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Standard kitchen layouts


Choosing A Kitchen Layout - L-Shape, Galley, Island, Peninsula

Each of the five main kitchen layouts will be beneficial for a different space for various reasons. Selecting the proper layout for your kitchen will be a crucial step for maximizing the space available and making it a more functional space based on your individual needs and wish list.

A few layouts can even be combined to make your dream design come to life, including kitchen layout ideas based on the amount of space you have to work with. Not sure which layout will work best? Your CliqStudios designer can help you decide!

There are five basic kitchen layouts: L-Shape, G-Shape, U-Shape, One-Wall and Galley. The size and shape of the room will typically determine your layout. Although variations and deviations do exist, most kitchen layouts are based on one of the following shapes.

What are the Five Kitchen Layouts?

L-Shape Kitchen

An l-shaped kitchen design is typically the most popular layout among consumers. It includes workspaces on two adjoining walls running perpendicular to each other. This layout works well when there are two cooks in the kitchen since the work area is nice and open.

If there is enough space, an L-shaped kitchen with an island is a fantastic addition as it doubles as a workspace or eating area. The L-Shape kitchen typically opens into another room which makes a great layout for entertaining.

This layout allows everyone to move freely around the kitchen, with no major roadblocks in the walkway. It creates an incredibly open concept that makes guests feel a part of the action when you are preparing food for them and allows you to remain part of the conversation as well.

U-Shape Kitchen

The U-Shape design is the most versatile layout for both large and small kitchens. It provides storage and countertop space on three walls, which creates an efficient work triangle for food prep. This layout is great for creating two distinct spaces, the kitchen and the dining area. The corners of this space should be maximized with storage solutions such as pull-outs and lazy susans so that every inch of space is usable.

Installing kitchen cabinets on all three walls is a fantastic way to increase storage space and make the room more functional. This layout is usually best for those looking for a distinct separation of the kitchen from the rest of the house, not for someone looking for an open-concept kitchen.

G-Shape Kitchen

This layout is a variation of the u-shaped kitchen. What sets the g-shaped layout apart is the addition of a partial fourth wall. The extra space can be used for a multitude of things, as it adds extra counter and storage space. By adding a second sink, cooktop or range, the g-shaped kitchen can easily accommodate two work triangles, allowing two cooks total independence.

You can even add a breakfast bar for extra eating space or a pass-through for entertaining. The possibilities are endless with this kitchen layout!

One Wall Kitchen

The one-wall kitchen layout is a very practical choice for small kitchen layouts usually seen in homes and condos. Everything you need to access will be installed on one wall, creating a very efficient design for everyday use. When deciding on the placement of the appliances, keep in mind that the refrigerator should be positioned so the door opens away from the kitchen sink to remove the possibility of a disturbance in the workflow.

This kitchen layout provides an airy, open look and feel, but since all the kitchen cabinets, appliances, and everything else are located on a singular wall, you must get creative with the design. If you need any help, your CliqStudios designer can help you position everything in the most practical and aesthetically pleasing way.

Galley Kitchen

The galley kitchen is the most efficient layout for a narrow space. The layout offers workstations on two opposing walls with a walkway in the center. When coming up with galley kitchen ideas, we recommend installing major appliances on opposite walls.

For instance, placing the cooktop on the left wall and the refrigerator on the right. This will allow for easy access to them and prevent traffic jams when preparing meals. The galley kitchen is the most efficient layout for a narrow space.

This layout works particularly well in a rectangular space. Plus, if you have the space, you can choose to design a galley kitchen with island to really maximize the space you have.

Kitchen Island

An island kitchen layout is a wonderful opportunity to get creative. It’s a multi-functional piece that can be used as an extra meal prep space, an eating area, a workstation if you don’t have access to an office, an arts and crafts center for kids, and the list goes on. At least 36”- 42” of space should surround the island on all sides to allow appliances such as the dishwasher and stove to be opened and closed.

If you’re looking at a seamless solid surface countertop, especially granite, the size of the stone can be limiting. Granite and engineered stone slabs don’t exceed 120” by 72” and some are much smaller. Special additions such as an extra sink, microwave cabinet, and extra cabinet space are just a few of the details you can add to a kitchen island to add tremendous value to your home and make the kitchen a more functional space.

Will your island host an appliance, sink, trash, recycling, eating area and food prep area? Since the island has the potential to be a mini-kitchen, it requires a carefully thought-out design.

How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen Layout – Frequently Asked Questions

How to design a kitchen layout?

Designing a kitchen layout takes a lot of skill and technical know-how along with knowledge of building codes. If you’re hoping to design your own kitchen, we recommend partnering with a CliqStudios designer before finalizing everything to confirm safety standards and NKBA kitchen guidelines are being met. With that said, after you have created a wish list and if the layout is flexible, it’s best to start with appliance placement. Appliance placement will permanently dictate the flow of your workspace. Follow this up by selecting and placing all corner cabinets. What’s space is left will be easier to fill in with your wish list items; drawer bases, roll-out trays, and coffee bars, etc. 

