Planning your Kitchen

The kitchen layout should be primarily dictated by its function. The kitchen is the area for cooking and for the storage of food, but it will often house the washing machine and perhaps and tumble drier, as well as being the area where the prepared food is consumed. What purposes do you expect your kitchen to serve, and how much space do you have to carry out your ideas?

Landscaping For Privacy The function and form of the kitchen space should follow from the kind of lifestyle that the kitchen users lead. For example, a family kitchen is likely to be full of food and utensils, requiring a lot of storage and somewhere for the family to eat. A single person on the other hand may spend more time eating out, or spend less time at home, so storage and entertaining space will be less of an issue.

The usage will also help you decide on either a fitted or freestanding kitchen. A fitted kitchen has the advantage that it is often more space efficient and can hide all awkward corners, instead turning them into useful storage areas. Fitted kitchens are available as flat pack, rigid or bespoke. Whilst they add value to your property should you come to sell, you will have to purchase another kitchen if the one in your new property needs redoing.

A freestanding kitchen is more individual as it can be made up of distinct parts. It also appeals more to traditionalists, giving it a comfortable and informal feel. Moreover, as you change your mind or your lifestyle, the kitchen can be easily adapted and furniture shuffled about to suit. Problems can arise with the lack of storage that fitted units provide, so this will require extra consideration in a freestanding kitchen.

There are many guidelines offered on the layout and presentation of kitchens, and while these are often helpful, if you can find a better way to meet your needs then do it your own way. It helps to start by considering the key appliances and any seating first, and then working the rest out from there.

Shape

Landscaping For Privacy The shape of your kitchen will help determine the layout, as you may find that features only work in certain locations around the room. Plan your kitchen for efficiency in accordance with the shape of the room; if you try to force a layout into a shape that does not suit it the kitchen will function badly.

There are four basic shapes for kitchens: galley, two-way galley, L-shape and U-shape.

Galley: This has all the important features on one side of the room, which allows for plenty of floor space but limited storage. To solve the lack of space under worktops, consider installing a large cupboard or a high fridge.The walking distance between the main work areas is quite long, and will probably result in a little to-ing and fro-ing. Minimise this distance as much as possible, but keep space for an adequate worktop between the sink and hob.

Two way galley/corridor: Running parallel down the kitchen sides, two way galleys give more below-worktop storage. The layout is more efficient as there is less travelling space between appliances, and the cupboards can be accessed simply by turning around. Due to the slight compaction of the kitchen however, you must ensure that there is adequate space between the galleys to avoid bumping into either side when bending over.

L-shaped: A popular layout in newly built homes, L-shapes give plenty of storage and workspace. The corner worktop is the usually the only issue with regards to storage space. The bent shape also reduces the travelling distance between appliances, and leaves a corner free for seated dining. Here you can install an island unit which provides further storage as well as an eating space.

U-shaped: Again, these provide a lot of workspace and room for storage. Unless the kitchen is large however, it can make the kitchen seem small and suffocating. There will be a lot less floor space, but one side of the U shape can be utilised as a breakfast bar with seating.

Layout

Landscaping For Privacy Use template cut outs on a scaled drawing of your kitchen to see where the features will work best. As you experiment with the layout, carefully assess the practicality of each arrangement. Consider things like how far you will have to carry a heavy pot to the sink to top up the water, and how much space you will need for meal preparation. If you enjoy cooking as a couple or getting your children to help, leave plenty of room for work surfaces.

When the measurements of the kitchen are taken, be aware of the exact shape of the walls. Any warping can have an effect on your installation plans. Also take note of where your existing water, gas and electricity points are. It will inevitably be cheaper and faster to reuse the same points with your new kitchen design.

The refrigerator, the sink and the cooking area should not be far apart, and there must always be one work surface separating the sink and the cooker. On your initial plan, draw three lines that join these key areas in a triangle. The smaller the triangle: the smaller the travelling distance. This can be used as a rough guide for the efficiency of your kitchen aiming to keep the triangle as small as possible. Bear in mind it is only a guide, and if you find a different arrangement suits your purposes then so be it. Ensure however, that any opening doors will not impede each other.

The fridge positioning requires consideration in that it should ideally be located between the primary kitchen entrance and the cooker. That way, when anyone wishes to access the fridge whilst the cooker is in use, both can carry out their tasks without interfering with the other. Never put the cooker and the fridge side by side, as their differences in temperature will cause conflict. A large fridge freezer can be installed at the end of a worktop if you require plenty of fresh vegetable storage.

Sinks are usually placed under a window against an outside wall for adequate daylight and easier plumbing. The sink unit itself is quite long, and so will be one of the first items whose position you should consider.