If you're in the process of planning a kitchen remodelling project, then you're probably caught up in choosing the right look for your new space. Picking out beautiful materials, choosing modern appliances, deciding on the right tile and paint colours and figuring out how to marry them all together into a cohesive design is an important aspect of the project.
However, less time and deliberation are generally spent on thinking about the practical elements of kitchen design, even though these factors are as important to creating a successful renovation as the aesthetic aspects. Getting your kitchen's layout and storage right can ensure that the space functions perfectly, in addition to looking good. Here are two important practical elements to consider when designing your new kitchen.
1. Creating a work triangle
The concept of the kitchen work triangle isn't a new one, and it has been used by kitchen designers for decades. It's an idea that is still valuable in modern kitchen design as a way of maximising efficiency and ease of movement when the kitchen is in use.
The work triangle consists of the fridge, the stove top and the sink, which are the three most commonly accessed items when you're preparing a meal. A successful work triangle should have all of these items within a step or two's distance from each other. The triangular location is important because it keeps each element equidistant from the other two.
2. Create zoned areas
Another simple yet effective way to make your kitchen work well on a functional level is to create zoned areas for each specific kitchen function. Zones you might like to include are a cooking zone for your stove top, oven and microwave, a preparation zone for your benchtop, chopping boards and knife set, a cleaning zone for your sink and dishwasher, and a storage zone for cupboards, the pantry and the fridge.
Zoned areas make doing a particular task more convenient because you'll have everything on hand without needing to move around the kitchen. They also support your kitchen work triangle by keeping each zone separate but within a short distance of other zones.
Creating zones should ideally be done in the planning stages of a kitchen renovation. This is the best way to ensure that your zones have enough space and are in the right location to provide the convenience and functionality that they need to work properly.
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