16 Easy Fixes for a Baby-Friendly Kitchen
If a new baby has recently joined your family, some temporary tweaks to your kitchen could make life easier
Most of us, with or without children, probably have at least a basic understanding of how to child-proof a kitchen: cleaning chemicals stashed safely, perhaps locks on cupboards, baby gates, and so on.
But what about that temporary period before toddlerhood that is, initially, not always just about safety and has its own special set of requirements? Three designers share their experiences of helping new parents to adapt their kitchens without getting the builders in.
Professional advice from: Dominique Lyons of Kids Rule Interiors; Jill O’Neill of ReFound; Jessica Spencer of My Bespoke Room
But what about that temporary period before toddlerhood that is, initially, not always just about safety and has its own special set of requirements? Three designers share their experiences of helping new parents to adapt their kitchens without getting the builders in.
Professional advice from: Dominique Lyons of Kids Rule Interiors; Jill O’Neill of ReFound; Jessica Spencer of My Bespoke Room
Not every kitchen will have room for a big seat, but this cosy space shows you don’t need an open-plan area, as seen in the previous image, to make it work.
On a side note, if there’s space, a tiny table, stool or hot-drink-sized shelf will be useful, especially if you can charge your phone there, too. And a lidded travel cup is an excellent idea for ensuring your drink stays put no matter how much the baby wriggles.
Find a local interiors expert on Houzz to help with your project
On a side note, if there’s space, a tiny table, stool or hot-drink-sized shelf will be useful, especially if you can charge your phone there, too. And a lidded travel cup is an excellent idea for ensuring your drink stays put no matter how much the baby wriggles.
Find a local interiors expert on Houzz to help with your project
2. Create a baby zone – in an open-plan room
Adding things to the room isn’t always the aim, however. “Be prepared to sacrifice furniture to create a zone for your baby that can evolve as they grow,” Jill O’Neill says. “We took out a coffee table and an armchair. Add a nice rug to demarcate it; we have some sheepskin-style ones and layer separate rugs on top of each other.”
If you have an open-plan scheme like this one, featuring clean floor space away from the cooking area, yet close enough to watch over, you have a great head start. Before your baby can crawl, this can be used as a safe spot for a moses basket, baby gym or play mat. Eventually, it can evolve into a fun space for toddlers and older children, with books and toy storage.
Choose the position carefully, bearing in mind the evolution that will need to take place. While open-plan spaces have many advantages, once your baby starts to crawl, the lack of scope for baby gates can be a challenge. You may want to look out for flexible hinged gates that can be moved around to section off different areas.
Adding things to the room isn’t always the aim, however. “Be prepared to sacrifice furniture to create a zone for your baby that can evolve as they grow,” Jill O’Neill says. “We took out a coffee table and an armchair. Add a nice rug to demarcate it; we have some sheepskin-style ones and layer separate rugs on top of each other.”
If you have an open-plan scheme like this one, featuring clean floor space away from the cooking area, yet close enough to watch over, you have a great head start. Before your baby can crawl, this can be used as a safe spot for a moses basket, baby gym or play mat. Eventually, it can evolve into a fun space for toddlers and older children, with books and toy storage.
Choose the position carefully, bearing in mind the evolution that will need to take place. While open-plan spaces have many advantages, once your baby starts to crawl, the lack of scope for baby gates can be a challenge. You may want to look out for flexible hinged gates that can be moved around to section off different areas.
3. Create a baby zone – in a closed kitchen
You can still create a baby space if you have a closed kitchen. “You could almost fence off one end – though not necessarily with a physical barrier,” Dominique says. “It’s about creating an area where you’re not going to be walking over them – somewhere they can sit or lie on a mat and play.”
As they get older, you can adapt the space to house building blocks or a drawing mat. “Rotate toys so there are always different things to play with in different areas,” Dominique adds. “But keep Lego out of the kitchen,” she warns. “It’s very easy to trip over.”
