The kitchen is often the busiest part of the house. To ensure the efficiency of the heart of your home, carefully consider where you are going to place appliances and workstations. If you find it hard to navigate this room, a kitchen remodel can help address your issues. A good layout will improve the space’s functionality and make your daily tasks easier.
Here are the do’s and don’ts of creating a kitchen layout.
What to Do
Make Sure Walkways Are Wide Enough
With enough space between cabinets and the island, it will be easier to walk around your kitchen. Experts suggest that paths in the room should be 36 inches or wider. Aisles in cooking zones must be 42 inches or wider. If your kitchen has a two-cook configuration, the aisle should be a minimum of 48 inches wide.
Dedicate Space Near Appliances
With a landing space near appliances, you’ll have somewhere you can immediately place hot pans or dishes from your oven, stove or microwave. You’ll also benefit while you are prepping meals. During the design stages of your layout, allocate five inches or more of countertop space on both sides of your stove and refrigerator.
Have Enough Space for Cabinet Door Clearance
Don’t forget about cabinet door clearance when planning your kitchen renovation. You should be able to open and close your cabinet doors effortlessly. They should not collide with each other when opened simultaneously.
What You Shouldn’t Do
Fail to Consider Traffic Flow
How many cooks are in your family? If at least two people love to make meals together, plan the traffic flow carefully. Avoid placing the cooktop or range near busy areas of the room to avoid family members bumping into each other. Also, the refrigerator should be easy to access for people cooking and cleaning up.
Insufficient Countertop Space
Sufficient countertop space is vital to the functionality and safety of your kitchen. If you cook a lot, the more countertops you’ll need. If your kids love to get involved, consider countertops of varying heights. This feature will also benefit family members in wheelchairs.
Lack of Storage Around the Range
Your cooking tools and essential ingredients should be easy to reach. You want to add deep drawers near the range or under your cooktop. If you have an open kitchen design, you can use S-hooks beside the range hood for frequently used pans and pots.
Let’s Start a Conversation!
Bring your home remodel vision to life with DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Southern Rhode Island. Call us at (401) 399-3917 or complete our online form to speak with our design experts. We serve homeowners in Block Island, Bradford, Ashaway, East Greenwich, Exeter and nearby communities.
