Kitchen Layouts to Avoid

When redesigning a kitchen, it’s important to consider the fluidity of the room, as this will make cooking, eating, drinking, socialising and cleaning, easy and enjoyable. If you’re investing time and money into a brand new kitchen, you’ll want it to be as functional as it is beautiful – so to ensure your kitchen layout is perfect, our experts have put together an article on things to avoid…

• Obstruction of the sink, stove and fridge
  Known as the ‘kitchen triangle’ the sink, stove and fridge are the areas where we spend most of our time in the kitchen and so, it’s important to keep this triangle free from obstruction. All of these areas lend themselves to one another, making it important to keep these areas easy to access and fully functional. When laying out your kitchen triangle, keep the three points between 10 and 20 feet apart – so that you have enough space to prepare food but not too much that it becomes exhausting.  
  
  Your kitchen sink takes priority because it’ll need to be placed where the plumbing is, therefore, your fridge and stove should be fitted closeby. That said, if your plumbing is in an awkward location, you can call out a plumber who will be able to relocate your water pipes.

• Under utilising space for storage
  In a kitchen, we can’t get enough storage, which is why you must plan and design to ensure there’s adequate room to store surplus kitchenware. Storing goods such as food processors and juicers, is a must for when they’re not in use, to keep your kitchen looking great at all times.
  
  For small kitchens, consider long cabinets with molding, this’ll help you to maximise your storage space inside your kitchen. Also, install cabinets over the top of your fridge/freezer because this space will not be used anyway – here is a good place to put things you use a couple of times a year.

• Small counter spaces
  Having a kitchen installed and then realising that there’s not enough counter space can be a nightmare, however this need not be the case. With prior planning and computer generated kitchen visualiser provided to you by industry professionals; you can be sure to maximise your use of counter space, that’s tailored to the room’s exact measurements.

• Lack of lighting
  A dull kitchen can make food preparation difficult and dangerous, and so good lighting is a must. Designing a kitchen with plentiful lighting options can make your kitchen the number one place to cook, eat and socialise; embrace main lights, spot lights, under cabinet lights, floor lights and wall lights.
  
  Illuminating your kitchen will open up dark corners and make it look much bigger and more inviting. With a selection of options to choose from, you can adapt your lighting to each task or social situation at hand.  

• Opting out the backsplash
  Although a backsplash might seem like just another expense, it will prevent steam, food, water and grease from dirtying up your painted walls. With a backsplash, you can simply wipe clean – much easier than getting the paint and brushes out.

• Choosing a cheap ventilation system
  Strong odours are persistent in the kitchen but with a good ventilation system, you can draw out pungent smells and improve the quality of the air in your kitchen. Cheap ventilation systems often circulate stale air and need replacing more frequently.

• Having a kitchen island, if there isn’t enough room
  If your kitchen is on the small side, you might just have to opt out of a kitchen island. Kitchen islands can take up a whole lot of room and although they offer more counter space, they limit your floor space. Ideally an island needs to be 4 feet long and 2 feet deep and this is really the minimum, so think wisely and consider what’s more important.

• Forgetting about your recycling
  Recycling, we all forget about where we are going to store the bin, so streamline your kitchen and manage your waste effectively with under sink solutions. This helps to keep your kitchen looking pristine at all times because it is not on show.

• ‘Going with the trend’
  When going for the latest trend be careful and consider whether or not you will like it in a couple of years to come. Bold colours and quirky fittings might be something you change your mind about.

• Inexperienced companies
  When having your kitchen installed, speak with professional designers who will be able to offer you a tailor-made finish and computer generated kitchen visualisers, so you can see what your kitchen will look like before it’s fitted.

Build the kitchen of your dreams and call your local specialists at UK Kitchens. We have a great wealth of experience within the industry and have a long history of happy customers. Book your design consultation today and complete your home with a kitchen to be proud of. We operate throughout Nottinghamshire.