What if the stove is visible from the front door?
When the front door looks straight at the stove, cooking fumes and heat go right to the entry, and the cook has their back to the door, so anyone coming in can startle them. Closing the kitchen door and running the range hood while you cook fixes most of it.
Common senseWhy it feels uncomfortable
This is listed as common sense. With the stove facing the entrance, fumes and smells follow the airflow around the entry. The cook stands with their back to the door and often doesn't notice someone coming in until they're right there. Open kitchens are common in small homes; the problem isn't that the kitchen is open, but that nothing stands between the stove and the front door.
What tradition says
Feng shui advises against seeing the stove from the front door, as the stove is where a household cooks and shouldn't be the first thing you face. We don't rate the saying; we take the part about the kitchen deserving some separation.
Three ways to fix it
- Do it nowClose the kitchen door while cooking, switch on the range hood before you light the stove and leave it on for a few minutes after.
- Move some furnitureFor an open kitchen, add a sliding door or glass partition. If you'd rather not build anything, put a tall entry cabinet between the door and the stove.
- If you can't change itIf you can't separate them, get a stronger range hood and open a window while cooking, and agree with your family to say hello when they come in so the cook isn't startled.
FAQ
Are open kitchens a bad idea?
No. They're convenient. As long as the range hood is strong and actually used, and the stove isn't directly facing the front door, they work fine.
Can I just move the stove?
Moving it to a side wall is ideal, but it means moving the gas line, which needs a qualified professional. Until then, use a partition and a closed door to deal with fumes.
Related questions
This page draws on traditional ideas about the home and on environmental psychology research. It is for everyday reference, makes no predictions, and is not medical advice. If you sleep badly for a long time, please talk to a doctor.