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U shape kitchen design layout


50 Unique U-Shaped Kitchens And Tips You Can Use From Them

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A u-shaped kitchen is a highly coveted layout for a househunter since they offer so much space for cabinetry. The u-shaped layout places units around the cook on three sides with the top of the ‘u’ left open for a doorway or an open plan living room. U-shaped kitchens can be combined with dining areas or even a kitchen island if the width of the room allows. An open plan room often presents the opportunity to make one arm of the ‘u’ into a peninsula that can be accessed from both sides, such as for use as a breakfast bar or as a dual sided storage volume. Find all this and more in this inspirational gallery.

Generally speaking, there are six types of kitchen layouts: The One Wall, Galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, Island and Peninsula. There are no strict positions in which to order the stove, fridge or sink, and a kitchen can be combinations of one or more of the typical layouts. For example, you could have an L-shaped kitchen with an island or a peninsula, or a galley kitchen that is linked at one end. In designing a functional kitchen, the kitchen work triangle should be considered, which means that the distance between the sink, stove and fridge should be no more than 1200mm apart. Though, the concept of the kitchen working triangle is now evolving further to take into account multiple cooks, as well as new gadgets and appliances. In comparison to when the concept originated in the 1940s, where kitchens were a utilitarian place typically home to the housewife, our kitchens and equality have come a long way. Microwaves, separate cook tops to ovens, prep stations with an additional mini sink and teamwork all interrupt the traditional triangle. As modern kitchens present an increase in dedicated task zones, secondary triangles become commonplace.

Play with floor levels. This unique u-shaped kitchen is sunken below the floor level of the open plan living room, allowing onlookers a birds-eye view.

Colour coordinate upper units with the wall colour. The wall cabinets in this blue kitchen have been used as reference for the room’s paint colour. Colour coordinating the paint with the units in this way helps the space appear more open.

A different tack has been taken in this blue kitchen, with wall cabinets placed around the full u-shape. However, one side of the arrangement is open to the dining room, and windows run around the rest of the countertop level bringing plenty of airiness to the scheme. Cleaning the backsplash after cooking dinner in this kitchen becomes an exercise in window washing!

Forget the plinths. With the abundance of cabinets typical to a u-shaped kitchen you may be looking for new ways to help your design look more open and spacious. Leaving off the base plinths can help expand the look of your floor space – though do be prepared to get down low to clean out the recess regularly if you’re dropsy with your vegetable choppings.

Create a wrap around storage volume to an adjacent area. The tall height of the oven housing unit and fridge freezer housing has been continued around the corner into the lounge in this open plan home. The extension is used as a media unit surrounding the tv facing the lounge.

Define edges with lighting. LED strips placed just beneath the lip of a kitchen countertop and wall units create an ambient glow.

Make a feature of a niche shelf by picking it out in a different colour. A dark wood tone adds sophisticated flair to an all white kitchen.

Match the baseboard to the backsplash. This grey and white kitchen brings in grey not only through a tiled backsplash but with a coordinated kickboard.

In a long open home, a mid-way u-shaped kitchen can be used to effectively divide the floor plan.

Bring in colour with countertop appliances and accessories. This red kitchen set looks great with warm rustic brick walls.

Black appliances in a white kitchen look punchy and modern. This design has black pieces situated on each of the three straights of the u-shaped kitchen to maintain balance.

Shortening the returns of a u-shaped kitchen can leave room for a fully-fledged dining set.

Combine cabinet finishes, like this wood grain and white gloss modern kitchen.

Let your budget inspire you rather than restrict. Choosing Scandinavian kitchen style can be a cost effective exercise, since the magic of the Scandi aesthetic is simplicity. Wooden bar stools from Ikea drive in the look.

Use every nook and cranny for storage in a tiny u-shaped kitchen. Shape shelves into the eaves.

Tailor the design to suit your own lifestyle. One side of this setup has cabinets facing out to the living room where a wine rack on hand. A raised bench is in place where you can easily pop the cork.

Build a lighting soffit. A wood effect soffit has been installed around the ceiling perimeter of this white kitchen, complete with recessed spotlights.

Where there is plenty of natural light, don’t be afraid to go dark with the cabinetry.

Add hints of green with indoor plants, or add colour with kitchen stools. It helps when the countertops are super-clean — no messy dishes, plates or knife holders in sight!

Take tiling to the top. This white kitchen has metro tiles stacked almost to the rafters. Dark grout accentuates the tile design.