Browse more kitchen inspiration
You can still create a baby space if you have a closed kitchen. “You could almost fence off one end – though not necessarily with a physical barrier,” Dominique says. “It’s about creating an area where you’re not going to be walking over them – somewhere they can sit or lie on a mat and play.”
As they get older, you can adapt the space to house building blocks or a drawing mat. “Rotate toys so there are always different things to play with in different areas,” Dominique adds. “But keep Lego out of the kitchen,” she warns. “It’s very easy to trip over.”
Browse more kitchen inspiration
4. Give over a cupboard
In the same vein, this idea is about making it fun to be away from the cooking zone. “I repurposed a kitchen cupboard so he could empty everything out of it,” Dominique says of her now six-year-old son when he was a baby. “Inside, I’d have a wooden spoon, some Tupperware, light pots and pans – anything safe he could take out and play with.
“You can keep it exciting by changing what’s in there,” she adds. “I did this for my son when he was just sitting up and it kept him busy for ages. It stops them from wanting to go into other cupboards, too. When he was a bit older, I painted it in blackboard paint.”
Pick a cupboard as far from where you’re cooking as your kitchen will allow. In this compact space, the cupboard on the outside of the island unit would be good, as it’s easy to see from the cooking zone, yet a safe distance from the action.
In the same vein, this idea is about making it fun to be away from the cooking zone. “I repurposed a kitchen cupboard so he could empty everything out of it,” Dominique says of her now six-year-old son when he was a baby. “Inside, I’d have a wooden spoon, some Tupperware, light pots and pans – anything safe he could take out and play with.
“You can keep it exciting by changing what’s in there,” she adds. “I did this for my son when he was just sitting up and it kept him busy for ages. It stops them from wanting to go into other cupboards, too. When he was a bit older, I painted it in blackboard paint.”
Pick a cupboard as far from where you’re cooking as your kitchen will allow. In this compact space, the cupboard on the outside of the island unit would be good, as it’s easy to see from the cooking zone, yet a safe distance from the action.
5. Rethink open shelf displays
These shelves might once have housed beautiful cookery books or tasteful ceramics. Accept that life will be easier if you find somewhere else for these things to live for the foreseeable future.
Don’t despair that open shelving will necessarily look unattractive, though. Pick out your baby’s best-looking toys (you could also look out for stylish wooden playthings in second-hand shops) and you’ll soon have a new display – but one you can encourage little hands to play with.
These shelves might once have housed beautiful cookery books or tasteful ceramics. Accept that life will be easier if you find somewhere else for these things to live for the foreseeable future.
Don’t despair that open shelving will necessarily look unattractive, though. Pick out your baby’s best-looking toys (you could also look out for stylish wooden playthings in second-hand shops) and you’ll soon have a new display – but one you can encourage little hands to play with.
6. Put a lid on it
And for those things you don’t want to pack away, but with which you don’t want your baby to play? “If there are knick-knacks you want to keep in one place, jars with lids are good,” Jill says. “Or try ceramic pots with lids or old enamel tins – small children seem less interested if they can’t see there’s stuff inside.”
And for those things you don’t want to pack away, but with which you don’t want your baby to play? “If there are knick-knacks you want to keep in one place, jars with lids are good,” Jill says. “Or try ceramic pots with lids or old enamel tins – small children seem less interested if they can’t see there’s stuff inside.”
7. Think multi-function
Having a changing station downstairs in an open-plan living space can be really handy.
“When we got rid of the coffee table, I replaced it with an ottoman with a lift-up top,” Jill says. “Not only does it have nice soft corners, the storage is good, too. I put a changing mat and nappies inside it.”
How Do I… Choose Multi-Functional Furniture?
Having a changing station downstairs in an open-plan living space can be really handy.
“When we got rid of the coffee table, I replaced it with an ottoman with a lift-up top,” Jill says. “Not only does it have nice soft corners, the storage is good, too. I put a changing mat and nappies inside it.”
