What you should know about kitchen design
When considering kitchen design ideas, you can use kitchen design software. But your first step should be to understand the various kitchen plans you could use.
Good kitchen plans follow what’s called the “working triangle,” or the area between the refrigerator, oven, and sink. The smaller the area, the easier it will be to reach the appliances you need to prepare food, which is, essentially, the heart of all good kitchen design ideas.
L shape
So named because it is shaped like the letter “L”, this plan lays out the appliances, with the sink, fridge and dishwasher, for example, at the top of the L and the stove at its perpendicular base. Of course, the distance from one part of the L to the other, or in this case, from the sink to the stove, can be relatively long, creating an inconvenience.
Double l
The double L shape adds an additional smaller L to the previous L shape, giving room for an additional sink and the oven, creating more counter space in the main L where the oven would have been.
kitchen island shape
When your L-shaped kitchen has an area of at least 100 square feet, you can usually comfortably add a kitchen island. This would give you more counter space overall and the opportunity to move a major appliance, like the dishwasher, to the kitchen island. You can also use the kitchen island as a small dining area with the addition of bar stools.
u shape
The U-shaped kitchen is, you guessed it, in the shape of a letter “U”, using three walls for counters and appliances. Generally requires an 8 x 8 foot space. The main benefit is that there is no traffic as the bottom of the U is a dead end, limiting interruptions during food preparation.
galley map
The Galley Plan uses two opposite walls for counter space and appliances. For example, the oven and dishwasher could be on one wall, opposite the refrigerator on the other. Given the proximity of all electrical appliances, everything is within easy reach. Unfortunately, this layout can also get quite crowded, making it ideal for one cook in the kitchen at a time.
To help determine the best kitchen design for you, consider investing in kitchen design software. Why use kitchen design software? It will help you both create 3D models of potential kitchen layouts and estimate costs.
As you can see, there are a variety of kitchen layouts that you can use. The main determinant, in addition to preference, is the space and shape of your kitchen. But remember, the ultimate goal is convenience, minimizing the work triangle enough that all your appliances are within easy reach while still giving you counter space.