A kitchen is the place where a household spends most of its time; therefore it is very important that the layout of the kitchen design is according to your needs and requirements. Before you start making plans and changing designs, there are two basic but necessary points to keep in mind:
a) The size of the kitchen is the most important factor that determines the layout as well as the kitchen design.
b) Next, you should keep in mind three most vital appliances – the fridge, the cooking range and the sink. As you may know, these are the most essential products as well as the most used in the kitchen. So, when you are planning the layout of your kitchen design, these three should occupy the highest priority.
There are six basic types of kitchen design layouts to choose from
1. The parallel shape (also known as corridor or kitchen kitchen) in which there are two rows facing each other where you can place your appliances. This type of kitchen layout is recommended to be installed if you want to save some space.
2. The L-shaped kitchen which is recommended for easy accessibility. This shape helps you put everything you may need within easy reach.
3. The U-shaped kitchen is only advisable for those who have a large space or kitchen area.
4. The I-shaped kitchen is a condensed form of a parallel type of layout… an advanced version.
5. The Island kitchen uses an island that can be something a desk, a bench, a sink, a dishwasher that is placed in the center and the entire layout of the kitchen design is then designed around it.
6. The G-shaped kitchen layout is useful when you want to separate the dining and washing areas or when you want some extra space (for storage or convenience). In the G-shaped kitchen, it extends the L or U shape by adding an extra area that makes it look like a “G”.
Another thing to keep in mind before renovating is to come up with a theme for your kitchen design. You can also get in touch with an interior decorator before you start planning a theme or you can implement your own ideas. There are basically three stages involved in planning/designing your kitchen layout – measure and note the position of existing windows and doors; work out a theme or plan of where you want to place all the appliances, cupboards, units and wardrobes; note any other changes in electrical, lighting and water requirements that are essential.
You can divide your kitchen into three areas of activity such as: first – where you prepare food, second – where you serve food, and third is that area where you wash the dishes. It is recommended that, when planning the layout of your kitchen design, you place the appliances as well as the utensils and other ingredients in the specific activity area where they are needed the most.
After you have identified the type of kitchen design layout you want, you can then draw it on a piece of paper. Name the three activity areas and the main appliances such as the sink, fridge, cooking range etc. that go with the respective areas. When you name it on paper, you have an idea of what goes where and you can put the other smaller items or decorative products in your design. Also, while drawing the layout of the kitchen design on paper, mention the plug points and other points for electricity, water and lights. Once this is done, you need to consider the actual space and decide what to put where according to the actual size of the products. As changing the electricity and water connections is a tedious job, it is advisable to let them be and work around the existing services.
Even if you have a small kitchen space, you can still use these pointers above for a small kitchen design / layout with maximum efficiency. Even if the space is less, the basic layout types remain the same – parallel, L-shaped, U-shaped, I-shaped, G-shaped, and island.
So, use these basic guidelines and create a kitchen design layout that not only suits your needs but also helps make your kitchen a more comfortable, convenient and efficient space.
Here is a program that will also help you in creating your kitchen design layout.