How Do I… Choose Multi-Functional Furniture?
8. Free your drawers
Well, at least one of them… Baby stuff can easily swamp your kitchen. “Give over a drawer or two for bibs, bottles and that sort of thing,” Jill advises. “As they get older, you can use it for craft stuff.”
Start moving things up and out of little hands’ way, too. It won’t be long before they’re interested in exploring everything. Installing some out-of-reach shelves, as seen here, isn’t a bad idea for extra storage.
Boost your current storage areas, too. If you have space, invest in under-shelf baskets; they can also be used on some tables or islands. These can give you valuable temporary storage for all sorts of small-scale paraphernalia.
Don’t forget your walls. Hangable canvas pockets are cheap and easy to install – handy for stashing wipes, muslins and other smaller baby items.
Well, at least one of them… Baby stuff can easily swamp your kitchen. “Give over a drawer or two for bibs, bottles and that sort of thing,” Jill advises. “As they get older, you can use it for craft stuff.”
Start moving things up and out of little hands’ way, too. It won’t be long before they’re interested in exploring everything. Installing some out-of-reach shelves, as seen here, isn’t a bad idea for extra storage.
Boost your current storage areas, too. If you have space, invest in under-shelf baskets; they can also be used on some tables or islands. These can give you valuable temporary storage for all sorts of small-scale paraphernalia.
Don’t forget your walls. Hangable canvas pockets are cheap and easy to install – handy for stashing wipes, muslins and other smaller baby items.
9. Choose grown-up storage
“Pick antique woven baskets,” Jill suggests. “Things like that are nice, rather than brightly coloured tubs picked with children in mind. Use your own aesthetic, but throw all their plastic and teddies into them.”
Here, the huge woven basket could be useful for anything from bibs and bottles to toys.
“Pick antique woven baskets,” Jill suggests. “Things like that are nice, rather than brightly coloured tubs picked with children in mind. Use your own aesthetic, but throw all their plastic and teddies into them.”
Here, the huge woven basket could be useful for anything from bibs and bottles to toys.
10. Hang your plants
“I got rid of a lot of floor plants,” Jill says. “It was literally hands in pots and soil all over the place. Putting things up high includes plants. I’m planning to hang some macramé pots from the picture rails.”
14 Ways to Take Your Plants Off the Ground
“I got rid of a lot of floor plants,” Jill says. “It was literally hands in pots and soil all over the place. Putting things up high includes plants. I’m planning to hang some macramé pots from the picture rails.”
14 Ways to Take Your Plants Off the Ground
11. Match your high chair to your space – and position it carefully
If you have room for a permanent highchair that will always be on show, pick something that either reflects your aesthetic or can be made to fit in. Here, Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors painted a classic wooden baby seat in a soft shade of grey to complement her clients’ kitchen.
Try to position the chair well away from walls and paintwork. “Between nine months and two and a half, everything goes everywhere,” Dominique says. If your highchair needs to be next to a wall, choose easy-care paint. “Eggshell is vital when you have children,” she says. “You’ll really value wipeable, washable surfaces.”
If you have room for a permanent highchair that will always be on show, pick something that either reflects your aesthetic or can be made to fit in. Here, Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors painted a classic wooden baby seat in a soft shade of grey to complement her clients’ kitchen.
Try to position the chair well away from walls and paintwork. “Between nine months and two and a half, everything goes everywhere,” Dominique says. If your highchair needs to be next to a wall, choose easy-care paint. “Eggshell is vital when you have children,” she says. “You’ll really value wipeable, washable surfaces.”
12. Assess your table
Clamp-on highchairs can be fantastic space-saving items. But you will need to ensure your table – or, indeed, breakfast bar – is suitable and sturdy enough to take one.
The benefits of bidding at least a temporary farewell to some furniture will outweigh any disappointment.
Clamp-on highchairs can be fantastic space-saving items. But you will need to ensure your table – or, indeed, breakfast bar – is suitable and sturdy enough to take one.
