withstand much heavier treatment than laminate ones and will therefore need to be replaced less often.

Patterned designs are usually highly appealing and can hide a multitude of scratches and marks. Wider counters are seen as the most popular options to give people room to cook as well as providing surface space for kettles and microwaves.

Appliances

Whether you rent the property as furnished or not, there are some appliances that you will be expected to supply. It might be tempting to choose the cheapest ovens, hobs, fridges and dishwashers but this becomes a false economy as they tend to break more often and are less appealing. Choosing mid-priced options strikes that balance well without costing you a fortune.

Generally speaking, electrical appliances are a preferred option to gas as they provide a lower fire risk and eliminates the need to reroute the gas lines if you choose to reorganise the design.

A kitchen is no longer just the spot where we cook our meals, it is the place in which we eat, socialise and hold impromptu discos, so it is important that it impresses potential tenants and meets their needs to make your property more appealing in a very competitive market.

Keep it simple and avoid putting a personal stamp on things and you will soon find tenants picturing themselves cooking up a storm in your property.