Today kitchens are so much more than spaces for preparing food, they are social spaces at the heart of family life where meals are shared, homework is completed and creative ideas are hatched, so it's important they are comfortable, cozy spaces people enjoy being in. 

While there are plenty of quick updates you can add to make a kitchen instantly more cozy, there's often more to creating intimate, welcoming kitchen ideas than meets the eye and fundamental design elements like layout, materials, and lighting can play an important role. 

Whether you're looking to make the most of a small kitchen or make a large kitchen feel more intimate, these cozy room ideas for kitchens and expert tips are guaranteed to inspire. 

'My main aim is to make this room a really beautiful extra living room. Fun lighting, curtains, antiques and rugs serve to make this a cozy space that one would want to spend time in,' says Henriette von Stockhausen, founder of VSP Interiors.

BY PIPPA BLENKINSOP.

Hard materials such as stone, porcelain tile and engineered wood are popular kitchen flooring ideas as they are hardwearing and easy to clean and can be used with underfloor heating, but they can leave spaces feeling cold. Adding a kitchen rug or runner is a quick and easy way to instantly make kitchens feel more cozy, plus they can help insulate sound, too.

Consider flatweave designs and rugs with a low-pile which are easy to clean and less of a tripping hazard. When placing a rug in a kitchen it is important to fit an underlay to prevent them from slipping. 

If space allows, factoring in social areas into your kitchen layout is a wonderful way to create a warm and welcoming feel.

'I like kitchens that you can live in with cozy nooks that create a spot for the children to sit and do their homework, where you can grab a quiet 5 minutes with a coffee or have a glass of fizz with friends on a Friday night,' says Louisa Eggleston, creative director at Humphrey Munson. 

'Upholstered banquette seating provides this so easily in a kitchen and is a really easy and intuitive way to soften the space and make it feel more homely and welcoming.'

It's easy to get carried away thinking about task lighting when designing kitchen lighting, but factoring in more ambient light sources such as low-level pendants, table lamps and kitchen wall lighting will help set the mood for cozy evening suppers and of course as a finishing touch you can't beat the warm flicker of candlelight.

'We use our kitchens so much more these days and for so many different purposes, not just cooking, so it needs to be a room for family gatherings; parties, drinks, homework so lighting is very important. Wall lights create atmospheric lighting as they give a comfortable glow,' suggests Henriette von Stockhausen, founder of VSP Interiors.

For a long time grey kitchen ideas were the go-to, but today more people are embracing warmer and deeper tones for their painted kitchen ideas such as brown to bring the cosseting and soothing qualities of nature into the home. 

'Chocolate browns are perfect for creating restful living spaces that bring comfort to the home and envelop a space,' says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. 'With their earthy tones, chocolate browns are a subtle nod to nature and complement beautifully with natural materials such as wicker, rattan and stone finishes, all very popular as we continue to look to embrace the beauty of the natural world in our homes.'

When thinking of kitchen cabinet paint ideas don't be put off using dark colors in a small space, they will bring the walls in to enhance the cozy and intimate feel. 'A small kitchen filled with dramatic colors, textures and eclectic accessories can become big in personality which can also visually give a sense of a large space,' says Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL. 

Whether used on flooring, cabinets, or worktops, using natural wood is guaranteed to bring coziness to a space.

'Wood kitchen flooring has an unparalleled warmth and character and is a favorite amongst the British Standard by Plain English design team. There are many colors and species of wood to choose from. A classic choice is Ash, for its extreme durability and natural look. All wood develops a natural patina over time and rather than worry about this, we encourage clients to enjoy the rich character that this offers,' says Adrain Bergman, design manager at British Standard by Plain English.

When it comes to kitchen countertop ideas, wood is often underrated, but it can make a wonderful choice says Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL. 'I have never understood the worry with wood, for me it is warm and tactile, it is easy to keep supple and nourished with a little regular care and in return, it gives you an ever-changing patina that gets better and better over time.'

As well as being hardwearing, kitchen floor tiles are a wonderful way to add character and interest to a kitchen, plus they can be used with underfloor heating. 'Terracotta tiles are a natural option that brings a lovely warmth and will sit very happily in a traditional kitchen. You could choose a simple square tile in a diamond pattern or a hexagonal tile for something a little different but these will require sealing,' says Adrian Bergman, design manager at British Standard by Plain English.

'If you are considering underfloor heating, we always plan this with our clients from the start of the design process. It must be positioned so that it is not below the floor cupboards as it can spoil food and cause the joinery to shrink and split.'

Whether introduced as a sink skirt or pretty seat pads, adding fabrics is a quick and easy way to add instant coziness and charm to a kitchen, especially if you're looking to create a cottage kitchen. 

'A cottage always needs some extra special textiles too, so hanging some crisp white French linen up at the windows and throwing a vintage liberty tablecloth on the table for special occasions will set the scene perfectly,' says  Helen Parker.

Often shutters and Venetian blinds are the preferred option when it comes to kitchen window ideas as they are easy to wipe clean. However, provided they are in a splash-free area, fabric window blind ideas are a wonderful way to control light levels and bring softness into the space, plus they give the chance to introduce pattern and color. 'We chose this striped fabric because the colors were so perfect, it’s also not a regimented stripe making it much softer,' says Sarah Vanrenen of this kitchen blind fabric.

Texture and materials are a big kitchen trend at the moment, and what better way to channel this and bring warmth than by incorporating burnished metals? Try a beautiful copper worktop, or for something more subtle, upgrade hardware for brass fixtures. 

'Copper is shiny and has an incredibly fluid, ever-changing patina, it looks rare and precious and turns out to have amazing antibacterial properties which now makes it even more desirable,' says Helen Parker.

'Hardware in brass or nickel always looks exceptional against a darker color, too,' says Louisa Eggleston, creative director of Humphrey Munson.