How to Design a Kitchen Layout

Kitchen is one of the busiest places in the entire house and a warm place full of memories. Being the most busiest place, it needs to be arranged in a way that all the appliances and the countertops in the kitchen are laid out in a way that makes the kitchen cooking friendly. The kitchen also needs to be clutter free and should offer plenty of space for the cook to move around during cooking. Kitchen layouts and design, thus, plays an important part. While kitchen remodeling, you can decide how to design your own kitchen based on the details given below.

Kitchen Layout Ideas

U - Shaped Kitchen
As the name suggests, this kitchen is 'U' shaped with three sides being covered with countertops and one side being open. The sink and the appliances are also a part of these countertops. There are a number of cabinets that can be built over these countertops and under them too. This type of kitchen design is popular in small houses as well as in large houses. It looks less cluttered, however, if this kitchen is bigger in size. This kitchen offers plenty of space to keep the appliances as well as to cook. Also, there is a lot of space for the cook to move around comfortably.

G - Shaped Kitchen
This type of kitchen layout is very similar to the U-shaped kitchen. There is an additional elongated partial wall built in a 'G' shaped kitchen. With plenty of storage space and lots of space to move about, this kitchen is ideal for a big family. Another advantage of these type of kitchen layouts and design is that there are plenty of cabinets for storage and there is plenty of space available due to the countertops all around. Many cooks can cook together in such a kitchen at any given point of time without being in each others' way. A G shaped kitchen is mostly suitable for a large home.

L - Shaped Kitchen
A 'L' shaped kitchen is the most popular type of kitchen. The kitchen layout is very flexible and there is a lot of space available on the side for appliances. Other than that, kitchen countertops in such kitchens provide space for cooking as well as for preparation. Storage and cabinets are also not an issue in a L shaped kitchen.

Galley Kitchen
A galley kitchen is also similar to the U-shaped kitchen but with two parallel countertops only. It is ideal for a small house, where space is not available in plenty. The cook can easily maneuver in such a kitchen as the two parallel countertops offer a lot of space for cooking and preparation. Kitchen cabinets can be made below the countertops and above the countertops as well which provide plenty of space for storage. The two parallel countertops also offer a lot of space for appliances. If need arises, a galley kitchen can be converted into a U-shaped kitchen.

Single Wall Kitchen
As the name suggests, a single wall kitchen is a kitchen with one countertop that covers the entire wall of the kitchen. This kitchen design layout is suitable for a small house or for a studio apartment. This type works well in an open space and a kitchen island can later be added to this type of kitchen. The storage space and the cooking space is very limited and hence, the kitchen appliances need to be placed with extreme care.

Not only do kitchen islands look great, they provide plenty of benefits too. An island provides plenty of space for storage, for cooking, for keeping the appliances, for preparation and the island also provides place for the family to eat. The following kinds of kitchen layouts and design work well with a kitchen island.

L - Shaped Kitchen
An L shaped kitchen with an island will offer a lot of space for movement, for storage and will facilitate easy cooking and easy preparation. The island can be converted into a breakfast bar for the family or an additional kitchen sink could also be installed in the island.

U - Shaped Kitchen
If the kitchen is huge and is U-shaped there can be an island in the middle of the kitchen. This island could be used as a breakfast table for the family. There can be plenty of storage space to make kitchen cabinets beneath the island countertop. A grill or an oven can also be a part of the island. Besides the whole lot of storage space available, the island can also offer a lot of space for cooking and for preparation too.

Dos and Don'ts

Dos

• Position the appliances, the drawers and the required utensils in the order that they are needed and also make sure that they should not be an obstacle in kitchen cleaning.
• If the kitchen is being redesigned, the original kitchen design should be considered.
• If a kitchen island is added, there should be plenty of space to move around.
• Plenty of space for the dustbins and the incinerators should be decided in advance.
• Enough space for sinks and for the food prep area needs to be allowed.
• Plenty of consideration should be provided for lighting and fittings of the kitchen.

Don'ts

• The kitchen should not be overcrowded with too many kitchen appliances and crockery.
• If the island is to be converted into a breakfast bar, there should not be a sink in that area.
• The appliances should be arranged as per the needs and should not be placed in such a way that they become obstacles.

As it can be seen from the above, designing a kitchen layout is simple and can be easily done while kitchen remodeling. The kitchen layouts and design should be decided based on the space available and the requirement of the cook.