(Photo credit: Sarah Firshein)
For any kitchen, be it big or small, the layout is an important factor. Learning how to properly utilize the space you have and to stick to what your kitchen’s limits are is important.
Understanding how to work with these factors allows you to design a layout and successfully position your kitchen. In this article, we’ll discuss how to properly layout the appliances, furniture, and other items in the kitchen.
Consider the Space
Before everything else, understanding how much space you have and understanding how much of this space can occupy appliances, furniture, and other items without compromising you’re being able to work comfortably should be a priority.
A smaller kitchen should be designed to be space-saving. Do not buy huge appliances or furniture If you have a small yet considerably tall kitchen. You might also want to consider having cupboards to save space on the ground. Meanwhile, a larger kitchen is easier to work with most of the time. There are still things to take into account like who will be using the kitchen or if multiple people will be using it at once.
Consider Your Height and Size
The size of your appliances, furniture, and the size of your kitchen should take into account the height and size of the people using it. For shorter people, it’s very inconvenient to have cupboards higher up on the walls and a vertical pantry. For tall people, small or short appliances and furniture are very inconvenient and can be a pain in the back.
When shopping for appliances and furniture make sure to consider your height and size. Cupboards and hooks for pots and pans should be slightly above eye level. The height of the stove and the sink should be slightly taller than your hips.
Work Areas
After considering the space, divide the space you have into work zones that can allow for activities to take place simultaneously. The cooking area, preparation area, dining, and storage area should be indicated in the floor plan before going into details.
For the food preparation area, the sink, the main refrigerator, and the stove and oven should be relatively close. For larger kitchens, a second sink dedicated to dishwashing is a good idea. A storage area can also have a second refrigerator or freezer if there’s enough space to work with. Most of the time, the layout of a kitchen has the food preparation area in one corner, the dining area in the middle, and the storage area in a separate pantry in a smaller room.
Consider Traffic Flow
It’s critical to take into account the workflow in your space. Ensure that you don’t bump and trip when you’re working with several people. In general, things that have similar uses should be kept together to keep moving from one area to another at a minimum.
A 1-meter space for walking through the kitchen should be the minimum if you’re working with at least one other person and 1.5-2 meters is optimal if working with more than 3. Putting a separate beverage table or even a snack refrigerator outside the kitchen can also be a good idea. This way guests or kids can access food and drinks without entering the kitchen and interfering.
Leave Space for Small Appliances
Most kitchen layouts do not take into account smaller appliances like rice cookers, coffee machines, toasters, and even microwaves. Delegating a specific area for small appliances is a great way of ensuring that your kitchen isn’t too crowded.
Keeping small appliances that aren’t used as often in the pantry is a great way to keep things inside the actual kitchen minimal and simple.
Leave Space for Doors and Drawers
The last and yet important thing to consider is leaving space for doors and drawers. You wouldn’t want a situation where you’ll be forced to settle for smaller appliances or furniture because your door won’t open properly or you can’t pull out drawers. Consider the width and the height of doors and drawers and also take into account the direction in which they swing, open, or pullout to.
Update your kitchen design and layout and maximize your space now.