Get wired – without any hassle. If you don’t want to punch holes in the ceiling for spotlights or install a lighting soffit, how about positioning some exposed bulb kitchen pendant lights. With exposed electrical wiring being on trend you can feel free to string wires from a single power point. If you fancy a bit of colour then go for lengths of brightly bound electrical wire; there’s the pick of the rainbow available out there.

Just can’t decide on a kitchen cabinet colour? No problem. Go multicoloured with Mondrian inspired interior design.

The golden touch. Take your kitchen scheme upmarket with a flurry of gold finishing touches. Try a gold faucet, cabinet handles, tile trims or planters. Leave out your best cooking oils too, they will decorate the countertop with their own golden essence.

Forget making do with a tiny kitchen tv – go big using a projector.

Break with stereotypes. The positioning of the fridge with an adjacent oven at the neck of the ‘u’ in this layout is quite unconventional. The tall units at the back make the plan feel almost like a galley kitchen. The fridge and oven are often situated in tandem in modern kitchens, though some manufacturers warn that the proximity is detrimental to your fridge by making it work harder to achieve the desired internal temperature.

Select an extractor unit to be the main feature.

If you tire of colour schemes quickly, use easily replaceable items to colour the room. Keep bold colours confined to mugs, trays and tea towels to make a decor change gentle in effort and low on price.

Use similar tones but different materials. These coffee coloured wall cabinets match with the walnut wood grain below – yet the change in texture brings interest and makes the space appear less crowded.

Leave a wall free of upper cabinets to make a space appear larger.

Take an indoor kitchen to the great outdoors with a living wall. This one brings a lovely quirk to a tv wall.

Open shelving dipped within a bank of wall cabinetry gives the scheme added depth.

Draw inspiration from a raw concrete kitchen floor, and install an industrial kitchen design.

Kitchen flooring can zone the cooking area from the rest of an open living room.

Create a colour stripe, like in this red and white u shaped kitchen with peninsula.

Colour the opposite side of a peninsular to fit with dining room or lounge decor.

In a large layout, a peninsular can be dedicated entirely to dining, with prep taking place only along an L-shape.

Similarly, if space allows, situate seating on the inside of the peninsular to look outward over the rest of an open plan room.

Think on another level. This u-shaped kitchen is a collection of optical illusions and undulating bench heights.

Mark out a dining area using a contrasting countertop.

For a true ‘u’, how about this curvaceous little number?…

… Or this sleek u-shaped kitchen island.

Create interesting angles where there are none. This geometric peninsula is matched by a diagonal cut baseline across the wall units.

Camouflage a kitchen extractor unit against wall decor, or distract the eye with colourful accessories on adjacent shelving.

This u-shaped kitchen installation allows footfall to move straight past without anyone disturbing the cook.

Use bold wall tiles to add wow factor to a white kitchen…

… Feature floor tiles work well too.

Fashion a glass divide across the length a peninsular to contain cooking splashes or prep mess.

Revamp a tired rustic u-shaped kitchen with some cheerfully painted cabinets and contrasting accessories.

Add personality with unexpected touches. These copper pendant lights and kitchen backsplash give this white kitchen a unique energy.

Don’t think you have the space to complete a u-shaped design? Half depth units can be used along one of the walls to create the effect.

1. Kitchen canisters 2. Fruit kitchen clock 3. Evercut Furtif Knives 4. Touch kitchen faucet 5. Comfort kitchen mat 6. Kitchen trash can with step lid 7. Counter edge cutting board with collapsible bin 8. Green foldable cutting board 9. Green and white sink strainer 10. Nesting bowl set 11. Modway kitchen stool 12. Swan ladle


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5 Ways to Make the Most of a U-shaped Kitchen Layout

When designing your dream kitchen, the U-shaped layout is one of the most popular for good reason. Flexible, practical, and one of the best designs for maximizing prep and storage space, this three-walled kitchen layout scores high in both form and function. Follow these design tips to get the most out of your space.

Blog | Kitchen

Images by Hvjezd

Kitchens have to be efficient workspaces and often warm and inviting gathering spaces as well. Having a U-shaped kitchen layout — one of the most versatile and practical designs — is a huge plus.

With cabinets and countertops lining three adjacent walls and an open end for access, a U-shaped kitchen layout (sometimes called a C-shaped kitchen layout or horseshoe layout) provides plenty of storage space, accommodates the principles of the kitchen work triangle beautifully, and can be adapted for large or small spaces.