How to design a commercial kitchen layout? 

A commercial kitchen can be designed with the help of a CliqStudios designer. Precise measurements and a wish list will need to be provided in order to create a well-functioning design. Kitchen cabinet door styles and finishes can be explored here to help you find your style. 

What are the 6 types of kitchen layouts?

There are 6 types of kitchen layouts for homeowners to choose from. The layouts include L-shape, U-shape, galley, G-shape, one-wall, and kitchen island. There are pros and cons of each of these, which can be explored in detail with a CliqStudios kitchen designer.

What is an ideal kitchen layout?

One of the most versatile kitchen layouts is the U-shaped layout. This creates 3 areas for the homeowner to utilize, adding ample countertop and cabinet space for preparing meals and storing dry goods. Another ideal kitchen layout is an L-shape with an island because it allows for traffic to flow easily through the kitchen while providing multiple work spaces. A CliqStudios kitchen designer can also assist homeowners in deciding what layouts will work best for their home. 

Which kitchen layout is the most functional?

One of the most popular is the L-shaped layout, which creates two workspaces on adjoining walls. A lot of homeowners select this layout for their kitchen remodels because it creates a open and easily accessible look and feel. Discover more about this and other kitchen layout options today. 

What are the five types of kitchen arrangement?

A kitchen can be arranged in numerous ways including a galley, U-shape, l-shape, G-shape, and one-wall layout. Each of these arrangements creates a different look and feel. If you’re having a hard time deciding on a layout, our CliqStudios designers can walk you through each option and what it would look like within your kitchen specifically.  

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Kitchen Layouts Dimensions & Drawings

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Layouts by Room & Space

Kitchen layouts are designed to be adaptable to many varied floor planning scenarios and can be adjusted accordingly. These standard types of kitchen layouts offer flexibility to your spatial and structural constraints while maintaining the standard proportions and sizes of the kitchen fixtures themselves.

What are the factors to consider when planning a kitchen layout?

The first factor to consider is the available space and intended use of that space as all people cook and use kitchens differently. After, comes placement of necessary appliances such as a dishwasher, refrigerator, and sink. Between these appliances, specific areas should be designated to indicate prepping, cooking, baking, and to organize tools among these zones. Other important factors include the availability of a work surface, efficient storage, and quality lighting.

How do you design a small kitchen?

A single row or one-wall kitchen is considered the most suitable layout for a small kitchen. All necessary equipment and storage can be found in this design although it is noted to be lacking in sufficient counter space. A kitchen cart with the top surface used as a butcher block can be an efficient addition. An L-shaped layout is another option for designing a kitchen within a small space by maximizing the use of a corner. In both cases, the opposite empty wall can feature a table that can fold down when not in use.

What is modular kitchen design?

Modular kitchen design features small modules that together, form a kitchen that increases space, storage, and efficiency. The layout of a modular kitchen can be broken down into set sections and as such, make for easy installation and repetition in production. For example, a modular kitchen cabinet is a stand alone and pre-made element that can enhance functionality for the user by meeting individual needs.

Kitchens Guides

Browse through our curated Kitchens Guides for additional categorizations, tips, details, variations, styles, and histories of Kitchens. Guides provide additional insights into the unique properties and shared relationships between elements.

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10’6” | 3.2 m

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12’4” | 3.76 m

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109 ft2 | 10.1 m2

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Broken Peninsula Kitchen

320.000

376.000

10.10

3D

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13’ | 3.96 m

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12’4” | 3.76 m

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136 ft2 | 12.6 m2

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G-Shape | Peninsula Kitchen

396. 000

376.000

12.60

3D

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13’ | 3.96 m

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8’10” | 2.69 m

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115 ft2 | 10.7 m2

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L-Shape Island Rectangle Kitchens

396.000

269.000

10.70

3D

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11’ | 3.35 m

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11’ | 3.35 m

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121 ft2 | 11.2 m2

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L-Shape Island Square Kitchen

335.000

335.000

11.20

3D

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12’10” | 3.91 m

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8’8” | 2.64 m

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111 ft2 | 10.3 m2

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L-Shape Kitchen

391.000

264.000

10.30

3D

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12’6” | 3.81 m

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6’ | 1.83 m

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75 ft2 | 7 m2

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Single Row Galley Kitchens

381.000

183.000

7.00

3D

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12’6” | 3.81 m

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8’8” | 2.64 m

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108 ft2 | 10 m2

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Two Row Galley Kitchens

381.000

264. 000

10.00

3D

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15’ | 4.57 m

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10’4” | 3.15 m

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155 ft2 | 14.4 m2

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U-Shape Island Kitchen

457.000

315.000

14.40

3D

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10’6” | 3.2 m

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10’2” | 3.15 m

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107 ft2 | 10 m2

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U-Shape Kitchen

320.000

315.000

10.00

3D

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10 kitchen planning rules - expert advice

Kitchen planning is not an easy and very responsible task. It is enough to make a mistake by a couple of centimeters - and now the locker does not fit. If you place sockets in the wrong place, there will be problems with connecting equipment. Ambassador of the factory "Maria" Olya Zemlyanaya shares the rules, following which you will plan the kitchen of your dreams.

