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There are many factors to account for when deciding on the best kitchen layout for your space. It’s a decision that should be carefully considered, as the perfect layout will help to maximise and complement your space, whilst making time in your kitchen enjoyable.

Firstly, you will need to consider the size and shape of your room and how it will be able to accommodate a kitchen, then, you must choose which appliances need to be integrated within the design, and how much workspace you will need to suit your everyday kitchen life.

Your local independent Second Nature retailer will be able to talk you through the options for your individual space, but if you need inspiration for the time being, let us take you through the five most popular kitchen layouts, the benefits they can bring to your space, and the room sizes/shapes they are best suited to.

           

U-shaped

A U-Shaped kitchen is perfectly designed to be user friendly and efficient, with worktops on three sides to enable smooth food preparation, an array of storage possibilities, and the opportunity to have appliances within a practical proximity of each other.

This layout is best suited to those with a medium sized space, as the extra units can take up too much floor surface in some smaller kitchens, and the design can be unpractical in a larger space as the work stations can end up being too far apart.

If you have an open plan living and kitchen area, a U-Shaped kitchen can be perfect for separating your family space from the kitchen area, whilst still allowing for socialising across the two.

           

L-shaped

An L-Shaped kitchen is a classic design that never goes out of fashion. The layout utilises two walls of a room for a continuous flow of cabinets and worktops in an ‘L shape’, taking note of exit/entry points and windows.

It’s practical, seamless and works effectively in any sized kitchen, leaving open floor space that creates the illusion of a bigger room- perfect for smaller footprints.

The design is also perfect for open-plan living, with the valuable central area free for a dining table, kitchen island, or a family living space in a modern property. This makes it the ideal kitchen layout for entertaining and for the practicalities of everyday family life.

           

A kitchen island

Practical and aesthetically pleasing, the kitchen island trend is here to stay.

This plan, which is more suited to medium to large sized kitchens, often uses the open floor space available from an L-Shaped or Galley layout to incorporate a central kitchen island.

The island can include an integrated breakfast bar or double-up as a dining area with enough seating for the whole family, can include your sink or hob, and can be used to house other integrated appliances, such as a dishwasher or wine cooler.

It also offers the perfect opportunity to segment work areas for those who love to cook, allowing you to keep food preparation separate from dining space or worktop appliances.

In terms of your kitchen’s appearance, an island is a great opportunity to experiment with a two-tone colour scheme, or to mix-up materials with a contrasting worksurface.

           

The Galley kitchen

As the name suggests, a Galley kitchen is a single line of cabinets, often long and narrow, utilising one wall of a room. This design makes for a streamlined, modern and functional space with great accessibility.

This layout is suited to almost any kitchen size, allowing for a dining table or island in a larger space, and leaving floor space free in a smaller kitchen for moving around with ease.

The cooking and sink area must be separated on worktops, which can cause an issue for some smaller kitchens, but if your room allows it then this layout can supply a great amount of food preparation space and storage possibilities.

Tip: Incorporating glazed display doors into your Galley kitchen can make your space feel more open.

           

The Double galley

With cabinets running the length of two opposite walls, a double galley kitchen shares the benefits of a galley kitchen, whilst increasing storage space, worktops and space to integrate appliances.

A double galley can be perfect for any sized kitchen (dependent on the individual space) as it can allow for a dining table or island in a large kitchen, or can help incorporate more storage and workspace into a smaller kitchen, whilst still allowing people to walk the length of the room.

Tip: Plinth lighting and illuminated, glazed wall cabinets can help to open up the scheme and create a spacious feel.

If you’re ready to take the next step towards bringing your dream kitchen to life, find your closest independent Second Nature specialist today.