Ensuring your kitchen is fit for your purpose is the most important brief for ensuring a functional and practical environment. Kitchen spaces can be maximized with a sharp layout making all the difference in giving you the best functionality out of your space.

The six most popular kitchen layout types seen in the modern family home are the one-wall kitchen, the galley kitchen, the L-shaped kitchen, the U-shaped kitchen, the island kitchen, and the peninsula kitchen. Throughout this article, we will explore each of these styles and review their features to assist in the decision-making process to help you find the best style for your kitchen renovation.

KITCHEN STYLES

The one-wall kitchen is most commonly used in a smaller space. This minimal layout is space efficient without foregoing the functionality. The one-wall kitchen involves upper and lower cabinets or shelving over base cabinets, giving a fresh and orderly aesthetic.

When developing a one-wall kitchen, think vertically. Space surrounding width is limited, therefore taking the cabinets up as far as possible will assist in giving additional storage space. The most practicable layout for a one-wall kitchen is to have the fridge on one end, the oven in the middle and the sink at the other end, balancing out the space. The one-wall kitchen can give the feeling of a larger space in a smaller home.

The galley kitchen explores the use of cabinets economically, consisting of two rows of cabinets facing each other, giving the appearance of a galley. This style of kitchen removes the need for corner cupboards. Utilizing all space available without waste. This design is simple and usually requires fewer specialty pieces, making it a cost-effective option.

The galley kitchen provides flexibility with storage space, due to the added row of cabinetry. The galley kitchen is usually a practical kitchen design for those with larger families. The most important thing to remember is to have the work areas along only one of the walls and not both. This assists in maintaining a clear working environment with less traffic.

The L Shaped kitchen has a practical layout for all sizes. The L Shaped kitchen consists of cabinets along two perpendicular walls. The L Shaped Kitchen provides an open-plan design giving flexibility in the placement of appliances and work zones.

Where space permits. Make the most of corners by installing a walk-in pantry cupboard. This prevents you from losing any beneficial space that is usually absorbed by the corner and instead provides a huge asset to your kitchen.

The U-Shaped Kitchen is a beneficial layout for larger kitchens. The U shape consists of cabinetry along three adjacent walls, giving the opportunity for ample storage. It can, however, feel confined if there are upper cabinets on all three walls, in order to avoid this clutter-like feel, opt to only have wall cabinetry along one or two of the walls and central tiles on the other. The U-shaped kitchen is great for high-traffic kitchens and enables great workflow.

It is best to have a U-Shaped kitchen in window areas that are open and uncluttered. This enables the space to become more open.

The island kitchen is one of the most popular choices for those with an open-flow home. The island kitchen allows for a large preparation surface or storage within the middle of the kitchen. The island can integrate a cooking surface, bar or wine fridge and can be used for food preparation or enjoying family meals. Enabling the kitchen to be a social space as well as a food preparation space.

It can be an aesthetic addition to add a prominent light feature above the island space, giving it task lighting and opening it up to these social interactions.

Closely related to the island kitchen, the peninsula kitchen combines a kitchen counter that extends from a wall or cabinetry. The peninsula kitchen is a clever solution that boasts the benefits of an island where space does not permit. The peninsula can be utilized for food prep, eating and other tasks while the cook is busy, also opening up the environment to be a social space. Allowing for interaction during meals and open-plan living spaces where a table is not required.