KITCHEN LAYOUT
Maximise your space with a hard-working layout that’s up to the task
Layout is key to getting your kitchen right. It can look fantastic but it needs to function, too. Before you start, look at everything from where to put your recycling to how close your oven is to your food store.
After all, you don’t want to end up walking the length of the kitchen every time you need something. A good kitchen designer will be able to advise on a layout that looks good and works. But before thinking about designs, it helps to have an idea of the five basic room formations.
MAKE IMPROVEMENTS
Write a comprehensive list of what you love and what you don’t about the existing kitchen space. This will help you to concentrate on your must-haves and your don’t wants.
ENSURE IT WORKS FOR YOU
Think about how you intend to use the space – do you cook from scratch or entertain a lot? Will the room be used for other tasks – homework, for example? Finally, think of the future and how your needs might change.
CONSIDER STORAGE NEEDS
Plan a place for everything. Measure your tallest mixers and biggest plates and look at your appliances and accessories. Visit storage specialists Blum.com for tips on how to organise your space.
PUT SAFETY FIRST
If you have small children, the most efficient and safe layout will route traffic away from your oven and hob. Make the fridge accessible, too, but don’t place it at the heart of the room, so kids can get drinks without coming into the cooking zone.
GALLEY
In a long narrow room, units typically sit along one or both sides in a straight line.
Avoid wall units in a narrow space to prevent the room feeling too claustrophobic and go for open shelving instead. Laying your flooring widthways can help to make the space appear wider, too. Create a contemporary look using handleless units and fit semiand fully-integrated appliances where you can. Arrange your working triangle so that your hob and fridge are not directly opposite each other – that way people won’t end up working back to back if they’re cooking together.
Finally, banish clutter by investing in smart internal storage solutions such as multi-layer drawers, pullout racks and pan dividers to keep things super organised – which is essential in a small space.
L-SHAPED
This layout offers lots of flexibility without feeling too enclosed.
Keep an open feel in smaller spaces by placing wall cupboards along just one side of the room. Ensure there’s plenty of worktop space on either side of the sink and cooker, too, and think about placing them on different walls, but not too far away from each other. Utilise cabinets in the corners with special pull-out kidney-shaped units or carousels.
If space allows, plan in somewhere where you can sit down and eat or ha
