When designing a new kitchen renovation, it’s important to plan the layout, such as appliance location, kitchen features, and space. This factors into the functionality and convenience of your kitchen.
Learn about the two basic layout options, work triangle and work zones, and which one is best for you.
Kitchen Work Triangle
For years, the kitchen work triangle was the traditional design concept since most homes in the past contained smaller kitchens. The way it works is a triangular arrangement, consisting of the three main appliances in the kitchen, oven, sink, and refrigerator — the three main work areas. When placing them equal distance from each other, you create a triangular shape.
A few rules to a work triangle design are that each work area or appliance shouldn’t be more than four feet apart and nine feet apart from each other. This makes it so your kitchen isn’t too cramped, and each work area is easy to access quickly. For the most part, each kitchen is shaped differently, so they are different approaches to this design. For example, your sink may be closer to your oven than your refrigerator, or an island may separate the appliances, so you have to go around the island to get to the stove.
Now, kitchens have more appliances like microwaves, dishwashers, secondary sinks, wall ovens, or larger refrigerator units, increasing the size of kitchens and changing the work triangle’s dynamic. This design has been used since the 1940s and has been effective; however, a modern arrangement needs a modern design. This is where kitchen work zones come into play.
Kitchen Work Zones
This may seem similar to the kitchen work triangle, and you’d be right, but it’s more of an advanced concept with work zones. The kitchen has changed over time. Instead of just the kitchen being used as a preparation area, it now has multiple purposes. Homeowners now have tables in their kitchens where kids do homework, people eat, and they host entertainment there as well.
If you’re considering this design, note there are some rules to this concept as there are with the work triangular design. You need to think about the tasks you will perform daily or regularly, such as food storage, cooking, backing, meal preparation, serving, eating, and cleaning. These zones should be designed with those tasks in mind and have enough space, so you won’t need to leave the zone to perform a task. For instance, your drawers holding your oven mitts or kitchen towels should be next to the oven, same with the spice rack. The dishwasher should be next to the sink. The pantry should be next to the fridge, and so on.
Next, think about the other ways in which you or your family will use the kitchen space. Do you want the kitchen and living room to be adjacent to each other or to look into it and interact with people while preparing? Regarding the sink. Maybe you want two separate sinks, one for cleaning and the other for preparation.
Contact Mountain States Kitchen and Bath
To speak with one of our talented designers about upgrading your kitchen, contact Mountain States Kitchen and Bath. We can make a plan for your kitchen that fits your lifestyle, so call us for a free quote today.
