skip to main content
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
PHOTOS
KITCHEN & DININGKitchenModular Kitchen Dining RoomHome Bar
LIVINGLiving RoomHome TheaterHome Office Staircase
BED & BATHBedroomNurseryKid's RoomBathroom
OUTDOORGardenPatioTerrace & BalconyCourtyard
MORE ROOMSPuja Room Wardrobe ExteriorSwimming PoolView All
FIND PROFESSIONALS
DESIGN & RENOVATIONArchitects & Building Designers Interior Designers & Decorators Civil Engineers & Contractors Design-Build Firms Kitchen & Bath Designers Landscape Architects & Contractors Home Builders & Construction CompaniesPhotographersSpecialty Contractors
View All Pros
HOME IMPROVEMENT Furniture & AccessoriesFlooring & CarpetTile, Stone & CountertopBedding & Bath
View All Services
STORIES
LATEST FROM HOUZZ
Houzz ToursKitchen GuidesBathroom Guides Bedroom Guides
Decorating Guides Outdoors Architecture
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
ADVICE
HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
Design DilemmaBefore & After PollsHome Decorating KitchensLiving Rooms
Bedrooms Dining RoomsExterior Lighting PaintBuilding a Home
Houzz Logo Print
Kitchen Guides
Kitchen Guides
7 Essentials For a Successful Kitchen Renovation
Top Ideabooks
7 Essentials For a Successful Kitchen Renovation10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to KnowRenter's Dilemma: How to Update an Indian-Style Kitchen DesignSay Hello to the Most Popular Types of Kitchen Wall Cabinets
Appears in
Recent Ideabooks
See also
Kitchen storageKitchen Ideas
Kitchen Ideas
Kitchen Ideas
7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment
Top Ideabooks
7 Steps to a Kitchen Garden in a Small Apartment24 Alluring Kitchen Colour Ideas & CombinationsGenius Layouts & Smart Storage: 27 Super Clever Kitchen Arrangements10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to Know
Appears in
Kitchen Guides
Decorating Ideas
Decorating Ideas
35 Serene Puja Room Designs
Top Ideabooks
35 Serene Puja Room Designs30 Best Sofa Designs7 Types of Glass That Allow in Light & Privacy9 Ways to Make Minimalism Work in Indian Homes
Appears in
Decorating Guides

Is U-Shape the Most Efficient Layout for Kitchens?

U-shaped kitchens are great for cooks and guests. Is this one for you?

Rebekah Zaveloff
Rebekah Zaveloff10 January 2018
More
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Email
The U-shaped kitchen lends itself to high-efficiency cooking: You can often pivot on one toe as you spin around from refrigerator to sink to stove. A good friend and accomplished cook swears by this kitchen layout. He loves it because it keeps people out of the way when he’s cooking. Guests can hang out as long as they stay on “that” side of the peninsula! The U-shaped kitchen (also called the C-shaped kitchen) is the perfect expression of the work triangle we hear so much about in kitchen design. As you can see from the selections below, U-shaped kitchens can still come in different shapes and sizes:
Rossington Architecture
Older homes with smaller kitchens sometimes have the refrigerator inside the “U,” but that really eats into the counter space. Most often you’ll see a U-shaped kitchen with the refrigerator on the adjacent wall right outside the “U,” which is fine. It’s still within the work triangle.

One signature of the U-shaped kitchen is the peninsula. In this case, it doesn’t have seating due to the passageway between rooms. The lack of kitchen seating is often the reason people prefer the L-shaped kitchen with an island to the U-shaped kitchen.

As you can see, the dishwasher is in the peninsula and not next to the sink. That’s due to a lack of room, unless you choose to not centre the sink. This is one complaint about the U-shaped kitchen. One solution would be to put the sink in the peninsula, but that would leave a long empty counter on the short section of the U. At least here a cook can use the peninsula for prepping and serving.
Moroso Construction
Here’s one solution to that aforementioned seating problem in U-shaped kitchens: This terrific bench seating allows for that coveted kitchen table. On the minus side, there is no casual counter seating.

Wondering what’s the standard height for counters, tables, shelves and lights?
Moroso Construction
Here’s another view of the previous kitchen. Now you can see the location of the refrigerator: This is where it most often resides in a U-shaped kitchen. Too many times people are tempted to put in both a kitchen table and counter stools at the peninsula. What you end up with is cramped space with too many chairs bumping into each other. If you don’t have the room, resist the temptation to do this, it will drive you mad!
In this U-shaped kitchen it appears that the refrigerator and stove are outside the “U,” so there might be a few extra steps between the stove and sink.

Tip: If that’s the case, a prep sink by the stove is a great solution – if you’re willing to sacrifice a base cabinet. Sometimes in smaller and older homes, you just don’t have a choice without moving walls and incurring major construction costs. Make the most of what you have!
Susan Serra
A larger U-shaped kitchen with room for an island can be dreamy, but the one downside of this layout is the island doesn’t have any seating.

Tip: It might be possible to fit in two stools at the short end of the island by sacrificing one cabinet or extending the overhang. Keeping the legs, however, will allow you to keep the furniture-style look for your island.

