Standing on your tippy toes to reach a wine glass? Bending down too far to get a heavy pot? If you're stretching, climbing or bending in your kitchen on a regular basis you may need to look at your kitchen's ergonomics. A few design changes and product additions can improve the ergonomics of your kitchen. Here are some ergonomic kitchen design tips to get you started...
Raise the Dishwasher
The most common kitchen ergonomic blunder is the height of the dishwasher. It takes a good few minutes to pack a dishwasher, which puts strain on your back and knees. There are some awesome raised dishwasher designs, some of which are DIY. Some homeowners manage to raise the dishwasher themselves by adding a piece of plywood within a cabinet to hold the dishwasher. We'd recommend getting a plumber or carpenter in to assist you with this.
Sprung Flooring
Whether it's waiting for that pot to boil or catching up with friends or family around the kitchen island, we spend a lot of time standing in our kitchens. Spring flooring absorbs shock, giving a softer feel. Sprung floors are often used for rooms where physical activity takes place, but you can also install them in your homes too. If you spend a lot of time standing around your kitchen why not add some additional comforts: a mini herb garden, music or a book reading station.
Raise the Rangehood
If you're tall, you may be stooping down to stir at your stove. Instead of straining your neck and back, try raising the rangehood a bit higher. Rangehoods have a maximum distance allowance. Check what yours is and lift yours as high as you can to avoid strain.
Bottom Freezer Fridge
Ever pulled a heavy piece of frozen food from your top freezer and dropped it on your toes? I have. A bottom freezer fridge is more ergonomic as you can crotch down to grab what you need from the freezer. Instead of reaching up or overhead to putt it down.
Install a Wall Oven
If I had to choose one thing to correct in my kitchen, it would be the oven placement. Reaching down to pull hot stuff out of the oven is not only bad for your back, but also dangerous. If the tray is heavy and hot, there is a good chance you may drop it. A wall oven allows you to insert and remove trays of cooked food as a comfortable and natural level - not straining your back or arms.
Plan Your Storage Cupboards
Carefully plan where your kitchen items will go. Keep the lighter stuff in the higher cupboards and the heavier stuff in the bottom cupboards. Glasses and mugs should be as close to eye level as possible, so you're not stretching to get them.
