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The kitchen is classified as a technical or auxiliary room. But, not only do the hostesses spend a significant portion of their “free” time there, but also all the inhabitants of the apartment like to sit there with a cup of tea or coffee. Often it is this small room, usually in size, that is the center of the entire apartment or house. Therefore, the layout of the kitchen and design development is carried out taking into account all requirements. It should be practical, convenient, beautiful and cozy. The task is not easy, and if “inexpensive” is added, it becomes even more difficult. However, it is possible to find an acceptable solution in such a situation.
Planning Basics
It is difficult to create a completely original design solution in the design of a kitchen without an appropriate education, but it is real to remake the interior seen in the picture to your liking. The main thing is to find the photo that will become the basis. What you see needs to be adjusted in accordance with the existing conditions, and now, the unique design of the kitchen is ready.
The layout of the kitchen can be divided into several stages:
- determining the place of installation of furniture – the shape of the kitchen set and dining area;
- choice of style (find your favorite design photo);
- choice of colors;
- definition with types of wall decoration, apron for the working area, ceiling;
- lighting development;
- window decoration in the kitchen.
If you are friends with computer technology, you can model in one of the free design programs. There you can evaluate the proportions, dimensions, overall impression – most utilities provide a three-dimensional image. After that, you can start implementing the created project.
Types of furniture arrangement in the working area of the kitchen
First of all, you need to decide what kind of kitchen area will have. Depending on the geometry of the room and the placement of communications (water supply, sewerage, electrical outlets), the method of placing cabinets, lockers and equipment is primarily chosen.
When planning, keep in mind that it is desirable that the stove, sink and refrigerator form a triangle. Scientists analyzed the movement of housewives in the kitchen and found that she spends most of the time near the sink, near the stove and refrigerator – a little less. But it moves mainly between these three objects.
To work comfortably, the sink is placed in the center, and the stove and refrigerator are on the sides of it. They can be arranged in one line or create a real triangle, but between them it is desirable to put cabinets with work surfaces of at least 80 cm. Having solved this problem, you will get a perfectly planned work area.
Linear kitchen layout
As the name implies, cabinets and appliances line up along one wall. This type of kitchen layout is also called single-row or straight. This option is used in small rooms with an area of 6-8 square meters. meters. It is convenient for a small number of people – 1-2, but no more. Since there is not enough space, you can’t put a lot of equipment here. Like it or not, but it is best to buy built-in appliances, as it is more compact.
Usually two or three cabinets are appropriate, one of which is with a sink, a stove. In theory, you need to fit a refrigerator into the same wall, but this does not always work out and it is placed where there is a place.
Corner or L- or L-shaped
A universal way of arranging, which allows you to more fully use the space. It is most advantageous in square rooms. Also, with such a device, the forced movements of the hostess in the kitchen are reduced: everything is close by hand.
You can use the wall in which there is a window, and the one in which there are doors. Just thinking about what to put under the window, try not to limit the amount of light that enters the room.
It is possible to plan a kitchen in this way even with a small area: 7 meters is already enough. Maybe there will be few cabinets, but everything should fit. Often, with an L-shaped kitchen, the sink is made in the corner, under it there is a compartment for storing a trash can, detergents and technical devices.
double row
This layout method is suitable for a long and narrow kitchen with a window in a short wall. In order not to block access to the window, leave the battery open, cabinets and appliances are placed along two walls. They are also forced to act if the premises are passable.
This is a good option for a narrow kitchen if the window and doors are in short walls. The dining area is moved closer to the window, and the remaining space is occupied by work surfaces and appliances. Only when determining the dimensions of the furniture, keep in mind that the distance between the rows should be at least 80-90 cm. To increase functionality, it is better to make the doors in the lower tier sliding, and in the upper tier – pulling out or opening up. This will further reduce the chance of bruising on open doors.
U- or U-shaped
This layout is convenient in more or less spacious kitchens, but can also be used in long narrow ones.
For a small family, you can organize a dining area due to multi-level countertops, as in the photo above. If the room is square or wide, the dining table can be placed in the middle.
In general, with such an organization there are options. You can experiment if the area allows in the program, or by cutting out cardboard squares according to the size of the planned furniture and moving them according to the plan drawn on a piece of paper. Just keep in mind that everything should be drawn to the same scale.
Island
This layout is most often found in kitchens combined with living or dining rooms. To any of the above layouts, a free-standing “island” is added, which can house a sink, stove or just a desktop.
This option can be implemented on an area of more than 16 meters. With smaller dimensions, this place is usually occupied by a dining area. The minimum size of the island is at least 1,2-1,2 m, and it is also worth adding a distance from the working wall cabinets of at least 80-90 cm, otherwise it will be inconvenient to work.
Peninsular or G-shaped
This is a modification of the island, when a ledge is added to one of the sides – a peninsula. If dimensions allow, in such a simple way you can expand the functionality. This ledge is used as a branch of the dining area, at the same time it can be used as a counter, bar counter. If you put high chairs nearby, it is convenient to have a snack or drink tea and coffee.
small kitchen layout
If the available area is only 5-6 meters, you have to use not only every meter, but every centimeter. Therefore, wall cabinets are often made in two rows – up to the ceiling. In the lower tier are frequently used items and equipment, in the upper – those that are rarely used. They make cabinets or shelves above the refrigerator: why waste a place.
If there is access to the balcony, after insulating and glazing it, you can take out the dining area there. A recently popular redevelopment option: in connection with the advent of new heaters, it is realistic to maintain a normal temperature even if the neighbors at the top and bottom have balconies / loggias open.
Also, in small rooms, various devices are used – drawers, rotating shelves, folding or sliding tabletops. In general, they make a transforming kitchen out of an ordinary one.
By the way, please note: in order not to beat on the corners, it is better to make countertops rounded. This, by the way, is one of the latest trends – round kitchens and circular design.
Read more about all the intricacies of decorating a small kitchen here.
Photos of kitchen layouts
In this section, we tried to collect photos of different kitchen layouts – both large and small, in different styles and options. Many photos of real apartments. This is a clear example of how the ideas of designers can be implemented in real conditions.
For starters, a few ideas from designers. For example, how to visually expand a narrow kitchen. One option is to make a wall with a reflective surface. If possible, paint it with paint with a metallic sheen, and cover it with sheet (not cellular) transparent polycarbonate on top. A more budget option is shiny plastic.
The latest design trends are smooth curved lines rather than sharp angles and straight lines. It looks interesting, and such a construction is definitely safer: you won’t hurt yourself on the corners. Here one more technique is used: glass doors soften the bright color.
A waterfall on the kitchen backsplash in the work area and furniture lighting from below is interesting and unusual. And the hard color contrast – black and white – is broken by floral ornaments.
Classic furniture in non-classical colors. In this photo, the layout of the kitchen is island, but this idea is easy to transform: try to beat traditional furniture with some unusual color.
Next – a photo of the kitchens in the apartments. Some rooms are very small, some are bigger. Although kitchens are typical, there is a difference in size and layout, but you can peep some interesting ideas. Moreover, these are already real embodied projects.