Basic Kitchen Layouts

Every kitchen has the same basic ingredients -- cabinets, countertops, fixtures, appliances. It's how you arrange them that makes the difference, for better or worse, in the way your kitchen functions. Sometimes the dimensions of the room dictate the layout; other times those dimensions can be changed. Most follow one of four basic kitchen designs.

Though they make good use of small, open spaces, one-wall kitchens are not terribly efficient. They work best with the sink in the center, flanked by fridge and cooktop with 4 feet of counter between each pair.

Galleys are built along parallel walls, allowing the cook to move easily from one work area to another. Think about putting the sink and fridge on one wall with the cooktop centered between them on the opposite wall. If there are doorways at each end of the galley, foot traffic can cross the work triangle.

These kitchens require two adjacent walls and are particularly efficient when work areas are kept close to the crook of the L. You'll save yourself extra steps by planning the workflow from fridge to sink to cooking, then to serving areas. Crossing foot traffic is rarely a problem in the L-shape kitchen design. Adding an island to an L-shape kitchen makes room for multiple cooks, snack bars, and increased storage. It usually allows for in-kitchen family dining, too. The island also works as a visual divider.

The U-shape kitchen layout is the most versatile. These kitchens usually have one workstation on each of three walls. They work best in larger spaces; small U shapes can be a tight squeeze for more than one cook. Adding an island to a U-shape kitchen can make a big kitchen more efficient. You can work a sink or cooktop into the island, or even a special-function countertop, such as butcher block for chopping or marble for rolling out pastry.