1. Measurement

You can start planning a kitchen only after a clear, understandable and accurate to the millimeter measurement of the room in which the kitchen set will be located is ready.

At the same time, it is important to first plan the kitchen, and then make repairs for the finished project. Already at this stage, it is necessary to know exactly where all communications will be located, as well as the outlet for the hood, the power outlet for the hob and other outlets. Keep in mind that finishing materials will “eat up” a few centimeters, so leave a small margin.

After all the rough work is completed, the walls and floor are ready, all communications are carried out, you need to re-measure the kitchen, compare it with the results of the first one and, if necessary, make changes to the project or adjust the construction work. It is important to do this right now, because later any, even the smallest changes will lead to additional costs. If the set does not fit, changing only one lower cabinet will not work - you will have to order both the countertop and the upper section of a different size. To ensure that this does not happen, entrust the measurement to professionals. In large furniture companies, for example, in the Maria studios, this service is provided free of charge.

2. Equipment placement

Kitchen planning begins with the location of large household appliances. Its sizes, with rare exceptions, are standard, so we “dance” from them. Decide where the refrigerator, oven, hob, dishwasher and, of course, the sink will be located. If there is a separate freezer or wine cabinet, do not forget to reflect this in the project.

Kitchen Mix with a competent arrangement of appliances

3. Kitchen for yourself

When planning a kitchen, you need to take into account the habits and lifestyle of those who live in this house. Do you like to eat sausage at night - provide a subdued backlight. In this case, the light should fall directly on the place where you will cut this very sausage. If you cook a little on the stove, you prefer to bake dishes in the oven - limit yourself to a two-burner hob and order a functional oven to go with it. If you often fry fish or meat in oil, plan a practical apron that is easy to clean and leave a free area around the stove so that the oil does not splatter the surface. The hood in this case should be super powerful and large (preferably 9 wide00 mm).

The growth of people is very important. Take into account who will use the kitchen most often - you don't need to plan everything for your grandmother if she doesn't cook. Furniture elements are designed for a person with a height of 165-175 cm. If you are shorter or taller, plan the height of the cabinets for yourself. Then the back will not hurt from an uncomfortable position while cooking and chores in the kitchen will be a joy.

For a kitchen design project that will take into account all possible individual wishes of customers, you can also turn to professional designers. Maria's studios will help you with this for free. You can even order a project online.

Spark model - sleek and comfortable

4.

Work triangle

Many have heard about the rule of the working triangle, on which all the planning of the kitchen set rests. Its essence is simple: the main zones must be located so that the hostess can quickly reach the goal. She took out the products, washed, cut - cook! Refrigerator, sink and stove should be one to two steps apart. If you follow this rule, you can significantly reduce the number of kilometers that we "wind" during the day, doing cooking.

Model Nicolle - compact work triangle

5. Organization of storage

Divide all kitchen utensils into two categories.

Everyday items: plates, cups, pots. They should always be at hand, so they are best placed in the area of ​​​​the working triangle.

Items of rare use, such as a duckling, which is needed once a year. They can be stored in the far corner of the kitchen. Mezzanine cabinets fit perfectly.

The same principle applies when organizing storage areas for groceries, canned goods. The more often you use products, the closer they should be to you. Consider also their expiration date - those stocks that quickly deteriorate, keep on hand. It is also important that this storage area is well ventilated.

Adele model - convenient storage of kitchen utensils

6. Drawers VS hinged doors

Drawers are more expensive, but they are more convenient than swing cabinets. Especially if they are equipped with full extension mechanisms, as in the Maria kitchens. You open it and you see at once everything that is inside. At the same time, I do not recommend ordering very large drawers - a mess quickly begins to reign in them. Order is best kept in standard sections 450 or 600 mm wide. If you still choose a size larger (900–1200 mm), then buy special fittings for functional storage. A good manufacturer always has a choice of organizers and dividers.

Closers provide smooth, silent closing of lockers. Therefore, I advise everyone to complete their furniture. Why do you need claps and knocks in the kitchen? This is an unnecessary irritation of the nervous system.

Model Antro - drawers

Model Antro - hinged doors

7. Safety first!

Bruises, bumps, cuts appear due to improper kitchen layout. That is why the ergonomics of the space must be thought out in the most careful way. Play various scenarios of behavior in the kitchen, then you will not always stumble upon open drawers or open doors. Consider also competent lighting of the work surface, so as not to cook in the dark.

