I remember growing up and that feeling of excitement anytime my mum stepped into the kitchen after taking a break from her lesson notes which she mostly attended to in her bed room. This was usually after her daily teaching job. That excitement then was epic, we savoured the thoughts of dinner and salivated from the aroma of the product of mum’s culinary skills. The under-listed points should validate why the kitchen should be viewed as the most important room in any home

1. The Kitchen is the heart of the home

They say the way to a man’s heart is through the stomach. Invariably we all know that what that simply means is a good cook would find favour of whatever form in the sight of a man. Therefore, if food draws a woman close to a man’s heart, then the room where food is prepared should be the heart of the home.  Whether small or large, even if it’s just a small portion where a stove is placed, the kitchen is the hub of the home. It is where the meals are created – it fuels the bodies, minds and souls of friends and families all over the world. Some say that while life may be created in the bedroom, it is certainly lived in the kitchen. Some tend to agree while others not so much. Where do you stand on this?

2. Kitchens are no longer solely for cooking

Yeah! of a truth the function of the kitchen has changed over time. There was an era when the kitchen was typically for cooking, however these days it goes beyond that. Whenever I remember the days of old when my mum will slave over a stove to prepare delicious, soul nourishing and unequivocally sumptuous meals till my Dad bought her a gas cooker, I realize what life would have been like without a mother (Na Kwashiorkor for kill person).

The Kitchen was my mum’s workspace where the ingredients that turned boys to men and girls to ladies were forged. In most cases children were encouraged to join and learn the art of cooking, the joy of preparing a family or holiday meal together, thus creating true memories of a lifetime. Kitchens are not sedate and quiet rooms. They are rooms filled with energy, aroma and texture. They were created with a purpose, one purpose in mind. They were created to be utilitarian spaces

3. The importance of kitchen size today

Today the importance of a good sized, productive kitchen is cannot be underestimated. It is, according to many, the most important room of the house. In today’s real estate, a house’s resale depends greatly on its kitchen. Its location and functionality are key. Older kitchens must be made to look newer, more streamlined and more modern. For resale purposes, it is not unheard of for sellers to bring in new accessories, paint and appliances are brought in to help the sale.

4. Today’s kitchen is much more than a kitchen

Today’s kitchen is today’s family living space. These large rooms house several areas within. There is the kitchen area – the designated cooking space – thoughtfully, carefully planned and laid out. Then there’s the dining area within the kitchen, usually large enough to hold a table that comfortably seats 6 or more, and finally, in many of these larger kitchens, is the sitting area, so that in effect, the whole family can hang out together while cooking, working or relaxing. Many new homes embracing the more casual lifestyle are being built without a dining room or formal living area. For those who enjoy entertaining and do so often, even the homes with formal dining and living areas find that the crowd usually gathers in the kitchen.

The article was first published on Nigeria Real Estate Hub