You may have your cabinets, flooring, tile, appliances, and paint all selected. But what makes a kitchen livable has little to do with the way it looks, and everything to do with functionality.
If you’re planning a kitchen, there are a few essential kitchen layout ideas you need to keep in mind as you’re designing and planning.
Before you make any big decisions or get carried away with the aesthetic, here are7 essential kitchen layout ideasyou will want to incorporate to make your kitchen design a success:
Best Kitchen Layout Ideas
No matter what, the kitchen is probably going to be a high-traffic area of the house. But there are ways you can get around making the kitchen a catch-all for mail and backpacks and coats.
Create a space before you get into the kitchen, like a mudroom, to control the chaos that can come sweeping in every day. Once in the kitchen, make sure the primary pathway through the kitchen is hazard-free and will not be obstructed by the refrigerator or oven door when open.
When laying out your kitchen it’s important to keep the main tasks in mind – preparing, serving, and cleaning up from meals. You don’t want to put the stove across the room from the sink, or the fridge too far away from the stove because that will complicate whichever task you are working on.
Kitchen Layout Ideas That Work
A kitchen island is where much of the meal preparation happens. If your kitchen layout will include one, consider its location carefully. Make sure that it will not block the area in front of your major appliances, such as wall ovens, dishwashers, and refrigerators.
Allow enough space for the appliance door swing plus room to pass when the doors are open. But you also don’t want to place it too far. Make sure your island is located within a comfortable arm’s reach from each of these fixtures.
When creating a kitchen layout, many designers place the sink first and then design from there. While this is probably grounded in tradition from the days when people spent a long time scrubbing dishes, it remains a good rule of thumb.
Kitchen Floorplans 101
The oven and fridge are vital to preparing meals, but somehow the sink seems to still be the place where we spend the most time. Think about placing the sink where there is a view out a window or into the room. A kitchen island is also a great location for the sink.
When you’re deciding where to put the stove and oven, remember to put them on an exterior wall rather than an island or interior wall. This will make it easier (and less expensive) to install a proper ventilation system.
Instead of focusing all of your energy on creating enough cabinet and drawer storage, put a little of that energy into configuring convenient wall storage.
Best Kitchen Layouts For Beauty And Function
Storage walls are a great way to incorporate pantry storage, small appliances, baking accessories, extra china, or even a broom closet – in one convenient location. Open shelves, wall hooks, and overhead pot racks are not only convenient – if stocked with the right stuff, they can also add dimension to the aesthetic.
No matter how much designing, measuring, and pinning to your dream kitchenPinterest boardsyou do, your completed kitchen can still come as a surprise once the contractors are finished – and not always in a good way.
Save yourself from costly mistakes and unfixable flaws with a kitchen layout tool. provides an easy-to-useonline kitchen plannerthat you can use to plan your kitchen layout. Draw yourkitchen floor plan, add fixtures, finishes, and cabinets, and see them instantly in 3D!
Best Kitchen Layout Ideas For Your Renovation
Create 2D Floor Plans, 3D Floor Plans, and 3D Photos just like these, to share with your family, friends, or contractor for more accurate pricing.Whether you’re planning a kitchen renovation or building one in your new home, the first and most important step is sifting through all the kitchen layout ideas to find the most optimal one for your space and budget.
Throughout this guide, we will explore the pros and cons of the most common kitchen layouts and provide tips for building an accessible kitchen.
The kitchen work triangle is formed by the three main work areas of your kitchen–the food preparation zone (your counters or fridge), the washing zone (sink or dishwasher), and the cooking zone (stovetop or oven). Essentially, when your kitchen is finished, you should be able to draw metaphorical lines between the zones in the form of a triangle.
What Is Kitchen Design?
The work triangle is all about efficiency. Each of the three zones should be no more than three or four feet from each other so you can move easily from one zone to another in just a few steps.
The most important part of the work triangle is the relationship between the sink and the stovetop. We recommend keeping them in the same stretch of counter so you can easily bounce between your meal and the dishes while you cook.
Though they aren’t required in a kitchen layout, the work triangle will almost always naturally occur as you design your space. Paying close attention to your work triangle will help increase efficiency and better enjoy any kitchen layout you choose.
Kitchen Design 101 (part 1): Kitchen Layout Design
Now that you’ve considered the practicality of implementing the work triangle into your kitchen, it’s time to choose the right layout! No matter the size of the space you have to work with, you will find the right design for your kitchen with one of these 6 common kitchen layouts.
A U-shaped kitchen layout is arranged just like it sounds. Cabinets and appliances are arranged along three separate walls to create a U-shape that is open on one end. This kitchen layout is best in big spaces and can accommodate the needs of large families.
U-shaped kitchens have ample counter space and kitchen storage, making it easy for the whole family to help prep multiple aspects of a meal all at once. It’s also one of the easiest layouts for creating an efficient work triangle.
Kitchen Design Ideas That Work
Many U-shaped kitchens are closed, separating the clutter of the kitchen from your dining room. It defines the space you have for eating and entertaining.
Some homeowners like to incorporate an island into their U-shaped kitchen if their space is big enough, but this tends to interrupt the flow of the kitchen.
L-shaped kitchens are very similar to U-shaped kitchens, except that they are arranged in an L-shape and have cabinets and appliances installed along two walls instead of three.
Kitchen Layout. What Works And What Doesn't.
L-shaped kitchens are great for maximizing efficiency with the work triangle. Because working stations are set up on just two walls, it's easy to move between working stations in just a few steps.
Since L-shaped kitchens are usually tucked into corners where walls meet at a 90-degree angle, they have two open ends for easy entrances and exits. This is great for busy families or entertaining guests–it’s unlikely that you will get in each other's way!
Open plan living is a popular homestyle right now, and L-shaped kitchens fit perfectly in this concept. Arranged along only two walls, L-shaped kitchens naturally open into the surrounding rooms. Ideally, your kitchen will open into either the dining room or living room.
The Pros And Cons Of Kitchen Layouts
If you're looking for a kitchen with ample storage and counter space, an island kitchen is the best choice! Suited especially for large kitchens, island kitchens are typically arranged in a U-shape with a freestanding section of counterspace (also known as an island) in the middle of your kitchen.
Kitchen islands are ideal for adding counter space and storage. Most islands include base cabinets on one side to store kitchen essentials. On the other, many islands have extended countertops to accommodate seating. Add just a few stools and you will have a great casual dining space!
In addition to installing a kitchen sink against a wall, some homeowners choose to install a sink in their island instead. You can also put your cooking station in your island by installing a flat stove stop in it.
Choosing A Kitchen Layout
Whether your island becomes a washing zone, a prep zone, or a cooking zone, you can create an efficient working triangle very easily in an island kitchen. You will want to make sure there is at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides of your island to prevent crowding and inefficient traffic flow.
Of all the kitchen layouts, island kitchens are the best for socializing. If you have a large family or love entertaining, this may be the best layout for you!
Peninsula kitchens are popular because they have some of the same functional properties as an island kitchen but are better suited for smaller spaces.
Basic Kitchen Layouts
Like an island kitchen, peninsula kitchens feature an additional worktop, but it’s attached to the wall instead of standing in the middle of the kitchen. This saves space because you don’t need the 3 feet of clearance on one end.
Peninsula kitchens create a U-shape, but differ from U-shaped kitchens because the third side is completely open and accessible from three sides. Usually, one side of the peninsula piece opens into another room.
The peninsula worktop usually includes base cabinets for extra storage. Like an island, you can extend the opposite side of the countertop to
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