Before getting into specific layouts, we wanted to touch on design concepts that will make your kitchens most accessible, utilize common space, be child friendly, and control traffic.

• The working triangle is essential to most kitchens. The three points of the triangle are the refrigerator, sink, and stove. This is a common starting point for most kitchens because spacing out these three appliances provides maximum efficiency and productivity.
• Another design concept is organizing your kitchen into task zones, areas where you can perform a group of related activities. Common zones are often washing, breakfast, preparing, cooking, and cleaning. The zones feature items and appliances that work together to accomplish similar tasks. For example, the washing zone would have your dishwasher and storage while the breakfast zone would have the coffeemaker and toaster. The preparation zone would house utensils, chopping boards, and other appliances with similar natures. The cooking zone is where the stove and pots/pans would be found, and finally, the cleaning area is where the sink would be.
• Kitchen design and controlling accessibility go hand-in-hand. When controlling traffic, a homeowner needs to focus on keeping the children safe and the guests out of the way. Putting the fridge and the pantry, parts of the kitchen kids are most interested in, on the ends of the area make it most accessible. While the stove and other appliances can be placed near the center. This way, when the kids want a snack, they won’t be in your way and won’t get close to dangerous appliances. Controlling adults is much easier. Installing an island creates space and is also a great divider. On side can be equipped with stools or chairs for your guests to sit in while the other side can be dedicated to meal preparation. An island keeps them at distance while simultaneously making them feel included.
• When setting up appliances and sections of your kitchen there’s a lot to keep in mind. Each appliance and section have traits that work together with the rest of the kitchen, but most also have their own unique requirements. For instance, stoves and ovens should be placed on an exterior wall for easy ventilation. Placing these appliances over an island or in the middle of the kitchen provides poor ventilation, is expensive, and unnecessarily complicated. Islands must also be strategically placed. A homeowner does not want an island too far from the kitchen where it’s a hassle to get to but does not want it too close either where it blocks passageways.

Now that we have touched on design concepts lets jump into common kitchen layouts!

L-Shaped

This layout has become increasingly popular because it offers a very open feel to the kitchen. The L-shaped kitchen has two walls which intersect at a 90-degree angle that feature all of the appliances. Often times one of the walls is longer than the other to keep space open. Keep in mind working in the kitchen causes you to have your back to the rest of the house, so installing an island can help you prep meals and face people.

U-Shaped

This layout contains three walls connected in a square shape and follows suit to the triangle design mentioned above. The U-shaped plan generally works best for kitchens separated from the rest of the house. Although not the best space to entertain company, these kitchens are great for cooking in.

G-Shaped

The G-shape kitchens are entirely closed off with one point of access. In this space there’s an abundance of counter space perfect for adding stools or chairs. Homeowners can also install a peninsula to create more gathering space.

Galley

Similar to a U-shaped kitchen without the third connecting wall, a galley layout has two perpendicular walls. Often times one of the entrances either leads to another room (i.e. laundry room) or is closed off. Although this design can make cooks feel isolated, it’s very efficient and allows for the important appliances to be close together. Putting windows in can also make the space appear more open as well.

One Wall

Most commonly seen in smaller properties, a one-wall kitchen has the appliances and counter space all together. Having one wall allows for easy accessibility but offers limited space. To increase available space, we suggest adding an island or a portable cart to the area.

Design Your Layout With Kitchen Solvers

Remodels can be demanding and overwhelming. At Kitchen Solvers, we want to give our customers their dream kitchen without the unnecessary stress. Part of our mission is to ensure each homeowner has a Pleasant Remodeling Experience. No matter how much or how little help you need, our team is always happy to aid you on your journey to the cooking space of your dreams.

The post Kitchen Layouts and Design Concepts appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

L Shape

The L-shaped kitchen is especially popular in modern designs. Put simply, the L-shaped kitchen features all your appliances and other items on two walls that intersect at a 90-degree angle with one wall longer than the other. Given that only two walls comprise this layout, it offers a very open feel to the kitchen. It’s useful if you don’t want to be isolated from the rest of the house. Just keep in mind that working in the kitchen will put your back to everyone else in the house, so you may want to install an island to be able to work and face people at the same time.

U Shape

A U-shaped kitchen contains three walls connected in a square shape. This design makes it easy to take advantage of the triangle design with easy access to the fridge, cooking space and sink while still maintaining plenty of space. The U shape is typically best suited for kitchens that are separated from the rest of the home. If you’re using your kitchen for cooking without worrying about entertaining, this may be the perfect design.

G Shape

An even more isolated option is the G-shaped kitchen. This type of kitchen is typically entirely closed off except for one point of access. The benefit is that you have plenty of counter space for working and cooking. The extra peninsula area isn’t necessarily completely closed off either. It can be as high as a counter, leaving plenty of space to connect with those outside the kitchen. In fact, it’s common to set up stools or chairs at the added peninsula to function as a breakfast nook.

Galley

The galley kitchen is like a U-shaped kitchen but without the connecting third wall. Instead, this design implements two perpendicular walls. If there aren’t entrances on both sides, the closed side is typically just a flat wall without any extra space or an entrance to a laundry area in the case of many apartments. While this design can make cooks feel closed off, it’s remarkably efficient, as the most important items are all close together. Adding windows and ensuring that both sides are open is a great way to reduce that feeling of isolation within.

One Wall

A one-wall kitchen is one in which all the appliances and counter space are situated on one wall. This is most commonly seen in smaller properties, and this design comes with some great benefits. Everything is easily accessible on one wall, but that space can often fall short. If you use many appliances, your counter space can get seriously limited very quickly. Adding an island or even a portable cart to the area can significantly increase the available space.

Design Your Kitchen Layout With Kitchen Solvers

If you’re ready to implement one of the most common kitchen layouts in your design, Kitchen Solvers is happy to help. No matter how much or how little help you need, our team is always happy to do everything we can to make your kitchen the cooking space of your dreams. Contact us today to start your design plans!

Also be sure to check out our blogs, Steps to Take When You Plan Your Kitchen Remodel and Design Tips to Help With Your Kitchen Remodel for more information on the right kitchen layout for your kitchen. You can also get additional information from our article, Floor Layout – Tips for Planning a Remodel around your Budget and Available Floor Space.

The post Most Common Kitchen Layouts appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.