Look back 20 years and kitchens were not what they are today. In the 80s and 90s they were functional spaces reserved for cooking and eating. Now they're one of the most sociable rooms in the home.

As a result, kitchen design has gone open plan as families set aside space for entertaining and spending time together, whether that be sitting down to a delicious meal or playing a board game.

Helen Bygraves and Jenny Weiss of design consultancy hillhouseinteriors.com reckon the trend for sociable kitchens is set to continue in the years to come.

They pointed out that centre islands, if you have a big enough kitchen, are ideal for entertaining. Pull up a few bar stools on one side and your friends and family can chat to you while you cook.

Of course you could always use your island to create more worktop space and add in extra appliances, such as an additional sink complete with a kitchen mixer tap, or even a grill.

Ms Bygraves and Ms Weiss said teppanyaki grills are proving popular at the moment because they lend themselves to healthy living.

Of course they also allow you to put on a bit of a show for your guests as you cook their steak, chicken, fish or vegetables to order like a true Japanese pro.

And if you opt for a hideaway kitchen, you can simply throw everything in the dishwasher after your meal and use your centre island for post-dinner entertaining, without being surrounded by dirty dishes.

This may be an attractive option if your open plan kitchen extends into an open plan living area and you want to retire to the sofa without the smell of leftovers following you.

"Even people who like contemporary interiors still like the hideaway kitchens," said the design duo. "So if you've got a large informal living space, it's nice to have a hideaway kitchen as well."