Kitchen Guides
The Pros and Cons of L-Shaped Kitchens
Use this mini guide to find out if this layout will work for your home
The standard L-shaped kitchen is made of two adjoining perpendicular walls forming an L. Generally, one arm of the L-shape is designed as the cleanup zone (it may include the sink) while the other arm incorporates appliances. While it easily fits into open-living floor plans, optimises storage and has a functional layout – features most urban dwellers seek – it has a couple of drawbacks. Read on to know if this layout can work for your home.
Con: Can reduce efficiency in open floor plans
Embracing the L-shape in very spacious open-floor layouts may help to spread out the functional areas and appliances in the space. But it can bring down the efficiency of the user as the appliances can get too spread out, and difficult to access quickly. Some homeowners may appreciate this, but others grow tired of walking back and forth between their stove, sink and refrigerator.
Tip: With a spacious kitchen, set up a kitchen island in the middle with a sink or stove-top. This helps cut down on extra steps, making the layout more efficient.
Embracing the L-shape in very spacious open-floor layouts may help to spread out the functional areas and appliances in the space. But it can bring down the efficiency of the user as the appliances can get too spread out, and difficult to access quickly. Some homeowners may appreciate this, but others grow tired of walking back and forth between their stove, sink and refrigerator.
Tip: With a spacious kitchen, set up a kitchen island in the middle with a sink or stove-top. This helps cut down on extra steps, making the layout more efficient.
Pro: Work triangle makes moving around easier
The layouts for L-shaped kitchens are usually in sync with the work triangle, which allows you to move easily between your sink, oven/cook top and refrigerator. Displayed here is an L-shaped kitchen layout with the sink in between the stove and the oven/ microwave.
The layouts for L-shaped kitchens are usually in sync with the work triangle, which allows you to move easily between your sink, oven/cook top and refrigerator. Displayed here is an L-shaped kitchen layout with the sink in between the stove and the oven/ microwave.
Con: Not suited for multiple cooks
Kitchens with smaller perpendicular layouts are not well-suited for multiple cooks. With the restricted space, too many hands at work make the area difficult to navigate in.
Kitchens with smaller perpendicular layouts are not well-suited for multiple cooks. With the restricted space, too many hands at work make the area difficult to navigate in.
Pro: Great for corner spaces
In smaller homes, where space is at a premium, you don’t want any to go waste. The L-shape is an ingenious solution for maximising odd corner spaces in a corner-style layout – the above image is a good example of the same. Such areas can be converted into a pantry or even floor-to-ceiling cabinet. Arrange your workstation along the length of the kitchen and use the corner in the L-shaped end zone for storage.
In smaller homes, where space is at a premium, you don’t want any to go waste. The L-shape is an ingenious solution for maximising odd corner spaces in a corner-style layout – the above image is a good example of the same. Such areas can be converted into a pantry or even floor-to-ceiling cabinet. Arrange your workstation along the length of the kitchen and use the corner in the L-shaped end zone for storage.
Pro: Flexible work zones
L-shaped layouts are quite versatile for positioning the sink, stove, appliances and so on. You can set these anywhere along the arms of the L. In this image, the designers play with a ‘double L’, and create an extra workstation on the kitchen island. The island can also be used for storage, prep and, of course, as a dining counter.
Tip: An extra sink can be installed near the window corner for an added work zone.
Check out this guide to 5 popular kitchen layouts
L-shaped layouts are quite versatile for positioning the sink, stove, appliances and so on. You can set these anywhere along the arms of the L. In this image, the designers play with a ‘double L’, and create an extra workstation on the kitchen island. The island can also be used for storage, prep and, of course, as a dining counter.
Tip: An extra sink can be installed near the window corner for an added work zone.
Check out this guide to 5 popular kitchen layouts
Pro: Efficient for smaller spaces
Galley kitchens can be narrow and tight on space as the layout includes two counters on opposite sides. You can consider converting a galley kitchen into a functional L-shaped one. It can bring a more spacious feel to the kitchen as one wall gets freer. Movement, too, becomes easier. In this image, while the longer wall has the stove and appliances, the sink is installed on the shorter perpendicular arm at the end of the kitchen.
Read more:
10 Indian Kitchens on Houzz That Evoke Envy
Tell us:
Is the L-shaped kitchen layout effective for your home? Tell us why in Comments below.
Galley kitchens can be narrow and tight on space as the layout includes two counters on opposite sides. You can consider converting a galley kitchen into a functional L-shaped one. It can bring a more spacious feel to the kitchen as one wall gets freer. Movement, too, becomes easier. In this image, while the longer wall has the stove and appliances, the sink is installed on the shorter perpendicular arm at the end of the kitchen.
Read more:
10 Indian Kitchens on Houzz That Evoke Envy
Tell us:
Is the L-shaped kitchen layout effective for your home? Tell us why in Comments below.
The L-shaped kitchen easily adapts itself to open floor designs. With two adjacent walls, you get enough room to line up your appliances, gadgets, sink and the rest. You also get flexibility in setting up boundaries with kitchen islands (as displayed in the image). In this space, there’s a countertop with bar chairs, which connects the kitchen to the living area – a great way to demarcate the zone without the use of walls.
The length of the perpendicular kitchen layout is lined with a granite counter along with upper and lower cabinets. This ensures ample storage and counter space to prep, chop and plate.
Learn how to make open kitchens work in Indian homes