How to design a kitchen well? What is worth knowing? I will bring you some of the most important principles that determine the ergonomics of the kitchen space.
When designing a kitchen, the first thing to think about is its function.Ergonomics should be the primary value here – first, we plan the layout of cabinets, the arrangement of equipment, and the height of countertops, while the choice of materials and aesthetics are dealt with at the end. It is important not to leave any decision to chance, saying to ourselves “Somehow it will be”. This is a big mistake! The kitchen requires very meticulous planning, because only then will it provide you with a comfortable space in which cooking will become simpler, food preparation faster, and cleaning easier.
It is also worthwhile that functionality and convenience go hand in hand with luxury character, which I recommend inviting into any kitchen. I very much appreciate the combination of practical solutions with exclusive products, materials, and textures in the interiors. The results of such design compositions are always unique and go beyond the usual schemes. What will add some luxury to the kitchen? Natural materials in the form of stone, wood, and conglomerate. They can be used on the walls, floor, countertop, and furniture. Combine and juxtapose them in many different ways, creating compositions pleasing to the eye. Add elegant black on the wall or clean, light white on the furniture. A cool addition to the kitchen will be designer accessories from a well-known designer, such as a lamp or an exclusive line of faucets. And all this is enlivened by greenery of both flowers and aromatic herbs, which will also give the kitchen a pleasant, soothing atmosphere pleasant to the soul and the eye.
SHAPE AND SIZE OF THE ROOM
In the design of the kitchen, you must take into account the shape and size of the room and decide on its functional and spatial layout. Should the kitchen be arranged in a row, or should it be in two rows? Would an L-shaped or U-shaped built-in be better? This is very significant, because what will work differently in a small kitchen in a residential block apartment, and what will work differently in a large, spacious kitchen in a detached house. We will also approach the design of an open kitchen differently, and one located in a closed, separate room. Also, do not forget about the household members themselves. Because, after all, the kitchen should be adapted to your needs and lifestyle. So it is worth considering what you use most often and what you use relatively rarely. What do you need in the kitchen one hundred percent, and what you can give up if it becomes necessary?
DIVISION OF THE KITCHEN SPACE INTO ZONES
When designing the furniture in your kitchen, divide it into five work zones: stock, storage, dishwashing, food preparation, and cooking and baking. They should be placed side by side clockwise for those who are right-handed and vice versa for those who are left-handed. If the implementation of such an arrangement is not possible in its entirety, I encourage you to at least stick to some framework defined here. Why do we need these zones? So that the room is functional, comfortable, and all, daily kitchen work takes far less time.
Stock zone – this is the place, as the name says, intended for storing food. Here you should find a refrigerator, and a freezer, as well as capacious drawers, and practical cargo systems. If you have a pretty big family, rarely make purchases, or have friends visiting often your house, it’s worth planning for maximum space here. It’s also a good idea to plan the inventory zone close to the entrance, as this will prevent you from getting tired and carrying your purchases across the room.
Storage zone – this is where all the dishes and utensils you use on a daily basis should be located – pots, cutlery, cups, bowls, glasses, or other kitchen accessories. You can plan their storage in both upper and lower cabinets and drawers.
Dishwashing zone – in this space, in addition to the sink and faucet, you need to plan a dishwasher and trash garbage cans.
For garbage segregation, it is worth choosing cabinets with a pull-out drawer, which you can easily find in the offer of many manufacturers. You should also think about an additional cabinet, which will be useful for washing-up liquid, sponges, or other cleaning products. It can be placed under the sink.
Food preparation zone – the most important here will be the work surfaces. They must be the right width and height for comfortable slicing, mixing, and peeling. Also place in close to the accessories you use every day – a chopping board, a knife rack, containers of spices.
Cooking zone – hob, oven, and possibly a microwave. A hood and a cabinet for pans or pots are also useful. Think about allocating a corner cabinet with a very practical pull-out corner system for this purpose.
THE WORK TRIANGLE IN THE KITCHEN
Convenient movement between different zones in the kitchen, on the other hand, will provide you with the principle of the work triangle. It defines the positioning of the three main pieces of equipment – refrigerator, sink, and stove. They should be placed close to each other in an arrangement that resembles just a triangle. Why? Because such a layout means that when cooking or preparing meals, you have everything at hand and do not have to cross the entire room if you just need something. It is more convenient, more efficient, and simply more pleasant.
What spacing is best between appliances?
- Refrigerator and sink – 120-210 cm.
- Sink and stove – 120-210 cm (min. 90 cm in small kitchens).
- Refrigerator and stove – 120-270 cm.
Also important in the kitchen is the layout of the built-in furniture itself, the choice of which also dictates the work triangle. According to the main principles of ergonomics, there are six basic variants of built-in furniture: single-row kitchen, double-row kitchen, with an island, and types denoted by the letters of the alphabet: L, U, and G.
Which option is best for your kitchen depends, of course, on the size and shape of the room. If you have a narrow kitchen then the variant of placing cabinets on two sides of the interior will not be possible. A single row, or L-shaped layout will work better here. The island, in turn, is an option for large, spacious kitchens, in small rooms there is usually simply not enough space for it. And, in turn, placing cabinets on more than two adjacent walls will work poorly in an open kitchen.
