The kitchen is one of the most important areas of a home. It is not only a source of one of our basic needs, it is also a hub for community and sharing. Having the proper kitchen layout is vital to creating a great workspace flow for cooking and a place where people can come together. Believe it or not, a bad kitchen layout that is hectic, unorganized, and small, can make this area of your home a point of stress. Whether you’re remodeling your kitchen or building one from the ground up, here are some kitchen layout fundamentals to keep in mind.

Entrances & Exits

Hallway entrances and exits from the kitchen are the first thing to keep in mind when planning out a new design. When working in the kitchen, it’s important to have as much space to move around in. If that space is crowded by people entering and exiting, your flow can become disrupted, thus causing a loss of time and creativity when it comes to cooking. Make sure there is a clear pathway for people to enter and exit the room without bumping into you while you’re chopping that zucchini.

Create Effective Pathways

We all know the dance we do when we’re cooking up a delicious meal or cleaning up the aftermath. Making sure that this dance can occur with grace and ease is a crucial step to kitchen layout fundamentals. Envision the dance you might do when laying it all out. A few questions to ask yourself are: Where is the best place for the refrigerator? Where can you achieve the most counter space? Is there a window in the room that you can use to your advantage, such as above the kitchen sink? Where is the most effective place to put the garbage can? It’s also important to think about which way certain appliances open so they are not bumping up against anything else or encouraging an awkward flow. For example, think about which hand you open the refrigerator with and then assess where you can best do so. Also, think about how these appliances work together or don’t, i.e., you may want to separate the fridge from the oven so neither are expending more energy than they need to. Designing this layout with the dance in mind will help your creative and cleaning juices flowing and promote good energy in the room.

Counter Space

Counter space provides the foundation to getting work done in the kitchen. Even in a small kitchen, you can amplify your counter space by laying everything out effectively. Adding an island definitely helps create more counter space but be sure to create a clear barrier between those eating on one side with bar stools and those cooking on the other. You may also want to situate an island directly across from the stove so you can prep on one side and just flip yourself 180 degrees to start cooking.

Cabinetry

Adding beautiful cabinetry in a kitchen can assist in creating a great flow. Modern kitchen cabinets can provide a very sleek, clean look, while more rustic ones can add warmth and charm to the room. If you’ve got a small kitchen, you may want to choose cabinets that have more space to hold your kitchen essentials.

Organization Within

Organizing inside your beautiful cabinets will prove to be a huge help in the kitchen as well. Be sure to place the spices in an area that are easily reachable from the stove. Store your tools, such as knives, cutting boards, and other helpful utensils, by the area you prep you most. Cooking oils may want to be on counter-display for easier access while cooking. On the clean-up side of things, you may want to fill the cabinets closest to the dishwasher with plates and silverware to make unloading this appliance a quick and easy task.

Designing the perfect kitchen layout can be a difficult task, but if you follow these fundamental layout tips, you’ll be off to a great start. If you’ve got an unusual space to work with, are having trouble figuring out the best flow, or are interested in adding some gorgeous cabinetry to compliment the room, don’t hesitate to hire a professional. Leicht NY offers more options than any other European manufacturer and are happy to customize your kitchen to fit your specific needs. Visit their website to find out more about what is offered.