Layouts To Optimize Your Kitchen

With many of us now working from home, I have seen an upsurge in enquiries wanting to improve your homes into multifunctioning spaces that allow for a more balanced work/life experience.

Considering that kitchens are the ‘heart of the home’ what better place to start.

My kitchen is my happy place where I begin and end my day, filled with tasty, healthy mealtimes, dirty ‘bubbly’ children, homework, and many late-night conversations.

It’s no wonder that multifunctional kitchens have become the latest trend, incorporating dining areas doubling up as workstations or kitchen islands creating an entertainment area whilst cooking.

No matter your taste or space available, creating an effective layout that will meet your requirements is crucial.

A few points to bear in mind when planning layouts to optimize your kitchen:

• The size/area you are working with.
• How the space will be used.
• Storage requirements and which type, size, and shape of units will work best.
• An important part of kitchen design is to ensure efficient movement around the room, otherwise known as the ‘work triangle’ between the fridge, oven, and sink.
• Remember to have continuity throughout your home when renovating, keeping a flow where old meets new.

Layouts to Optimize Your Kitchen

Whether you’re renovating, designing your dream kitchen or trying to make a rental kitchen more efficient, these 6 layouts to optimize your kitchen are a useful guide.

Image credit: Red House Custom Building

Note how each layout (except the single wall kitchen) has a working triangle between the fridge, oven and sink.

1. The Single-wall Kitchen

Single-wall kitchens work well in smaller buildings; they are extremely efficient when your appliances are correctly placed.

Image credit: Howdens.com

Image source: aplushomeimprovement.com 

2. The Galley or Parallel Kitchen

This layout spans two walls parallel to each other.

There can be doors or windows on one or both ends, it can also be a walk-through area. The optimal floor space needed to function well is 120cm wide. Galley kitchens are great space savers.

Image credit: thespruce.com

3. The 2-Wall/L-shaped Kitchen

The 2-Wall or L-shaped kitchen maximizes workspace, tailored to the size of the room. It also provides a great basis for the practical work triangle.

Image credit: domino.com

4. The U-shaped Kitchen

This layout spans 3 walls and is found in more traditional kitchens. Creating plenty of counters and cupboard space. Contemporary lifestyles lean towards a more open plan kitchen, which may require the removal of a wall, creating an open plan layout.

Depending on your space, choosing from either of the above layouts you can either add a peninsula, coffee bar or an island.

5. The Peninsula Kitchen

The Peninsula has the power to make any kitchen much more flexible, offering a wealth of opportunities in the kitchen. We’re talking food preparation, breakfast bar, serving space, somewhere to work from home – even a cocktail bar come evening.

Image credit: town-n-country-living.com

6. The Island Kitchen

Island Kitchens are best for larger kitchens with an emphasis on entertaining and socialising, bringing plenty of advantages to the table. It defines the space in an open concept home, creates extra seating with added bar stools and offers additional storage with plenty of counter space.

Image credit: Pinterest.nz

Identifying the right kitchen layout for your space is the most important factor in ensuring a practical kitchen that is safe and comfortable for the whole family.

Whatever size kitchen you are working with, choosing the right layout to optimize your kitchen will help you get the most out of the space.