IKEA | Kitchen layout types

Kitchen guide

Kitchen layout types

The efficiency of your kitchen can depend more on how it’s laid out than the amount of space you have. When you begin your plan it’s a good idea to think about the natural workflows between the primary activity areas: Oven, preparation area and food storage area. Read below to find out the five basic layout shapes that will provide a practical kitchen.

Each layout type includes a red line symbolising the working triangle, which helps to illustrate movement between each of the primary activity areas. To find out more about the working triangle, visit the section on ergonomics.

The single-line kitchen

This is a smart and simple solution for narrow rooms, ideally with one wall over 3 metres long without windows or doors. However, this shape of kitchen causes the longest journey distances since you often have to walk from one end of the room to the other. Therefore, it can be a good idea to situate the sink in the middle of the line, with adequate space separating it from the hobs.

The galley kitchen

This shape offers the most efficient use of space, making it the choice of many professional chefs. The two rows allow room for lots of preparation space, and moving between activity areas can be as easy as turning around. However, this shape is not ideal if the corridor is open at both ends, as it can cause traffic congestion.
Make sure there is enough room for opposite drawers to be open at the same time (at least 1.2m). Another important consideration is to keep the cleaning and cooking areas on the same side in order to minimize the risk of accidents while moving hot pans between the sink and cooktop.

The L-shape kitchen

This is a very popular kitchen layout - ideal for a family kitchen or for entertaining guests as it can easily accommodate table and chairs in the same room. Using two adjacent walls, the kitchen also benefits from lack of through-traffic.
The sink, hob and fridge should be separated by a preparation area.

The U-shape kitchen

Using three full walls of a room can offer the perfect working kitchen. The fridge, cooktop and sink can be spaced out for total efficiency and convenience. This is great news for those of you who take your cooking seriously, as it provides the best workflows with the shortest distances around the kitchen. This shape also allows for large amounts of worktop and storage space.

The island kitchen

A very popular kitchen type, the island layout is perfect if you plan to entertain. An independent island unit can face a dining or living area, allowing the cook to socialise while preparing. A sink here provides the optimal arrangement in terms of the kitchen’s working triangle. Otherwise, cooking hobs with a canopy over the island can form a stunning focal point to the kitchen.

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