Finding a kitchen layout that is perfect for you can be an incredibly difficult task. After all, when the possibilities are nearly endless, where do you even begin? On top of this, factoring in your budget can make the task seem intimidating. It doesn’t have to be difficult! In fact, it can actually be an intuitive process if you know what to look for.
This is why we’re here to help—by giving you some tips on what you should be considering when looking for your next kitchen layout, we’ll be able to find a kitchen that is not only affordable but also incredibly stylish! Here are our 4 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Kitchen Layout:
#1. Know How Much Space You’re Working With
One of the first things to know when deciding what your kitchen layout should be is how large your space is. As someone who owns the space you’re renovating, you surely know somewhat the dimensions of your kitchen, but you need to get it down to a science and have precise measurements in order to decide what is most efficient for your kitchen.
Why is this? Well, some types of kitchens will not work as well with cramped spaces. To the same effect, having designs involving things such as islands will not be effective if there isn’t enough space to contain them. Sure, having an island is a nice touch, but a regular-sized island might not fit in a small kitchen.
To get the exact measurements of your kitchen, you need to measure it multiple times. Though it might seem like you’ll get it right the first time, we are often prone to human error frequently enough that it’s good to check twice (perhaps even three) times before saying you know the exact measurements of your kitchen.
#2. Familiarize Yourself with the Popular Layouts
At the end of the day, finding the perfect kitchen layout is about being able to customize a particular design until it feels like home. Even though you could go from scratch and completely design your own layout, it’s more likely that a pre-established model will suit your needs more effectively, as they’re often tried-and-true layouts.
These layouts include U-Shaped, I-Shaped, and L-Shaped. Although these three are the most common kitchen layouts typically used, they each bring with them a unique set of benefits and detriments.
For example, U-shaped kitchens are great to keep yourself organized, allowing you to navigate a single peninsula to access any type of food you might need. However, they also typically involve keeping the refrigerator out of reach, making them not as desirable for those who are frequently reaching into their refrigerator. To the same effect, these kitchen layouts can feel quite spaced out in larger spaces, so they’re more suited for moderate to small-sized kitchens.
If you have a space that is on the smaller side, you should look into an I-Shaped Kitchen. This simply means that all of the cabinets and drawers are kept on one side of the kitchen, with a pantry and refrigerator poking out from both ends to make an I shape. The reason why this is great for smaller situations is that you can also put your table and chairs wherever you please, allowing you to have a dining area that perfectly fits your interests.
If you are somebody who wants to truly show off with your kitchen space, investing in an L-Shaped Kitchen is likely the best option. These often are completed with a significant island in the middle, meaning that you’re able to prepare things with ease. However, L-Shaped Kitchens are not good for anyone who has a small space, as it is very easy to feel cramped with an island taking up so much space in the center.
#3. Figure Out Where You’ll Serve Food
For many kitchen layouts, it’s almost essential to have space where you can casually sit down and eat food. After all, this is why islands are such popular components in any kitchen design.
However, it isn’t always this way. If you’re somebody who is only interested in having more formal places to eat food (i.e. a dining room), then you can save space in your kitchen by not having a place to sit down! This not only allows you to have more space for cabinets but also to move around freely.
#4. Know the Work Triangle
Are you stuck on figuring out which measurements are optimal for your kitchen? Thankfully, a resource was created for that in the 1920s! The Work Triangle is a way of designing your kitchen that assesses a given design based on its efficiency.
You’ll love this method! Even if you don’t end up using it, we still recommend you test it out to see if it helps you in the long run. Remember, it’s important to know all of your options and choose which is best than to just choose one without knowing the others.
What did you think of our tips? Are there any that you’re looking forward to trying? Any that you’ve already used before? Be sure to let us know what you think and share this with any others in your life who could also use some kitchen layout tips.