For all these reasons, it’s not surprising that so many homebuyers and homeowners prefer a U-shaped kitchen layout, but because it’s such a flexible space, it is important to know how to make the most of it.

Let the following expert advice on U-shaped kitchen layouts inspire and guide you!

1.

Know the Pros and Cons of a U-Shaped Kitchen Layout

Kitchen designers favor U-shaped kitchen layouts for several reasons. The uninterrupted flow of three walls in a U shape maximizes countertop and storage space, both of which are prized in kitchens.

Countertops provide space for small appliances as well as separate areas for food prep. The wall space in U-shaped kitchen layouts accommodates plenty of cabinets or shelving, both above and below the countertops.

This can be a great option for homeowners who prefer a clean, minimalist look because it allows most small appliances and other kitchen items to be stored out of sight, not cluttering the countertops and work areas.

U-shaped kitchen layouts also provide the most flexibility in properly placing large appliances —particularly the three components of the kitchen work triangle, the sink, range, and refrigerator — and accommodating several cooks in the kitchen at one time.

Depending on the size of the kitchen, it may even be possible to add an island, bar, or seating to a U-shaped layout to create a gathering point.

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Having adequate clearance in a busy room like a kitchen is essential. Ideally, you want a distance of 3-4 feet between your countertop and an island.

While U-shaped kitchen layouts have few practical drawbacks, they won’t work for every space. Depending on the dimensions, they may feel cramped or overly spacious, and with only one point of access, they may not be ideal for traffic flow if many people tend to congregate in the kitchen.

Additionally, the abundance of cabinet space can add to the expense of a kitchen with a U-shaped layout, so it’s wise to keep your budget in mind.

2.

Incorporate the Kitchen Work Triangle Into Your U-shaped Kitchen Layout

Another significant perk of a U-shaped kitchen layout is that it may be the best layout for accommodating the ergonomic principle known as the “kitchen work triangle.”

One of the fundamentals of good kitchen design revolves around the idea of this triangle, which is formed by the space between the range, sink, and refrigerator.

The idea that kitchen layouts are at their most functional and aesthetically pleasing when these three important areas form a triangle has been in use for more than a century since it was proposed by an industrial scientist/engineer as a way to maximize efficiency in the kitchen.

The ideal configuration places the cooktop and oven, sink, and refrigerator on adjacent walls, roughly 4-5 feet apart from each other, forming a triangle. This allows easy access to the most-used areas of the kitchen, keeping walking distance between areas to a minimum.

The flexibility of a U-shaped kitchen layout, with its three walls and two corners, provides plenty of options for creating the kitchen work triangle.

3.

Streamline Storage in Your U-Shaped Kitchen

One of the biggest advantages of a U-shaped kitchen is that it maximizes the amount of storage space you have. Minimizing clutter and targeted storage were cited as critical design needs for the kitchen by 80 percent of respondents to a research survey released by the National Kitchen & Bath Association in 2020 that looked at design trends.

As convenient as all the storage space you get with a U-shaped kitchen layout is, it can also run the risk of feeling like a wall of cabinets.

There are a few ways you can avoid a blocky, monolithic appearance. Using glass-front cabinets or open shelving above the counter can lighten the look while still providing storage. Likewise, floor-to-ceiling cabinets can lend a cleaner facade and more modern design. It can also help to embrace negative space in the room where you can, especially around windows and range hoods.

Be sure to take advantage of corner storage space solutions as well. Lazy susans, pull-outs, and specialty cabinets designed for easy access to deep corners make use of what would otherwise be inaccessible space.

4.

Use Decor and Finishes That Complement a U-Shaped Kitchen Layout

The materials and color palette you use can be particularly important in a U-shaped kitchen layout. Avoid overwhelming the space with woodwork and help break up rows of cabinets.

Using one color or finish for above-the-counter cabinets and another for those below is one approach that works well. Painting accents can help them pop and break up the monotony of rows of storage. Likewise, texture, such as a patterned backsplash or carved range hood, can add a much-needed focal point in a U-shaped kitchen layout.

When it comes to lighting options, these kitchens often benefit from pendant fixtures to add some visual interest and break up the vertical space, particularly in larger rooms.

5.

Turn Your U-Shaped Kitchen Layout Into a G-Shaped Kitchen

If your space is large enough, consider adding a peninsula, island, or in-room seating option. It’s functional and a great way to bridge the space between the kitchen and an adjacent dining or living space.