The benefits of bidding at least a temporary farewell to some furniture will outweigh any disappointment.
13. Hide your bin
If you have the cupboard space, Jessica suggests incorporating integral kitchen bins to keep small hands from pulling over a freestanding one.
If you decide to go down the child lock route, she suggests you seek out hidden designs. “These won’t ruin the look of your kitchen, as they’re hidden inside the door,” she says.
If you have the cupboard space, Jessica suggests incorporating integral kitchen bins to keep small hands from pulling over a freestanding one.
If you decide to go down the child lock route, she suggests you seek out hidden designs. “These won’t ruin the look of your kitchen, as they’re hidden inside the door,” she says.
14. Encourage your mini-me
“Create a little kids kitchen area, so your little one can play alongside you in their own safe kitchen as you cook,” Jessica says. “You could even paint one in your kitchen’s colours.”
Although a play kitchen is intended for older children, babies will enjoy pulling things out of the pretend oven or cupboard until they’re a bit bigger.
“Create a little kids kitchen area, so your little one can play alongside you in their own safe kitchen as you cook,” Jessica says. “You could even paint one in your kitchen’s colours.”
Although a play kitchen is intended for older children, babies will enjoy pulling things out of the pretend oven or cupboard until they’re a bit bigger.
15. Look down
Not a temporary tweak, but if you’re reflooring before your baby arrives, Jessica has some practical advice. “Luxury vinyl tiles, like the wood-effect ones seen here, are softer than a porcelain tiled floor, moisture-resistant for those spillages, and don’t scratch easily.”
Not a temporary tweak, but if you’re reflooring before your baby arrives, Jessica has some practical advice. “Luxury vinyl tiles, like the wood-effect ones seen here, are softer than a porcelain tiled floor, moisture-resistant for those spillages, and don’t scratch easily.”
16. Let history guide you
Try not to worry too much about the inevitable mess and toll on furniture and surfaces that your tiny person will cause. Most kitchen tables can take quite a battering once you hit weaning and beyond.
“Choose a stylish oilcloth to protect your kitchen or dining room table from food spills and craft mess,” Jessica advises. “There are so many colours and designs to choose from and they can be changed as often as you like.” That said, oilcloth isn’t the only approach.
“I often think, ‘What would the Victorians have done?’,” Dominique says. “Natural surfaces can be much easier to keep clean. For example, we have a 100-year-old wooden kitchen table, which I painted and waxed. Every now and then I sand and wax it again when wiping clean isn’t quite enough.”
Tell us
Are you a new parent, or about to become one, and trying to reconfigure your space? Did you find any of these tips useful? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Try not to worry too much about the inevitable mess and toll on furniture and surfaces that your tiny person will cause. Most kitchen tables can take quite a battering once you hit weaning and beyond.
“Choose a stylish oilcloth to protect your kitchen or dining room table from food spills and craft mess,” Jessica advises. “There are so many colours and designs to choose from and they can be changed as often as you like.” That said, oilcloth isn’t the only approach.
“I often think, ‘What would the Victorians have done?’,” Dominique says. “Natural surfaces can be much easier to keep clean. For example, we have a 100-year-old wooden kitchen table, which I painted and waxed. Every now and then I sand and wax it again when wiping clean isn’t quite enough.”
Tell us
Are you a new parent, or about to become one, and trying to reconfigure your space? Did you find any of these tips useful? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
A comfy chair will get so much use when you have a baby, whether you’re feeding or providing a comfy chest to sleep on. Dominique Lyons agrees, but warns that open-weave fabrics such as linen will absorb cooking smells more.
“Leather can be good, as you can wax it and wipe it clean. Cotton covers you can throw in the washing machine are really handy, too.”
She also warns that babies will climb up on armchairs once they’re big enough, so you might want to have an alternative piece of furniture lined up to swap it with for a while, until climbing is a safe game, to save you always having to have one eye on it.