Here’s one thing you should know about designing a kitchen: if you get the layout wrong, you ruin the functionality of the space. But creating an efficient and user-friendly kitchen is no easy feat. And since the perfect kitchen is more than just an appliance hangout, there’s a lot more to layout than merely arranging furniture and cabinetry.
For example, ergonomics plays a big part in how practical and functional your kitchen turns out. Before any kitchen design and install, you need to consider things like height, adequate space for smooth movement, appliance positioning, and simplicity of use. All these will contribute to the pleasure of the area. That said, here are five layouts that’ll do justice to most kitchen spaces.
-
The Galley Kitchen
The galley kitchen comprises two rows of cabinets, one facing the other. This way, the design forms an inner path or galley between the cabinet rows, making the room highly efficient. This style of arrangement uses every centimeter of space without wasting it. It does this by removing the requirement for corner cupboards. Because of the straightforward design, fewer special gadgets are required, making this a cost-effective solution. If you have a large family and need plenty of kitchen storage, this layout would be perfect.
-
The One Wall Kitchen
This kind of layout is popular in small, narrow kitchens. Why? It ensures that, though small, the space gets the much-needed functionality and space efficiency. In this layout, the majority of the cabinets are installed against one wall. Hence, this kitchen often has both lower and upper cupboards or shelves. You can place your refrigerator on one end, your oven and stove in the middle, and your sink on the other end. If your cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling, use the room over them to store less-used goods.
-
The L-Shaped Kitchen
Want to get the most out of your kitchen space? Consider going for an L-shaped kitchen layout. L-shaped kitchens offer plenty of flexible options for arranging appliances, cabinets, and accessories. With the flexibility of this design, most spaces can squeeze in a small breakfast nook for quick bite meals. This layout looks great even when you play with different wood tones on each side of the divide. Though the L can be as long as your room allows, it’s preferable to keep them under 4.5m so it is more convenient to use.
-
The Island Kitchen
There are plenty of rules for planning open-plan living areas. One popular design trend is to create an island in the middle of the open kitchen. This provides an opportunity for higher traffic flow while creating exciting areas where people can cook, eat or sit around and have a drink to relax after a long day at work. The main thing about islands that you should remember when designing your kitchen is that it must be large enough to accommodate everything you need, but not so large that it becomes cumbersome.
-
The U-Shaped Kitchen
The U-shaped kitchen provides a modern and practical way to organize large kitchens. This set-up entails having cabinetry along three connecting walls, which is what creates the U shape. The setup permits plenty of storage but can feel tight if you place upper cabinetry on the three walls. To prevent this, install upper cabinets on at most two walls. However, you can leave the other wall bare or install open shelves on it. Doing so also gives off a more stylish and contemporary vibe. The U-shaped layout provides great workflow and enables multiple users to cook at once.
Conclusion
The kitchen is the heart of every household. That’s why it’s essential to have a layout that works best for you and your family. Before planning a new kitchen design, ask yourself a couple of crucial questions first. If you can look into the past and pinpoint what went well with your previous kitchen, as well as reiterate what could have been improved – the rest should fall into place! Good luck with those renovations!
