Planning Your Kitchen Layout

There is a lot to consider when designing your kitchen layout. It’s a balance between lifestyle, storage needs, space available, appliances, counter space, and budget. A good place to start is by determining what appliances you wish to have in your kitchen. The most used appliances in the kitchen tend to be the stove, the sink, and the refrigerator, therefore it’s essential to plan out your space that ensures easy access to each of these. At the same time, its best not to have your stove and refrigerator next to each other as the heat of the stove will make the fridge work harder and therefore use up more electricity.

In smaller kitchens, the size and shape of the room will often dictate the layout. In larger rooms there are more options to consider. Typical kitchen layouts are galley, L-shaped, or U-shaped, and may include islands, breakfast bars, and dining areas

It’s essential to think about how much storage you need. For a big family kitchen you may want to consider installing taller cabinets for added storage and a lazy suzan or a pantry. You can consider how much counter space you want and plan your layout to optimize that space.

L-Shaped Layout

An L-shaped layout has cabinets along all or part of two adjoining walls. In a larger kitchen this may allow room for a dining area in the kitchen. This layout provides ample storage space and floor space and is therefore ideal for a busy family life.

U-Shaped Layout

In a U-shaped layout, cabinets cover three walls, and in a larger room one length of the U may be used as a breakfast bar. In a small kitchen, this layout provides maximum storage and appliance capacity, but standing room is limited. It is best to keep the refrigerator close to the door.

Galley Layout

A galley layout uses straight runs of cabinets on opposing walls in a narrow kitchen. As in the U-shaped layout above, floor space may be limited, but wall space is used to its maximum potential.

Island Layout

An island layout tends to be used either in large kitchens or as a design feature in smaller ones. When appliances are installed in an island, the “work triangle” theory doesn’t apply. Routing utilities may be tricky with this layout design.

If you want an island in your design, it is best if it does not block your route between sink, refrigerator and stove. An electrical supply for an island can run under the floor, especially if you are installing a new floor anyway. Many people utilize the additional counter space of an island to contain the stove.

Let’s build your dream kitchen

Once you have some ideas about your needs and what you would like in your kitchen we can help you fill in the details needed and find what kind of kitchen cabinets will suit you best. And if you’re not sure what you want we can help guide you through the process.