How to make a kitchen that works? The answer is in fitted kitchen layouts.
If you want a kitchen that works like a dream…rather than three miles of walking and climbing to get a mug of tea, then read on.
When most home owners plan a kitchen, they focus on style and ignore practical use. But it’s function that is most important.
If you are planning a fitted kitchen, then make sure that your layout is based on kitchen features that are most practical to use.
Otherwise, no matter how nice your new kitchen looks, you won’t use it properly.
In this guide, I cover…
- Why Layout is the Key to a Kitchen That Works
- The Work Triangle That Gets You Thinking
- Storage That Is Practical to Use
- Features for a Well Functioning Fitted Kitchen
Why Layout is the Key to a Kitchen That Works
The UK fitted kitchen market is currently worth £5.4 billion and growing. But there is one critical factor that most people fail to recognise.
Kitchen layout is everything.
You can spend thousands on appliances and stunning fitted cabinetry. But if the layout is poor, you will come to hate your kitchen. It’s as simple as that.
Working with an expert team of fitted kitchen designers, like at https://www.hunterhalldesign.co.uk/fitted-kitchens-belfast-northern-ireland/, can ensure you don’t make these kinds of expensive mistakes at the outset.
They’ll help you plan the kitchen layout that’s right for you.
Key elements of a fitted kitchen layout include…
- Traffic flow: How traffic flows around the kitchen without people bumping into each other
- Accessibility: Everything is accessible without having to reach or strain
- Work zones: Work zones are logically arranged for efficiency
- Natural light: Natural light is optimised with work areas positioned where there is good visibility
Get these aspects right and it will transform your day-to-day cooking and eating experience. It also doesn’t have to be more expensive than a less well designed kitchen.
The Work Triangle That Gets You Thinking
You may have never heard of the concept of the kitchen work triangle. But once you understand how it works, you will wonder why you’ve lived without this idea.
This design principle has been used by kitchen fitters since the 1940s. It has become so effective it’s still being used today.
The kitchen work triangle links together the 3 main work zones of a kitchen…
- The cooker
- The sink
- The refrigerator
See why it makes sense? These three kitchen elements are used in every meal preparation task. And by linking them together in a triangle, you avoid wasted steps. You maximise efficiency.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends that each side of the triangle is between 4 and 9 feet long.
The total of all 3 sides is between 13 and 26 feet. That’s the perfect length to make it easy to move between these 3 key areas without overstretching or wasted steps.
But here’s the interesting thing…
The modern kitchen is changing. Kitchens are now used by more than one cook, serve as home offices, dining rooms and social spaces. The triangle has evolved. It’s now just one element of a functional fitted kitchen.
Look at adding secondary work zones like…
- A separate prep station with dedicated space for chopping boards and knives
- A beverage zone with kettle, coffee machine and mugs within easy reach
- A baking station with mixer storage and work area
Use the triangle as a base and then build out these extra work zones to create a fitted kitchen that really works.
Storage That Is Practical to Use
The one thing home owners care about more than any other is storage.
A huge 83% of design professionals state that storage is in higher demand than any other kitchen feature.
Makes sense, right?
We have more kitchen gadgets than ever. Stand mixers, food processors, air fryers, slow cookers, espresso machines…you name it, we have it.
And when every countertop is covered in appliances, a kitchen becomes a cluttered nightmare.
Pull-out storage is one of the best solutions. Pull-out waste and recycling bins, pull-out pantry units and pull-out spice racks.
All these keep everything within easy reach without taking up space.
Cabinet organisers are not just a ‘nice to have’ feature any more. In fact, most kitchens need them to ensure they can store multiple appliances and accessories.
Pull-out solutions, deep drawers with organisers for pots and pans, vertical dividers for baking sheets, lazy susans for corners, and tall pantry units for bulk storage are all things to consider.
The key is to plan the storage based on your actual belongings. Make a list of everything before you start planning.
Features for a Well Functioning Fitted Kitchen
In addition to a good layout and plenty of storage, there are other key features that distinguish a good fitted kitchen from a great one.
Quality Worktops
The worktop will suffer more punishment than any other surface in your house. Chopping food, hot pans, spills and cleaning.
Your worktop is there for it all. Invest in quality materials that will stand up to daily use without showing wear.
Proper Lighting
Lighting in the kitchen is layered. Task lighting below wall cabinets is for illuminating work surfaces.
Ambient lighting is for setting the atmosphere. Feature lighting is for highlighting design elements.
Ventilation
Ventilation is essential to remove cooking smells and prevent grease build up on cabinets. Bad extractor ventilation means dirty cabinets and lingering cooking odours.
Ample Electrical Outlets
A modern kitchen is powered by electricity. Plan electrical outlets where appliances will be positioned. Think countertop and eye-level positions for outlets.
Hardwearing Flooring
Kitchen floors get dropped on, splashed and trampled more than any other room in the house. Choose materials that are waterproof, easy to clean and feel good underfoot.
Conclusion
Kitchen layouts are a key part of designing a kitchen that works for your home. Use the work triangle to create your base layout, then build on it with logical secondary work zones.
Plan storage based on your real kitchen belongings and don’t be afraid of using pull-out solutions.
Key fitted kitchen features include investing in a quality worktop that can handle daily use, and ensuring your kitchen has proper lighting, ventilation, electrical outlets and hardwearing flooring.
The key to a practical kitchen is all about designing the layout based on how you cook, eat and live.
Start with the work triangle, add your storage and the important features and you’ve got a kitchen that is a joy to use each and every day.
Kitchen layout affects efficiency more than any other aspect. The work triangle is relevant but it has evolved with modern kitchens.
Storage should be planned for based on your real kitchen belongings. Quality features are a better investment because you will use your kitchen each day.
