Kitchen Layouts and Floor Plan Ideas

The inclusion of an island in your kitchen has been a popular choice for quite some time. When utilised correctly, islands can be highly functional and visually impressive, acting as a striking centrepiece. They offer additional work surfaces, seating, and storage, making them understandably popular. However, it's important not to overcrowd your kitchen with an island if the space does not support it. Consider the flow of foot traffic and strategically position your main appliances such as the fridge, cooker, and sink around the island. Leave approximately 1.2 meters of clearance all around the island to ensure smooth movement for two people. Additionally, create a small triangle from the worktop to the fridge and cooker, ensuring that no one needs to pass through this area while someone is cooking. Islands can incorporate sinks and cookers, making it easier to maintain the functionality of the "triangle," but it's generally recommended to have at least 15 square meters of space to accommodate an island.

The U-shaped layout is considered the most ideal for a wide range of homes and shapes and is also the most common, especially in older homes where space may be limited, making islands impractical. A U-shaped kitchen consists of cabinets and appliances along three walls. This layout is particularly suitable for larger households where multiple people may be cooking simultaneously. Its flexibility allows it to work in both narrow and wide spaces. In larger kitchens, the central space can be allocated for a dining table. The main advantage of this traditional design is ample storage, although it may involve higher costs for cabinets.

L-shaped kitchens have become less popular in recent times, primarily because they don't blend well with open-plan layouts. However, they do offer some advantages, especially in limited spaces, as they minimise traffic issues caused by people crossing paths. L-shapes also allow you to have a centre table in the space. The layout also makes grouping appliances easy with sinks and dishwashers on one wall and cooking and fridge on the other.

One-wall kitchens are predominantly found in flats or apartments, particularly studio flats where there is no dedicated kitchen space, and everything is part of an open-plan layout. They are ideal for saving space or working within confined areas. In some cases, larger square kitchens can adopt this style and seamlessly blend with a more traditional dining area. The downside is that everything needs to be integrated into the cabinets to maintain a tidy appearance.

Galley kitchens are often found in older apartments or terraced houses, characterised by two walls with exits at both ends. While not a popular choice unless dictated by the property's layout, galley kitchens effectively maximise space. However, they may not be suitable for busy households due to the number of people using the one main footpath.