10 Tricks for an Efficient Kitchen Layout
Wondering whether to splash on an island? In a tizzy about your working triangle? Here's how to choose the right layout for your kitchen
Rachel Ogden
6 July 2018
I’m a UK-based freelance journalist with more than 14 years experience of writing, editing and sub-editing. For the last six years, I’ve worked exclusively in interiors, writing about everything from extending your home to kitchen worktops, flooring, storage and more.
I'm also a keen blogger.
I’m a UK-based freelance journalist with more than 14 years experience of writing,... More
When it comes to designing a kitchen, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ – each room brings its own set of challenges. Fortunately, there are plenty of popular layouts that can be adapted to fit all manner of spaces. Whether your kitchen is airy and open-plan or a compact cubbyhole, take advantage of some tried and tested design ideas to turn it into a smartly zoned, multifunctional space that’s equally good for daily life and effortless entertaining.
Add a handy peninsular
Adding a peninsula to a typical L-shaped kitchen creates a G-shaped layout, which not only provides a casual space to sit, chat and dine, but serves to define the area visually – and discourage curious guests from wandering into the cooking action. A breakfast bar can also double up as a serving area and prep zone.
Adding a peninsula to a typical L-shaped kitchen creates a G-shaped layout, which not only provides a casual space to sit, chat and dine, but serves to define the area visually – and discourage curious guests from wandering into the cooking action. A breakfast bar can also double up as a serving area and prep zone.
Integrate structural features
Don’t let pillars supporting an extension prevent you from creating your dream kitchen. They can often be disguised by incorporating them into an island or peninsula. This central support is butted up to an island, its base tucking neatly under the drawers. The units are an eye-catching blue, while the white-painted pillar merges into the background.
These are the must-haves for a dream kitchen
Don’t let pillars supporting an extension prevent you from creating your dream kitchen. They can often be disguised by incorporating them into an island or peninsula. This central support is butted up to an island, its base tucking neatly under the drawers. The units are an eye-catching blue, while the white-painted pillar merges into the background.
These are the must-haves for a dream kitchen
Get your spacing just right
If you fancy a double galley, consider how much space there will be between the facing banks of cabinetry. There needs to be enough so doors on both sides can be open at the same time, but not so much that you’ll end up walking miles around your kitchen. Make sure the banks run smoothly: Here, the sink run flows neatly into an alcove with a deeper-cut worktop to keep the front edge smooth, while a shelf above provides visual balance.
If you fancy a double galley, consider how much space there will be between the facing banks of cabinetry. There needs to be enough so doors on both sides can be open at the same time, but not so much that you’ll end up walking miles around your kitchen. Make sure the banks run smoothly: Here, the sink run flows neatly into an alcove with a deeper-cut worktop to keep the front edge smooth, while a shelf above provides visual balance.
Zone an open-plan kitchen-diner
Open-plan rooms are often the hardest of all to design – remove the walls, the obvious site for storage, and it’s hard to imagine where everything will sit in the space. By locating the hob and sink in the island, it functions as the hub of the kitchen, while contrasting flooring serves to delineate the working area from the living and dining spaces.
Open-plan rooms are often the hardest of all to design – remove the walls, the obvious site for storage, and it’s hard to imagine where everything will sit in the space. By locating the hob and sink in the island, it functions as the hub of the kitchen, while contrasting flooring serves to delineate the working area from the living and dining spaces.
Keep eye level open in a small room
While the base cabinets in this kitchen follow a typical L-shaped layout, the wall furniture is more of a departure, combining open shelving and cupboards to maximise storage without making the room feel closed in. There’s even room for a built-in microwave at eye level to supplement a pair of ovens, cleverly positioned side by side for the look of a range cooker.
Check out these fresh ideas for L-shaped kitchens
While the base cabinets in this kitchen follow a typical L-shaped layout, the wall furniture is more of a departure, combining open shelving and cupboards to maximise storage without making the room feel closed in. There’s even room for a built-in microwave at eye level to supplement a pair of ovens, cleverly positioned side by side for the look of a range cooker.
Check out these fresh ideas for L-shaped kitchens
Blend your kitchen and living space
Not keen on having your kitchen intrude into the living area? Arrange your units along one wall and choose a finish that ties in with the rest of the room – this distressed wood is repeated on the feature wall. Open shelving as opposed to wall units keeps the look light and less ‘kitcheny’.
Not keen on having your kitchen intrude into the living area? Arrange your units along one wall and choose a finish that ties in with the rest of the room – this distressed wood is repeated on the feature wall. Open shelving as opposed to wall units keeps the look light and less ‘kitcheny’.
Make an island unit work hard
Careful positioning of an island will create a double galley without requiring a wall, giving you the perfect working triangle. It also frees up the facing wall – here it’s used as storage for the dining area, the similar wooden finish bridging the gap between the two zones.
See how these galley kitchens maximise space
Careful positioning of an island will create a double galley without requiring a wall, giving you the perfect working triangle. It also frees up the facing wall – here it’s used as storage for the dining area, the similar wooden finish bridging the gap between the two zones.
See how these galley kitchens maximise space
Take your worktop out on a limb
Continuing the base unit into a peninsula gives this mini U-shaped kitchen increased storage, a place for the hob that’s handily across from the fridge-freezer, and an inviting breakfast bar. For an even sleeker look, try swapping the overhead extractor for a downdraught model that simply pops up from the worktop.
Continuing the base unit into a peninsula gives this mini U-shaped kitchen increased storage, a place for the hob that’s handily across from the fridge-freezer, and an inviting breakfast bar. For an even sleeker look, try swapping the overhead extractor for a downdraught model that simply pops up from the worktop.
Conceal units in a small kitchen
A single galley is a great use of space in a narrow room. This design takes it to the next level, concealing all the utilities behind pocket doors that slide into recesses either side of the cupboards, keeping the room as clutter-free as possible. Choose a bold colour inside for a touch of wow when cooking is the main event.
A single galley is a great use of space in a narrow room. This design takes it to the next level, concealing all the utilities behind pocket doors that slide into recesses either side of the cupboards, keeping the room as clutter-free as possible. Choose a bold colour inside for a touch of wow when cooking is the main event.
Build space into a U-shaped scheme
Going for a U-shaped kitchen? Resist the temptation to fill the walls with units so the design still feels spacious, even without a window. Here, open cabinets at the far end break up the banks of units, while the white-painted end wall makes it feel light and airy.
Read more:
Kitchen Layout: How Peninsula Trumps Over an Island
Tell us:
What is your favourite kitchen layout? Let us know in the Comments below.
Going for a U-shaped kitchen? Resist the temptation to fill the walls with units so the design still feels spacious, even without a window. Here, open cabinets at the far end break up the banks of units, while the white-painted end wall makes it feel light and airy.
Read more:
Kitchen Layout: How Peninsula Trumps Over an Island
Tell us:
What is your favourite kitchen layout? Let us know in the Comments below.
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brilliant ideas especially for small space