Popular Kitchen Layouts & Choosing the Best One for You
American families tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen – cooking, eating, cleaning, and socializing. Many homeowners have some initial kitchen layout ideas when they first move into a new place, but the type of kitchen design you have may actually guide how you use the room.
This article will compare a few different kitchen layouts and provide advice on how to choose the best kitchen design for your home. We’ll also offer some recommendations based on size, use, and features to help give you kitchen remodel ideas to fit your daily life. Once you’ve chosen the design that’s right for you, Central Plumbing Specialties is your one-stop source for all your plumbing needs and decorative kitchen hardware and fixtures.
Gallery Kitchen Design
One of the most popular kitchen layout ideas is the galley kitchen, which is known for being ideal for small spaces. This is also called a walk-through kitchen because there are two opposite walls with parallel countertops that you can walk between. They are great if you only have one cook in the kitchen, and they are an efficient use of space. However, it may be best to choose a different kitchen design if you have a busy household or cook for large groups because counter space is limited and traffic flow may be restrictive.
One-Wall Kitchen Design
If your kitchen is very small and crowded, perhaps a one-wall kitchen design is your best bet. These are popular kitchen layouts in loft spaces and studio apartments because they save a lot of space. Features include cabinets and appliances all along one wall. However, you may be able to incorporate an island with this design if space allows.
L-Shape Kitchen Design
L-shaped kitchens are a good option if you have a medium-size kitchen. These kitchens have countertops on two adjoining wall that form an L shape. Choose this kitchen if you have multiple people in the home that will be passing through the kitchen during cooking times to allow good traffic flow. L-shape kitchens are very popular and provide ample counter space for basic cooking tasks.
U-Shape Kitchen Design
As you sit down with your kitchen layout planner, you may also consider a U-shape or horseshoe kitchen for your medium-size space. With this kitchen design, you’ll have three walls with countertops, cabinets, and appliances. It’s a good design if you have more than one cook in the kitchen and to provide more working space than an L-shape kitchen. If the U-shape is large enough, you may be able to add an island to this kitchen design.
Island Kitchen Design
Another one of the most popular kitchen remodel ideas includes an island kitchen design for extra work room. Islands may have cabinets for storage or even an appliance installed inside. They are ideal for food preparation, especially if the island has its own sink. This is one of the best kitchen layout ideas for large kitchens because you’ll need enough clearance room on all sides to make the kitchen walkways accessible.
G-Shape Kitchen Design
G-shape or peninsula kitchens connect a kitchen island to a U-shape kitchen and make the space extra cozy. This is a good choice for cooks who need a lot of counter space and also a clever way to bridge the design gap between the kitchen and the dining room.
Zone Kitchen Design
The last of the popular kitchen layouts we’ll mention here is the zone kitchen design. Rather than taking on a specific shape, a zone kitchen simply breaks up different parts of the room into zones. This means that there’s a separate place for food prep, cooking, eating, dishes, cleaning, and other common tasks. Choose this design if you regularly have multiple cooks in the kitchen because it allows room for each person to complete tasks without bumping into one another. You can incorporate zones into many different kitchen layouts, just as long as there’s enough square footage to accommodate multiple zones.