How to Design a Kitchen Layout

The best designs for kitchen layouts take into consideration how a kitchen is used on a daily basis and what arrangement of cabinets, appliances and work areas will function most efficiently. Whether it’s a new kitchen design or a kitchen remodel, how you design a kitchen layout will establish the foundation for all the other design elements that will go into the room.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Graph paper, pencils & ruler
• Or a kitchen design software

1. Determine the basic floor plan. Kitchen layouts most often fall into the following categories:
   • One wall kitchen – appliances and cabinets along one wall
   • Galley kitchen (aka corridor kitchen) – appliances and cabinets along two walls facing each other
   • L-shaped kitchen – walls of kitchen where cabinets and appliances sit form an L
   • U-shaped kitchen – walls of kitchen where cabinets and appliances sit form a U
   • Island kitchen – could be an L or U-shaped kitchen with the addition of a
   • Peninsula kitchen – a cabinet wall is open to another space

2. Design the work triangle. Based on research in the 1950s, the most used work areas in the kitchen are at the sink, stove and refrigerator. The concept of a work triangle optimizes the flow between those work areas for the most efficiency – they shouldn’t be too close together or too far apart.

3. Decide on how many prep areas are needed. If multiple cooks will be using the space, design your kitchen with enough room for a second sink and make sure you have extra room for chopping and dicing.

4. Decide what other functions will take place in the kitchen. Today’s kitchens are the busiest place in the house. Will you need a separate pantry, home office or a place to watch the television?

5. Determine placement and size of electrical outlets. Building codes determine how many outlets you need, but if you plan to use many small countertop appliances, make sure you have enough outlets.

6. Settle on a lighting design. Make sure you have plenty of lighting to work properly, especially over the work areas.

7. Layout the design on graph paper. Make sure you have the correct measurements of all your appliances and cabinets.

8. Consider using kitchen design software. There programs come with templates of basic design or they allow you to create the kitchen of your dreams. These programs also check for clearances and other architectural and building code essentials.

Resources

• More Kitchen Remodel Ideas: How to Choose Granite Countertops