At the heart of every home is a great kitchen and behind every great kitchen renovation is a well designed functional layout. Many people tend to forego this simple stage in the design and creation process, instead deciding to focus on colour schemes, materials used and the finer points of appliances, fixed fittings and floor coverings. However, these factors can all be changed or decided at a later stage; indeed, they serve as a later accessory to the overall floor plan of the kitchen.
Straight-line kitchen
If you do not live in a large home, or you have an open plan flat, then the straight-line kitchen – where only one wall is used – is a very practical solution. Attractive on the eye and easy added to with mobile seating and tables, such as a breakfast bar, it may not be the most trend-setting option, but it will save floor space.
Gallery kitchen
As another space-saving option, the parallel kitchen is great for those with long, narrow rooms that want to maximise the usefulness of the area. As one of the better layouts for establishing the kitchen triangle, it is primarily geared towards food preparation and provides a lot of high-quality storage on both sides of the room.
L-shaped kitchen
Often, rooms can only offer two sides to work with, depending on the amount of room or usable wall space there is; you may also want to bring in a table. The L-shaped kitchen is perfect for this reason; it makes the most out of a room’s corner, while also creating an open-plan layout perfect for a more social kitchen.
U-shaped kitchen
Those lucky enough to have large spaces available for their kitchens should opt for the U-shaped layout. Offering fantastic storage options and maintaining the perfect work triangle, it also means that everything is within easy reach. Traffic is also minimised in the working space, allowing food preparation and other kitchen-based tasks to be carried out with minimal distraction.
The layout of a kitchen, first and foremost, depends on one major factor: the shape of the room. Of course, this decision is often made for you, whether you’re accustomed to what you already have or because you have no other choice. If you have the ability to pick a layout, then remember to prioritise your needs and living situation.