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While the main focus of kitchen design in the past was functionality, practicality, and style, the advent of sensory interior designhas turned this situation on its head. This new design philosophy goes beyond aesthetics, aiming to create spaces that evoke emotion and enhance our sense of well‑being by engaging sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell. In the kitchen, this means transforming the space into an emotionally charged environment that offers a unique experience.
It begins with a few key elements: color studies, selecting materials and fabrics that are pleasant to the touch, and the integration of furnishings and fragrances. Each of these factors directly influences mood and physical comfort by stimulating the senses and enhancing everyday life, with the aim of turning the home into an emotional refuge.
The first sense to be considered in sensory kitchen design is sight. The selection of lighting and the colors of materials therefore becomes a key element. Natural light is the focus here, which is maximized through extensive glazing and reflective surfaces,while artificial lighting needs to be adjustable and fitted in layers – such as direct lighting for work surfaces, LED strips to highlight architectural details, and soft ambient lights for gathering areas.
Color palettes also play a key role, with warm, natural hues evoking a sense of welcome and connection to nature, while neutral, modern shades produce more contemporary, luminous designs.
After sight comes touch, a sense that’s engaged with textures, materials, and surfaces.
Atlas Plan, an Italian firm with a reputation for its quality large-format porcelain stoneware tiles, is a useful benchmark for sensory interior design. Atlas Plan surfaces are not only visually elegant but also rich in tactile details, which enhance the daily experience.
With a wide range of finishes and designs inspired by natural materials such as marble, stone, and concrete, these slabs appeal to the senses with their elegance, durability, and functionality, making them ideal for countertops, kitchen islands, and walls.
Smell plays a vital role in an environment that’s full of many aromas. It’s not just about the natural aromas of cooking food, but also about creating a distinctive signature fragrance. This can be achieved with essential oils and unique fragrances in diffusers or other strategically placed scent delivery systems.
Next comes hearing, a sense that can contribute – or not – to the feeling of comfort that every kitchen should provide. Sensory design focuses on the gentle soundscapes that can be created with sound-absorbing materials (rugs, curtains, panels, and so on), quiet appliances, and soft background music.
Natural sounds, such as flowing water or rustling leaves, can further help ease stress levels and create a soothing atmosphere.
Even taste can be a part of sensory interior design. Kitchens can be designed to encourage culinary exploration, sharing, and discovery, with features such as island counters, snack counters, and tasting areas, complemented by decor and design details that reference food traditions.
More info: www.atlasplan.com
