Home Kitchen Design – Kitchen Layout

The first thing to consider when planning a new kitchen is the layout, which should be functional and compatible with the overall design of your home. Designer Reiko Caron presents the five basic kitchen layouts in this House & Home video:

One-wall: This is the most compact layout if you only have one wall to work with.

Galley style: A very efficient layout with two rows of cabinets opposite each other.

U-shaped: This classic layout takes advantage of the space on all three walls.

G-shaped: A different take on the U-shaped layout that’s a good choice if you have a wider kitchen and want to maximize counter space even more.

L-shaped: This is the most popular layout as it is especially suited to open-concept homes and allows you to add an island.

If you are adding an island, make sure to leave 42-48 inches away from the cabinetry to allow clearance for drawers and doors. In a smaller kitchen, it may be better from a functional perspective to leave the island solely for prep and not add a sink.