Rimini without top cabinets

8. Easy care

For many people, cooking is a pleasant chore. But the hours spent with a rag and aggressive household chemicals - the "killer" of health, can hardly bring anyone pleasure. Therefore, when choosing furniture, give preference to practical and easy-to-clean materials, as well as colors that will not show stains, fingerprints, streaks or scratches. The most practical option is white facades and interspersed countertops. It is not easy to understand all the variety of materials and decors on your own, it is better to turn to specialists. Designers of kitchen studios "Maria" will always help you choose the right option for you.

Jazz model with practical white front

Don't forget the cabinet handles. Sometimes, so that they do not beat against each other when opening the doors, special false strips are needed. If you choose fronts without handles, you can avoid such problems. And yes, they are much easier to clean. This is now a very popular solution, so I recommend it! And also keep in mind that the facades of cabinets that open up, with illiterate planning, can damage the ceiling.

10. Decluttering as a supertrend!

To maintain perfect order in the new kitchen, it is better to use white dishes and transparent glasses. When choosing a set, it is important that you have the opportunity to purchase individual items individually - in case something breaks. Get rid of plates and cups that were once presented by someone, each of which has its own design and does not fit the new interior at all. If you really want to keep a special item that is immensely dear to your heart, choose a separate place for it. And one more piece of advice: arrange regular “cluttering” for yourself, leaving only everything you need, what you really use. Then the new kitchen will bring you only joy!

An example of planning a kitchen-living room in a narrow room of 13 sq.m.

An example of a kitchen-living room layout

When creating this space, we were faced with the task of combining a full-fledged kitchen, a comfortable dining area and a small living room in one room. There was a catastrophic lack of space, so literally every square centimeter was on our account. In order not to forget anything and not to make a mistake with the dimensions, we created a project of the room in the Planoplan online 3D visualization program. In a separate article, I will talk in detail about this useful service, as well as what we were able to translate into reality from a 3D project, what we couldn’t, and why.

Before proceeding to the story about planning, I would like to draw attention to one important circumstance: in addition to the lack of free space, our task was further complicated by a number of architectural features of the premises. Some of them can be considered both as advantages and disadvantages at the same time. For example, the sloping ceiling of white-painted wooden beams and plasterboard initially looked not at all attractive. But once we painted the beams a dark wood color, the room was amazingly transformed. The original ceiling, combined with a country location, a wood-burning stove in an openwork wrought-iron stand and four large windows, inspired the creation of an interior in the Provence style.

Another feature of our room was that there were two doors in the room - the entrance and the door to the bathroom. In the wall between them, pipes were connected to connect the water in the kitchen. Therefore, the kitchen area had to be placed immediately near the entrance. Standard layout options (in one line, corner or letter U) did not fit into our room or took up too much space. As a result, we divided the kitchen set into three parts and arranged them compactly along three walls in an area of ​​2 * 2.4 m.

Most of all disputes and doubts were caused by a separate table with bevelled corners on the left in the photo - instead of it, the corner layout of the kitchen suggested itself. When deciding in favor of a separate table, we were guided by the following considerations: firstly, we had access to the window - we didn’t want to reach for it through the kitchen table; secondly, the place inside the deep lower shelves (especially the corner ones) is quickly filled with unnecessary things and is practically not used due to its inaccessibility; thirdly, to the left of the hob, we installed a spacious table with two very convenient drawers for pots and large dishes. Thus, the kitchen has a lot of convenient and easily accessible storage space and two spacious work surfaces. An oven will be installed under the hob.

The next unfortunate feature of the room is its size of 5.5*2.4 m, which makes the room look like a long corridor. To get rid of this feeling, we placed a large folding sofa near the end wall - the main element of the living area. There is also a wood-burning stove for heating in a forged openwork stand. Opposite the stove, we plan to place a small storage system in the form of a chest of drawers under the TV and two column cabinets on the sides, as shown in the picture. How it will look in reality is not yet clear - we are still looking for beautiful furniture that will successfully fit into our interior.

The dining area is located by the central window, between the kitchen and the seating area. The distance from the fireplace to the kitchen is 170 cm, but since the table in our real kitchen set has beveled corners, the space of the dining area is virtually unlimited.

Just in case, we included in the project a place for a round dining table with a diameter of 1 m, but in fact we chose a table of 80 cm with elegant Viennese chairs that take up a minimum of space.

As a result, our space turned out to be quite comfortable and not very crowded. Small functional areas do not make a depressing impression, because we did not consciously divide the room into separate parts either visually or physically. At any point in the room, the surrounding space of 13 m² is felt. And four windows provide plenty of daylight and give the illusion of extra space when the eye is not resting on the wall.

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