Layout rules
To make the layout convenient, several points should be taken into account when designing:
- Room area. In a small apartment, such as a studio or Khrushchev, it is more ergonomic to use built-in appliances, shallow wall cabinets and functional furniture - folding tables and chairs.
- Correct headset height. When planning a kitchen, you should focus on the growth of the person who spends the most time cooking. The height of the table top should be 15 cm below the elbow.
- Location of communications. This parameter dictates the arrangement of the sink and gas stove. On a pre-drawn close-up of the kitchen, it is necessary to distribute the location of the outlets and switches.
When planning a kitchen, it is important to consider the main criterion for its ergonomics - working triangle rule... Between these points, the hostess (or the owner) moves during cooking:
- Washing... The main component of the food preparation area. Its location is dictated by engineering communications, so it is difficult to move them to another place. It is recommended to start designing with the sink.
- Plate... Like a microwave oven and an oven, refers to cooking area... Ideally, if there are pedestals on the sides of it. The distance from the stove to the sink should be from 50 to 120 cm, but some housewives prefer to put the stove closer, guided not only by the small dimensions of the room, but also by the convenience.
- Refrigerator... The main subject in storage area products. The recommended distance from the sink is 60 cm: then you do not have to go far, and water splashes will not reach the surface of the refrigerator. The corner is the most convenient option for its placement.
It is convenient when the listed zones are located side by side: the sides between the points of the triangle should not be more than 2 meters.
The diagram clearly shows the most popular options for the correct kitchen layouts.
Layout options
The arrangement of the kitchen set and equipment depends on the location of the water and gas pipes, windows, doors and the dimensions of the room. The basic types of layouts are easy to understand with the help of diagrams and photographs of interiors.
Linear or single row layout
All furniture and appliances are placed along one wall. With this scheme, the sink is located between the stove and the refrigerator.
The linear layout of the kitchen looks good in a room with protrusions and niches, as it does not overload the space.
Opposite the cooking area, there is more space for a dining table and chairs, so the single-row layout is suitable for those who cook little, but like to receive guests or gather the whole family at the table.
pros | Minuses |
---|---|
Takes up little space. | It is not possible to create a working triangle, which means it will take longer to cook. |
You can buy a ready-made headset without making it to order. |
In modern small-sized apartments, this is the most common layout option, and in narrow rooms it is the only way to place everything you need for cooking.
Parallel or two-row kitchen
This is the name of a set built along opposite walls. Suitable only for rooms with a width of 2.2 meters.
It is recommended to place the refrigerator in front of the stove and sink, and the passage should be at least a meter so that everyone can move freely and cook. One of the rows can be shorter than the other and include a dining area. If the kitchen is square, the table can stand between the headsets.
Benefits | disadvantages |
---|---|
Spaciousness, plenty of storage space. | A two-row kitchen is quite traumatic, since the headset is actively used on both sides of the room. |
The working triangle with this arrangement is easy to create. | |
The cost of direct modules is cheaper than the corner ones. |
Parallel spacing is ideal for narrow, elongated spaces found in older homes, or where a dining room is not expected, as well as for kitchens relocated to the hallway.
L-shaped or angular layout
The kitchen set is located along the walls that run perpendicular to each other. This layout is also called L-shaped.
Corner placement is very ergonomic, as it saves space, while leaving free space for the dining area. A sink can be located in the corner or under the window. For a small kitchen corner layout Is the most convenient option.
pros | Minuses |
---|---|
It is easy to organize a workgroup, so moving around during cooking will be quick and convenient. | It will be more difficult for two people to cook with this layout, since the space is designed for one and access to the equipment will be difficult. |
Compact. One of the sides can be made narrower, which will further save space. | The cost of a corner kitchen is higher than that of a direct one. |
A corner kitchen set is a versatile option; it is perfect for small and medium-sized kitchens.
U-shaped kitchen
When this layout option cabinets and household appliances are placed on three adjacent walls. The shape of the modules resembles the letter "P".
The distance between the modules should not be less than 120 cm, otherwise the opening cabinet doors will interfere. Ideally, each side will be responsible for its own area: it is more convenient to place the refrigerator, stove and sink on different parts of the headset.
Often one of the sidewalls is a bar counter - this is the most popular option in studios.
pros | Minuses |
---|---|
The most spacious kitchen configuration, occupies all free corners. | Made exclusively to order. |
Convenient while cooking: no need to move around the kitchen if everything is planned correctly. | Looks very bulky and not suitable for tight spaces. |
Symmetrical, which is important aesthetically. | If the window sill is low, it will not be possible to place the headset near the window. |
Suitable for studios, Euro-style rooms, spacious rectangular rooms, as well as those who use the kitchen only for cooking.
C-shaped kitchen
This layout resembles a U-shaped one, but differs in the presence of a ledge in the form of a bar counter or a curbstone. In fact, it is an open quadrangle.
There must be enough space to accommodate such a headset, because the protrusion hides the space intended for the passage. The bar counter can play the role of a working and dining area.
pros | Minuses |
---|---|
Has a lot of storage space for dishes and household appliances. | Not suitable for long, elongated rooms. |
You can create a comfortable layout. | Takes up a lot of free space. |
"Peninsula" saves more space than an island. |
Only suitable for spacious kitchens of at least 16 m: for example, in private houses.
Kitchen island
An island is an additional cupboard for storing dishes or a table located in the center of the kitchen. There may be a stove on it, which will allow you to comfortably organize cooking.The island can also serve as a dining table, if a separate dining room is not provided, or as a place to place a dishwasher or a small refrigerator. It can separate the cooking area and the dining area.
Benefits | disadvantages |
---|---|
Functionality: the island can free up an entire wall, theoretically replacing the entire headset. | Not suitable for small kitchens. |
The interior with the island looks luxurious and monumental. | If the island is equipped with a stove, a hood will need to be installed above it. |
Island layout rationally used in square kitchens with an area of at least 20 meters.
Custom examples
Unusually shaped rooms with sloping walls and unnecessary corners are the hardest to plan. To resolve this issue, you can turn to professionals or design the kitchen yourself. Here are some helpful kitchen planning tips from experts.
If the room is a walk-through room, for example, with a connected balcony, it is important to use all unoccupied walls. For a walk-through kitchen, a straight layout is most suitable.
The arrangement of the headset in the shape of the letter "T" with a peninsula that divides the space into two zones looks original. The central cabinet can act as a dining table or work surface. This layout is only suitable for a large kitchen.
Kitchen moved to the hallway - this is a narrow space that requires a special approach: shallow furniture, sliding doors instead of swing doors, small-sized equipment.
IN kitchen with bay window or chamfered corners, you can create an unusual trapezoidal design that will definitely attract attention. The difficulty lies in the fact that special fittings are required for non-standard premises. It is important not to clutter the pentagonal kitchen with an abundance of decor and utensils: you can place a thin console on one of the walls or combine the headset with a single tabletop.
Photo gallery
Taking a little time to think over the kitchen layout and understanding the basic principles, you can make the dining area and cooking area not just stylish, but comfortable for the whole family. Other interesting layout ideas are displayed in the photos presented in the gallery.