If you’re planning a new kitchen for a luxury custom home in Toronto or a kitchen remodelling for a tiny downtown condo, you might have a tougher job than you think.

Perhaps unique in your home, your kitchen is a working space as well as a place where family and friends gather, sometimes at the same time. That means how you design a kitchen layout is crucial in making sure the kitchen functions well in all the roles it plays in your home.

How Do You Plan a Kitchen?

Before you start designing, the first step in creating a kitchen design is to not do any designing. Instead, examine how you use your kitchen and what you need from it. For example, a family with small children will have different requirements of their kitchen versus a couple who are both avid cooks. Those considerations will help you decide what to include in your kitchen floor plan, including things like how much counter space you need and where you place the kitchen cabinets.

The Basics of Kitchen Design

There are two basic guidelines for designing a kitchen.

1. The Work Triangle – The sink, stove, and fridge are where most of the activity happens. Together they form the work triangle of the kitchen. Their placement must be carefully considered to ensure a smooth workflow and unobstructed access between the three.
2. The Basic Shape of the Kitchen Floor Plan – Is it I, C, or L? Those letters are used to identify the three basic kitchen floor plan layouts.

I-Shaped – Also known as ‘single wall’ kitchens, I-shapes are usually used in smaller spaces like a condominium apartment where space is at a premium. In an I-shaped kitchen, everything in the kitchen, including all work areas, appliances, wall cabinets, and sinks, are placed beside each other along a single wall.

C-Shaped – Sometimes called U-shaped, this shaped kitchen layout is ideal for ‘top chefs’ because everything is in easy reach, including lots of counter space. But you need lots of space for a C-shaped kitchen floor plan too.

L-Shaped – Similar to a C-Shaped kitchen, but without the ‘peninsula’, C-shape is a good choice if you have a somewhat limited area, but still want lots of workspace.

Kitchen Islands – Islands can be added to any layout and they offer many advantages. You can add more counter space, improve the work triangle, use it as a place to eat, create more storage space, and any other reason that helps you enjoy your kitchen.

If you liked this post, check out this article about our Deja View kitchen on Houzz.