For generations, people have been saying that “the kitchen is the heart of the home.” The meaning of that expression is open to interpretation, but just about everyone would agree that kitchens are generally a relaxing place where family and friends congregate.

Although there are a lot of things to consider when searching for just the right house that meets your needs, the size of your next kitchen and its practicality are important things to keep in mind. If you enjoy hosting dinner parties and family gatherings, a large kitchen with plenty of seating room and counter space is highly desirable.

In addition to the fact that you need space to prepare and serve food, you may also need room to put out snacks, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. If your objective is to serve meals “buffet style” or “family style,” then you’ll also want to line up the necessary supplies, such as plates, napkins, utensils, cups, and condiments.

While a large, open kitchen is not absolutely essential to the success of a dinner party or holiday gathering, it does provide convenience, food serving options, and more mingling space. If you end up buying a home with a narrow galley kitchen, then you’ll have to rely more on adjoining rooms for entertaining guests and serving food.

On a day-to-day basis, spacious eat-in kitchens are usually much more practical for busy families, too. Otherwise, space is at a premium and family members may find themselves bumping into each other as they prepare meals, wash cookware, or put away dishes. As you can imagine (or have experienced first-hand), a claustrophobic kitchen does not lend itself to family harmony! On the other hand, having a place where family members can comfortably sit across from each other at meal time lends itself to open communication and, hopefully, better family relations.

Other characteristics of an “ideal kitchen” might include energy-efficient appliances, a floor that’s both attractive and spill resistant, and sufficient lighting in food preparation and eating areas. If homes you’re considering don’t have dimmer switches, that’s a relatively simple and inexpensive feature to install — preferably with the help of an electrician. Having the ability to soften the intensity of light will enable you to decrease the room’s brightness and transition to a “relaxation mode” at the end of the day. Being able to turn the brightness back up will come in handy for paying bills at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper (if you don’t access it online), helping your kids with their homework, or playing cards or board games.

Whether your kitchen requirements include stainless steel appliances, a quartz or granite island with a gas stove, or just plenty of room for a large kitchen table and chairs, your real estate agent will work with you to find the home that best matches your needs, lifestyle, and budget.