Here are 6 things to know before designing an island
ROMABIO / Interior & Exterior Mineral Based Paints
Here’s the solution if you have the space: A perfect U with an island and seating for 4! If I’m not mistaken I see two sinks, one in front of each window. That’s a great alternative to the island prep sink.
Amoroso Design
Because the refrigerator and pantry are recessed into the walls, this U-shaped kitchen almost looks like a galley kitchen with an island.

Take a look at these 10 galley kitchens that maximise on space
The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
This could either be seen as a broken U or an L-shaped kitchen with an island. Technically I'd say it leans towards the latter, but if you imagine that door on the left being cabinetry, you can use this layout for inspiration for your own U-shaped kitchen.
Emil Lansky
Double-dreamy: A U-shaped kitchen with an island and a peninsula! I’m taking a little creative liberty here again since I’m not sure where the stove is. But this looks like a great way to for your guests to be in the kitchen and out of the way at the same time.
KitchenLab Interiors
You can also create a U-shaped kitchen by adding a freestanding island to an L-shaped kitchen. In this case, the one end cabinet was turned to face away from the kitchen, and a bead-board end panel was added to allow for a place to intersect the open island. Because the island is open, you have knee space for stools and seating without needing an overhang.

Learn the pros and cons of L-shaped kitchens
A sleek and modern U-shaped kitchen with a creative twist: The peninsula is part island/part kitchen table.

Read more:
5 Reasons Why U-Shaped Kitchens Are a Blessing

Tell us:
Do you have a U-shaped kitchen? Do you find it easy to work in? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Explore Related Topics
Kitchen GuidesKitchen IdeasDecorating Ideas
Read Related Stories
7 Essentials For a Successful Kitchen Renovation7 Essentials For a Successful Kitchen Renovation
By Shristi Nangalia·0
Kitchen Ideas
10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to Know10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to Know
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·10
Kitchen Ideas
Renter's Dilemma: How to Update an Indian-Style Kitchen DesignRenter's Dilemma: How to Update an Indian-Style Kitchen Design
By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar·2
Indian Homes
Say Hello to the Most Popular Types of Kitchen Wall CabinetsSay Hello to the Most Popular Types of Kitchen Wall Cabinets
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·0
Kitchen storage
Is an Open Kitchen Layout Right for Indian Homes?Is an Open Kitchen Layout Right for Indian Homes?
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·11
Decorating Guides
What's the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?What's the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
By Shristi Nangalia·73
Most Popular
How to Light Kitchen CountersHow to Light Kitchen Counters
By David Warfel·94
Lighting Ideas
6 Must-Have Modular Kitchen Accessories6 Must-Have Modular Kitchen Accessories
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·1
Kitchen storage
23 Scandinavian Kitchens That Pack Extra Punch23 Scandinavian Kitchens That Pack Extra Punch
By Vanessa Walker·8
Photo Books
Have an Open Kitchen That Can Be Closed Off TooHave an Open Kitchen That Can Be Closed Off Too
By Jennifer Ott·288
Kitchen Ideas
7 Reasons Why Handleless Kitchen Cabinets Are a Must-Have7 Reasons Why Handleless Kitchen Cabinets Are a Must-Have
By Amanda Pollard·8
Kitchen storage
How to Clean Tiles: Daily Cleaning TipsHow to Clean Tiles: Daily Cleaning Tips
By Vinita Kunnath·8
Bathroom Guides
How to Make a Narrow Kitchen Work For YouHow to Make a Narrow Kitchen Work For You
By Becky Harris·66
Kitchen Ideas
Must-Have: 10 Recommended Kitchen Island FeaturesMust-Have: 10 Recommended Kitchen Island Features
By Mitchell Parker·46
Kitchen Ideas
5 Mistakes to Avoid While Designing Your Modular Kitchen5 Mistakes to Avoid While Designing Your Modular Kitchen
By Pooja Khanna Tyagi·2
Kitchen Ideas
People who liked this story also liked
7 Essentials For a Successful Kitchen Renovation
7 Essentials For a Successful Kitchen RenovationFull Story
10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to Know
10 Key Kitchen Dimensions You Need to KnowFull Story
Renter's Dilemma: How to Update an Indian-Style Kitchen Design
Renter's Dilemma: How to Update an Indian-Style Kitchen DesignFull Story
Say Hello to the Most Popular Types of Kitchen Wall Cabinets
Say Hello to the Most Popular Types of Kitchen Wall CabinetsFull Story
Is an Open Kitchen Layout Right for Indian Homes?
Is an Open Kitchen Layout Right for Indian Homes?Full Story
What's the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?
What's the Best Material for Kitchen Cabinets?Full Story
How to Light Kitchen Counters
How to Light Kitchen CountersFull Story
6 Must-Have Modular Kitchen Accessories
6 Must-Have Modular Kitchen AccessoriesFull Story
23 Scandinavian Kitchens That Pack Extra Punch
23 Scandinavian Kitchens That Pack Extra PunchFull Story
Have an Open Kitchen That Can Be Closed Off Too
Have an Open Kitchen That Can Be Closed Off TooFull Story
  • India
  • ABOUT
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FAQs
  • CAREERS
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms & Privacy
  • © 2022 Houzz Inc.