Are you building a house and looking for kitchen layout ideas? Or perhaps you’re looking to remodel your kitchen or upgrade it. In any case, choosing the type of layout for your kitchen is a crucial decision because it is the space in which most people spend a big chunk of their day. A kitchen should feel comfortable and practical, making activities such as food prep, meals and clean-ups become smooth, easy and seamless.
Before diving into the 6 types of kitchen layouts to consider, we must mention the famous and incredibly helpful “Work Triangle”.
The kitchen work triangle is a kitchen design concept used to determine efficient kitchen layouts that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. The primary tasks in a typical home kitchen are mostly carried out between the cooktop, the sink and the refrigerator. These three points and the imaginary lines between them make up what kitchen design experts call the work triangle.
To optimize your kitchen using the work triangle, you must follow four simple rules.
- The length of each triangle leg must be between four and nine feet
- The combined length of the three legs must be between 13 and 26 feet
- No appliances or cabinets should intersect any of the legs of the work triangle
- No major traffic patterns should cross the triangle
The purpose of this exercise is to be mindful of how you use the space you have in a way to guarantee your satisfaction once finished and ready for use.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s move on to the six fundamental types of kitchen layouts.
These are the six types of kitchen layouts:
- The island layout
- The U-shaped layout
- The peninsula layout
- The one-wall kitchen
- The galley layout
- The L-shaped layout
The island layout
This is many people’s go-to choice when they have the space for it. The island layout design is chic, modern and very practical. This kitchen layout has an island in the center of the kitchen, which can be used as the main prepping surface, a cooking center or a washing center—or all three at the same time.
Because of its central location, the island will be the main traffic controller, so keep that in mind when applying the work triangle to your island kitchen design.
The U-shaped layout
The U-shaped kitchen layout, also known as the horseshoe kitchen layout, wraps around three walls, providing plenty of storage space and a spacious design that allows for an easy workflow.
This kitchen layout is known to be a designer favorite, as it can easily integrate a seamless work triangle right in the blueprints.
The peninsula layout
A peninsula kitchen is a variation of the island kitchen, as in it combines the island design with the U-shaped (and sometimes the L-shaped) layout. The peninsula layout is basically a U-shaped layout with a connected island. This is a great option if your kitchen space doesn’t allow for an independent island. This kitchen design is perfect for both sitting down to eat and easily assisting with meal-prep or clean-up.
The one-wall kitchen
The one-wall kitchen layout is one where cabinets and appliances are all located on a single wall. A popular choice for small homes, studio apartments or lofts, this kitchen layout keeps everything in one place and within reach.
Vertical space is a priority in this kitchen design. Shelves and overhead cabinets allow for optimal use of space for both storage and organization. However, it’s important to mention that this kitchen layout does not use the work triangle.
The galley layout
The galley layout features two walls facing each other. This galley design is a tried-and-true and very efficient option for small kitchens and cozy spaces. It is, after all, inspired by a ship’s kitchen, which had to be highly efficient and easily navigated…
A galley kitchen allows for the optimal use of small, snug kitchen spaces. Typically in this layout, the work areas are concentrated on one of the walls, not on both. This way, you’ll avoid annoying (and sometimes dangerous) traffic through the work triangle, preventing injuries or accidents.
The L-shaped layout
The L-shaped kitchen layout is a streamlined and very dynamic design. It features units built on two sides of a corner, and plenty of spacious work surfaces.
An L-shaped kitchen layout is one of the most versatile kitchen layouts. To avoid the “L” corner being a troubling point where storage space is wasted, you can install pull-outs and carousels in the corner.
Also note: the work triangle won’t be perfectly applicable in this kitchen layout.
These different kitchen layout ideas are all exciting and all have their advantages. To make the right decision for your home, you need to take into consideration the space and your specific needs. Of course, our team of interior architects are all ready to help you make this big decision! Get in touch with us to get the ball rolling on your new and improved kitchen.