Design-wise these options also add variety and visual interest and can be a great way to incorporate more color and texture. It could accommodate casual dining or an area for the family to gather without sacrificing storage space since lower cabinets can be placed on the back of a peninsula.         

Extending your U-shaped kitchen layout with a peninsula can turn it into what is known as a G-shaped kitchen layout, with the peninsula being the fourth line of the letter G.

This extension of the U-shaped kitchen layout adds even more storage, counter space, and seating to the room, although it can make your kitchen feel a bit more closed in.

Before adding any of these options, it is important to ensure there is enough space between structures for movement and traffic flow—no one wants a cramped kitchen.

Experiment With These Techniques to Find the Best Layout for Your U-Shaped Kitchen

Dream big and plan carefully. Now it’s time to put these suggestions into action and make your U-shaped kitchen dreams a reality. Start by learning how to create your kitchen plan today.

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photos and layout design ideas

The U-shaped kitchen is one of the most functional kitchen layouts. It combines a large amount of storage space with easy access to all the necessary areas. U-shaped layouts are not suitable for all kitchens, but have several advantages over other options.

U-shaped kitchen with breakfast bar

U-shaped kitchen layout features

A U-shaped kitchen is a layout option in which a suite with a continuous worktop is located along three walls at once. Sometimes one of the sides of the headset is placed not along the wall, but right in the middle of the room, for example, when you need to zone the space in the room. To do this, in kitchen-living rooms and studio apartments, a bar counter is often used, which combines a place for eating and an additional cutting area. nine0003 U-shaped kitchen with breakfast bar

Sometimes a kitchen consisting of 3 sides is called a U-shaped kitchen. This arrangement of furniture allows you to create a convenient "work triangle", distributing each of its vertices on its own surface. That is, the sink is usually located on one side of the headset, the hob on the second, and the cutting zone on the third.

U-shaped kitchen with a convenient "working triangle"

It is important to consider that, unlike, for example, a kitchen with an island, a U-shaped set can be placed even in a small kitchen. In this case, during cooking, you practically do not have to move between zones, which makes the process faster and more comfortable, and reduces fatigue. nine0003 Compact U-shaped kitchen Spacious U-shaped kitchen

You can especially successfully place the U-shaped set in a spacious kitchen - this arrangement allows you to make the most efficient use of space, creating comfortable work areas and a large amount of storage space. In addition, U-shaped sets can help in zoning the space of such kitchens. If desired, and with sufficient space, the U-shaped kitchen can be supplemented with an island, but for this the room must be really spacious. All this allows you to create unique redevelopments, transferring both the sink and the hob to any part of the kitchen. nine0003 U-shaped kitchen with island

A U-shaped kitchen can use a window sill - you can extend the countertop onto it, expanding the working area, or use it as a storage shelf. Another option is to make the countertop move out of the cabinet at least 30 cm in front of it, turning the window sill into a dining area with a great view.

U-shaped kitchen with functional windowsill

In order for a U-shaped kitchen to demonstrate all its advantages, it is important to choose the right dimensions for it. To make the kitchen convenient to use, there should be at least 120 cm between its opposite sides. In this case, it will be convenient to open cabinets, use the oven and dishwasher, and if necessary, two people will not interfere with each other. nine0003 U-shaped kitchen with dining area

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the U-shaped layout include:

U-shaped kitchen with dining area

Despite all the advantages, such kitchens have their drawbacks.

Spacious complex U-shaped kitchen with niches Massive U-shaped kitchen

Some of the shortcomings can be leveled by competent planning of the kitchen. If you correctly take into account all the specifics of U-shaped furniture, you can get a really comfortable and functional space for cooking and eating. nine0003

What to consider when ordering a U-shaped kitchen

There are a few basic tips to keep in mind when designing a U-shaped kitchen.

U-shaped kitchen with center hoodU-shaped kitchen with peninsulaLight u-shaped kitchen U-shaped kitchen with separate dining table The U-shaped kitchen is one of the most practical and roomy, but at the same time the most difficult interior design options. When developing such furniture, you need to take into account a lot of nuances so that the result fully meets expectations. In most cases, the best choice would be to contact professional designers who are familiar with the specifics of such kitchens - this will save not only time, but also money to correct possible shortcomings. nine0003 U-shaped kitchen with an additional breakfast bar

U-shaped kitchen design (80 photos)

U-shaped kitchen: tips for choosing

Headings: All about furniture 2 , Kitchens 88 , Living rooms 2 , Bedrooms 3 , Hallways 2