How to Design for a Small, L-Shaped Kitchen

If you have limited space in your kitchen and need to utilize every inch, consider building an L-shaped kitchen. The L-shaped kitchen is not only popular but very functional. Inside the L-shaped design you can situate your counterspace and appliances so they work best for you and your situation.

Instructions

1. Measure the actual space of your kitchen. An L-shaped kitchen will cover two walls, with one typically being longer than the other. Starting with an accurate measurement will help you determine everything else.

2. Draw a rough sketch of the kitchen, placing the appliances where you want them to go. Use the triangular method when placing your stove, refrigerator, and sink (see reference below). This method basically means that when you cook, you go in a triangular direction as you gather things from the fridge, moving over to the stove and then to the sink. The stove and fridge are usually placed on opposite ends of each wall. The sink is placed somewhere on the longer wall counter.

3. Visit appliance stores to look at different sized appliances for smaller kitchens. There are three appliances that you want to focus on: the refrigerator, sink, and stove. You also want to consiider the dishwasher if you plan on installing one. Dishwashers are available in many different sizes and one will be availabe for your small L-shaped kitchen.

4. Walk through specialty kitchen stores to get ideas of the types and styles of cabinets and countertops you will want. There are many options. There are many cabinet styles to choose from, from contemporary and modern to rustic and traditional. There are also many types of wood to choose froml. Countertops have also come a long way, giving the average consumer ample options. Natural stone options include granite and marble while man-made options include Silestone, Corian and other solid surface brands. There is also the ever-present option of laminate.

5. Take your measurements with you when you go to the kitchen stores so that you can get rough estimates of the different materials that you are considering. You will want to have some idea of the size of the appliances you will be placing in your kitchen. This will help to determine how much space you will have for your counter tops.

6. Decide on the type of flooring that you want. Some options would be laminate, ceramic tile, natural stone and hardwood.

7. Choose lighting that is appropriate for the size of the kitchen. Smaller kitchens can get away with fluorescent tube lights or track lights. These typically put off enough light to illuminate the entire L-shaped space.

References

• kitchenbathideas.com: L-Shaped Kitchen Design
• merillat.com: Kitchen Work Triangle