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The Basic Principles Of Good Kitchen Design

Updated: Mar 22

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s a place everyone in the family sits together, eats, and socializes. So, it’s no surprise that so much thought and planning go into designing this important space.


There are many things to consider when planning a kitchen, such as a layout, storage, appliances, and finishing touches. But, if you break it down, there are really only a few basic principles of good kitchen design.

In this blog post, we’ll explore those principles and show you how to put them into practice. Whether you’re planning a complete kitchen renovation or just a minor update, understanding these basics will help you create a kitchen that’s both functional and stylish.


The Layout


Good kitchen design starts with a good layout. The basic layout principle in designing a good kitchen is the work triangle. It is an imaginary line drawn between the three worktops of the kitchen. This triangle is created between the storage area, the cooking area, and the clean-up area which helps in deciding how much distance one should keep while designing.


It is believed that the ideal work triangle is supposed to be between 15 to 22 feet / 4.75 to 6.71 meter. And the three appliances situated in this triangle should be at least within two or three steps of one another. So what is this triangle and what appliances fall under this triangle? Let’s know more about this...


Kitchen Triangle


As mentioned before, the three main areas of the kitchen are the storage, the cooking area, and the cleaning area. These are the most used areas of the kitchen hence it is important that they are in sync with each other and are not very far from each other. All of this needs to be considered while designing the kitchen while keeping in mind the kitchen triangle rule.


The storage area: Appliances such as refrigerators, and space like pantry are a part of the storage area. To make good use of this place you can add cabinetry or swing-out pantry units that will not only look good but also add function and convenience. Whereas options such as wine racks, spice racks, and roll-out trays are a perfect way to organize your groceries.


The cooking area: As the name suggests this is the area where you cook. This is the space where you keep your cooktop, microwave, oven, or any other smaller appliance. Here, You can utilize space-saving techniques like towel rods and pot lid racks to remove appliances from the counter and store them in the cabinet for appliance storage.


The cleaning area: One of the most crucial tasks in the kitchen is cleaning up, which is also everyone's least favorite. The dishwasher, garbage disposal, and sink are located here. The rollout tray baskets for storage convenience and the garbage bin cabinet are part of the station's cabinetry organization plan.


These three spots create a work triangle in the kitchen. The size, form, and location of these components can significantly affect how well the kitchen functions, making work triangles a key idea in kitchen design. It is advised that the appliances be arranged so that there is a minimum of twelve feet between two of them and a maximum of twelve feet between any two of them, with a gap between any two of them of no more than seven feet. Larger distances between appliances need additional steps, whereas smaller distances result in a confined workplace.


Other than this it is advisable to divide your kitchen top into 5 segments while designing for ease of working.


1) The area where you keep all the consumable goods.

2) The area where you keep all the silverware.

3) The utility area.

4) The preparation area where all kitchen preparation takes place.

5) The culinary area where you cook or prepare all your dishes.


Space Considerations:


While designing it is important that your kitchen designs are taking the flow of the traffic into the account. Good kitchen design should maximize storage space and it should also incorporate natural light that makes your kitchen a comfortable and inviting space.


Here are some space considerations you should be aware of when designing:


1.) Maintain a walking space of 42 to 48 inches / 106.68 to 121.92 centimeter.

2.) The ideal positioning for the food prep area is between the refrigerator and the sink.

3.) Two triangles in your kitchen shouldn't intersect each other.

4.) On the same side as the handle, there should be an 18-inch / 45.72-cm counter next to the refrigerator.

5.) It is ideal to have a 15-inch / 38.1-cm counter space on either side of the cooktop.


Other than this, choosing good materials and maintaining your budget also plays important roles while designing your kitchen. A well-designed kitchen makes meal preparation and cooking easier, more enjoyable, and more efficient. Good kitchen design is based on a few basic principles, including workflow, storage, and ergonomics. By keeping these principles in mind, you can create a kitchen that meets your needs and makes cooking a pleasure.


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