Designer Kitchens Layouts

In the L-shaped kitchen layout, the arrangement of benchtops, the sink and major appliances resembles the letter L. In this layout, a natural work triangle is formed from continuous workstations and the benchtops on two adjacent walls. A wall of cabinets surrounds the sink, range and benchtops. Additionally, many cabinets are along the kitchen’s lower half. This layout is perfect for homeowners who like to keep their working area clear, and it allows the user to move freely in the space. An additional benefit of this layout is that in addition to providing the homeowner with an efficient work area, it typically opens to an adjacent room, making it easy to interact with guests. What’s more, there is freedom to arrange kitchen furniture like a dinner or island table in a variety of ways.

The U-shaped kitchen layout follows similar principles to the L-shaped layout – the only difference being that it has a larger surface area. It is an ideal working arrangement to facilitate cooking, and is great for the ultimate food enthusiast. It is the most versatile layout for both small and large areas as it offers ample storage and continuous benchtops that surround the cook on three sides. For larger kitchens, this layout has sufficient space to be divided into several work stations, allowing multiple people to prepare meals together easily without getting in each other’s way. The oven, cooktop or refrigerator, and sink can be spaced for complete convenience and efficiency. In order to keep benchtops clutter free and to maximise storage, the microwave can be concealed in a wall or base cabinet while large cooking essentials can be stored in a corner Lazy Susan. When designing a U-shaped kitchen, use of a single colour scheme like white or any other bright colour can pull the room together.

The Galley kitchen layout is the choice of most professional chefs as it provides the most efficient utilisation of space. It has two rows that allow ease of movement between activity areas, and moving to a new work-surface is as easy as turning around. However, if the corridor is open at both ends, it can lead to traffic congestion, meaning that this type of layout is not always ideal. It is also important to ensure that there is sufficient room for opposite drawers to be opened at the same time. Cooking and cleaning areas should be on the same side so as to prevent the likelihood of accidents when moving hot pans between the cooktop and sink.

The Island kitchen layout is ideal for homeowners with large families that enjoy socialising while preparing meals. This is because it has two working spaces that make it possible for family members to face each other while cooking. It also allows for ease of movement. Keep in mind that his layout requires quite a big space in order to facilitate the two working areas.

The G-shaped kitchen layout is somewhat similar to the U-shaped layout as it allows similar storage options and counter space that surrounds the chef on three sides. The difference occurs in that the floor plan of the G-shaped kitchen uses the partial fourth wall for extra cabinets or a peninsula. Smaller G-shaped kitchens can be made to appear more spacious by opening up the wall in an adjacent room, and then creating a breakfast bar or pass-through for the family.

The single line layout is ideal for smaller homes and in some instances, this is the only available solution. While this layout is not the best in terms of forming an ideal working space, the homeowner can place the sink next to the stove and oven to increase efficiency. In addition, sleek cabinetry with horizontal lines can make the space appear larger, and clever storage solutions can maximise the utility of the kitchen.