The layout of your kitchen cabinets and appliances is one of the most important aspects of your design. It directly impacts the amount of space you have for preparing and storing food, your workflow and the movement of traffic through your room. Creating a practical and aesthetically pleasing layout is crucial to ensuring your new kitchen stands the test of time. However, since every home and household is different, finding the perfect layout isn’t always easy.
At Mulberry Kitchen Studios, our professional designers will work closely with you to create a fantastic layout. They’ll call upon their years of experience to devise a unique solution that maximises your space and suits your lifestyle. While we tailor all our designs depending on your needs, most layouts are essentially based on six core types. If you’re unsure where to begin planning your kitchen layout, these six designs offer a great starting point.
Galley Kitchen
Named after the narrow kitchens found aboard a ship, galley kitchens have remained popular for almost one hundred years. They were one of the first fitted kitchens ever invented. And up until the 1960s, they proved by far the best solution to the compact interiors of the time. To this day, they make a fantastic choice for smaller rooms. They make incredibly efficient use of space, delivering on storage while helping you achieve the ideal work triangle. The downside to galley kitchens is that they can sometimes feel a bit cramped. Limiting overhead cabinetry to one side will help establish a brighter, more open atmosphere. We added a small peninsula to the galley kitchen below to increase worktop and storage space while creating a lovely informal seating area.
One-Wall Kitchen
One-wall kitchens aren’t dissimilar from galley kitchens. As their name suggests, they feature a run of cabinets along a single wall, including all your appliances, storage, and worktops. Though you will need to flatten the work triangle, one-wall kitchens can be highly functional. Their compact footprint makes them ideal for narrow rooms where there isn’t enough space for a galley kitchen with cabinets on either side. They also bring great flexibility to open-plan living areas, allowing you to utilise the large proportion of remaining space to arrange your dining and living furniture. The main downside to one-wall kitchens is their size. There is, of course, a limit to how much worktop and storage space a one-wall kitchen can provide. However, this is ultimately dictated by the size of your room. If you have enough space, you may want to introduce a kitchen island.
Island Kitchen
While a standalone island can form the basis of a stylish and eye-catching kitchen, they are more commonly paired with the other layouts mentioned in this blog. The island kitchen below offers a sophisticated addition to our client’s breath-taking contemporary home. It incorporates all the appliances and counter space required for cooking. However, storage is somewhat limited. Pairing an island with a one-wall or L-shaped layout is a great way to achieve an ergonomic work triangle while maximising available storage and worktop space. A kitchen island can establish a fantastic social focal point, ideal for busy families and those who enjoy entertaining. You can learn more about the benefits kitchen islands offer by clicking here.
L-Shaped Kitchen
Open, spacious and highly flexible, L-shaped kitchen layouts offer an excellent solution for small and large rooms alike. They can be paired with an island to minimise traffic and increase storage or left open to accommodate multiple chefs and establish an airy feel. L-shaped kitchens make it easy to introduce separate zones. For example, positioning your fridge and sink on one side allows your family to prepare drinks without getting in the way while you’re cooking. L-shaped layouts work well in both open-plan and traditional spaces.
U-Shaped Kitchen
Formed by three continuous runs of cabinetry, U-shaped kitchens offer plenty of workspace and storage. And with three adjacent worksurfaces available, you’ll have no trouble achieving the perfect work triangle. Their closed layout makes them ideal for those who prefer to keep their kitchen separate from their living space. However, too much overhead cabinetry and a lack of floorspace can quickly make a u-shaped kitchen feel cramped. To bring a more open atmosphere to a u-shaped kitchen, consider introducing a peninsula as one of the runs.
Peninsula Kitchen
Much like kitchen islands, peninsulas offer a great way to enhance storage and worktop space while bringing a social element to your design. As they protrude into the room at an angle to your wall units, they require much less space than a central island. Peninsulas can help elevate a compact one-wall or L-shaped kitchen, introducing an extra area to dine, socialise or prepare food.
We hope our introduction to the six key types of kitchens gives you some great inspiration for your project. However, if you have any doubts about how to make the most of your space, we recommend speaking to a professional. They will be able to advise on the best layout to suit your room and lifestyle. If you would like to get in touch with our friendly expert team, you can do so by calling 01502 711210.
