Do you know about the kitchen ‘work triangle’?
Planning a kitchen takes a lot of time, effort and imagination, but it’s important to get it right. It’s crucial that your new kitchen works from a functional point of view, as well as looking good and having enough storage space. With functionality in mind, have you incorporated the kitchen ‘work triangle’ into your plans?
The work triangle explained
The aim of the work triangle is to create an ideal work flow within the space, to make it easier for you and your family to use your new kitchen. Without this in mind, you could end up with appliances that you use every day at different ends of the kitchen, so you’ll have to walk back and forth between them. This situation is magnified in a large kitchen, which requires even closer attention in planning than some medium-sized kitchens.
The three points of your triangle should be:
Take a look at your kitchen plan and mark on where each of these points is, then draw a line between them. Is there a disproportionate distance between each of the three points? If so, some adjustment may be needed.
You need to make sure that the three points in your layout are not too far away from each other, so you won’t have to do a lot of walking back and forth to use the kitchen efficiently. According to experts in kitchen planning, the ideal distance between each of your three points should be around 90cm. The distance between all of the points shouldn’t exceed 6 metres in total, or you could find yourself taking longer to prepare meals (and having sorer feet from all that walking back and forth!)
How to adjust your kitchen plan for greater efficiency
Each room layout and configuration is different, but a few general rules of thumb when planning your ‘work triangle’ can apply to most designs. Bear the following in mind:
- Avoid crossing the kitchen with hot pans and pots, so place your oven and hob near or on the same side as sinks and worktops
- Ensure there is a worktop near your main food storage areas, which makes putting away the groceries much easier
- Keep your fridge close to your sink to make food preparation (i.e. washing of fruit and vegetables) easier
Of course, it isn’t always possible to incorporate all of these suggestions into your kitchen plan. It can be useful just to bear it in mind, so that you start thinking more about the efficiency and functionality of your kitchen design. Keep the ‘work triangle’ in mind and you can plan the layout that will work best for your space and your family.
Once you’ve nailed down your kitchen plan, it’s time to think about fitting. A&J Kitchens are an experienced, skilled and knowledgeable team of expert kitchen fitters, who have helped hundreds of people to create their ideal kitchens. You’ve put a lot of thought and care into the design of your kitchen – make sure you do the same when it comes to fitting.
Planning a kitchen takes a lot of time, effort and imagination, but it’s important to get it right. It’s crucial that your new kitchen works from a functional point of view, as well as looking good and having enough storage space. With functionality in mind, have you incorporated the kitchen ‘work triangle’ into your plans?
The work triangle explained
The aim of the work triangle is to create an ideal work flow within the space, to make it easier for you and your family to use your new kitchen. Without this in mind, you could end up with appliances that you use every day at different ends of the kitchen, so you’ll have to walk back and forth between them. This situation is magnified in a large kitchen, which requires even closer attention in planning than some medium-sized kitchens.
The three points of your triangle should be:
- Cooking – the hob, oven and/or microwave
- Cleaning – the sink and/or dishwasher
- Food storage – the refrigerator and/or food storage
Take a look at your kitchen plan and mark on where each of these points is, then draw a line between them. Is there a disproportionate distance between each of the three points? If so, some adjustment may be needed.
You need to make sure that the three points in your layout are not too far away from each other, so you won’t have to do a lot of walking back and forth to use the kitchen efficiently. According to experts in kitchen planning, the ideal distance between each of your three points should be around 90cm. The distance between all of the points shouldn’t exceed 6 metres in total, or you could find yourself taking longer to prepare meals (and having sorer feet from all that walking back and forth!)
How to adjust your kitchen plan for greater efficiency
Each room layout and configuration is different, but a few general rules of thumb when planning your ‘work triangle’ can apply to most designs. Bear the following in mind:
- Avoid crossing the kitchen with hot pans and pots, so place your oven and hob near or on the same side as sinks and worktops
- Ensure there is a worktop near your main food storage areas, which makes putting away the groceries much easier
- Keep your fridge close to your sink to make food preparation (i.e. washing of fruit and vegetables) easier
Of course, it isn’t always possible to incorporate all of these suggestions into your kitchen plan. It can be useful just to bear it in mind, so that you start thinking more about the efficiency and functionality of your kitchen design. Keep the ‘work triangle’ in mind and you can plan the layout that will work best for your space and your family.
Once you’ve nailed down your kitchen plan, it’s time to think about fitting. A&J Kitchens are an experienced, skilled and knowledgeable team of expert kitchen fitters, who have helped hundreds of people to create their ideal kitchens. You’ve put a lot of thought and care into the design of your kitchen – make sure you do the same when it comes to fitting.
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