While most rooms in a home will be designed with relaxation and comfort in mind, the kitchen
is a place where efficiency needs to be the foremost consideration - it
is, after all, a space to work in rather than a place to chill out. A
good kitchen design is one that not only provides the
equipment needs to carry out household tasks, but actually makes the
process easier. Cooking and cleaning become much less of a chore when
everything is optimised for ease of use.
However, with kitchens it is important to realise that fashion and function aren't mutually exclusive terms; you want your kitchen to look great and dazzle guests as well as being easy-to-use. Over the past few decades, as houses have gradually got smaller, the kitchen has evolved from a singular space for cooking and incorporated other rooms, in particular the dining room. This means that you also need to consider space for eating and socialising in your kitchen. Here are some basic tips on how to design an efficient kitchen.
Most kitchen designers refer to three main tenets of a kitchen; the cooker, the fridge and the sink. You should base your kitchen on this triumvirate and the way in which you will use them. One of the most popular, and effective, layouts is a triangle formation commonly referred to as the kitchen work triangle.
The triangle refers to both the layout of the appliances and the line between them, which you will work to. It's important to remember that you don't need to set out your appliances to a geometrically-perfect triangle - rather you need to set them out in a way that makes it easy for you to get between them when you are working. This means leaving enough space between them for you to work in, as well as allowing for multiple people to use the kitchen at once (someone cooking and someone washing up at the same time for example).
The work triangle is also useful for configuring the storage space you will need in your kitchen. It goes without saying that you don't want any cabinets above the three major appliances, but also make sure not to place them over counters you will be using for prep! Under counter cupboards are more or less okay anywhere so long as they don't obstruct you as you work!
If you have a larger kitchen, it's worth looking at installing a kitchen island. Placed in the centre of the kitchen, you can use the island as a space for extra appliances or dining space. It also serves as extra storage or can be used to place your cooker on if you require more space for food prep.
If you're uncertain as to whether your kitchen design is efficient, it's worth talking through it and drafting it up with a design professional. Often these professionals will have access to kitchen planner software which allows for 3D plans and lets you walk through your design as if it were real! This should give you an idea of what does and doesn't work and allow you to alter your design accordingly.
However, with kitchens it is important to realise that fashion and function aren't mutually exclusive terms; you want your kitchen to look great and dazzle guests as well as being easy-to-use. Over the past few decades, as houses have gradually got smaller, the kitchen has evolved from a singular space for cooking and incorporated other rooms, in particular the dining room. This means that you also need to consider space for eating and socialising in your kitchen. Here are some basic tips on how to design an efficient kitchen.
Most kitchen designers refer to three main tenets of a kitchen; the cooker, the fridge and the sink. You should base your kitchen on this triumvirate and the way in which you will use them. One of the most popular, and effective, layouts is a triangle formation commonly referred to as the kitchen work triangle.
The triangle refers to both the layout of the appliances and the line between them, which you will work to. It's important to remember that you don't need to set out your appliances to a geometrically-perfect triangle - rather you need to set them out in a way that makes it easy for you to get between them when you are working. This means leaving enough space between them for you to work in, as well as allowing for multiple people to use the kitchen at once (someone cooking and someone washing up at the same time for example).
The work triangle is also useful for configuring the storage space you will need in your kitchen. It goes without saying that you don't want any cabinets above the three major appliances, but also make sure not to place them over counters you will be using for prep! Under counter cupboards are more or less okay anywhere so long as they don't obstruct you as you work!
If you have a larger kitchen, it's worth looking at installing a kitchen island. Placed in the centre of the kitchen, you can use the island as a space for extra appliances or dining space. It also serves as extra storage or can be used to place your cooker on if you require more space for food prep.
If you're uncertain as to whether your kitchen design is efficient, it's worth talking through it and drafting it up with a design professional. Often these professionals will have access to kitchen planner software which allows for 3D plans and lets you walk through your design as if it were real! This should give you an idea of what does and doesn't work and allow you to alter your design accordingly.
