How to Design the Perfect Kitchen Layouts

What is the kitchen work triangle?

The kitchen work triangle is a 90-year-old concept that dictates the placement of the sink, cooktop, and refrigerator. According to the theory, when these three elements are close (but not too close) together, the kitchen will be easy to use, and the cook won't have to take a lot of wasted steps. It's about as well-known and time-tested an interior design concept as they come. But is the kitchen work triangle still relevant today?

How to design the perfect kitchen work triangle?

Here are the specific rules that dictate a proper work triangle.

• The three elements (cooktop, sink, and refrigerator) must be laid out in a triangle pattern, between 4 feet and 9 feet apart.
  

• The total length of all three sides of this imaginary triangle must be no less than 13 feet but no more than 26 feet.

• Cabinets, islands, tables, and other partial-height obstacles must not stick into the triangle more than 12 inches.

• Full-height obstacles, such as floor-to-ceiling cabinets, should not intrude into the triangle at all.

• You should avoid traffic flow through the triangle.

Many different kitchen layouts fit the work triangle concept

While the work triangle's most obvious layout is the traditional U-shaped kitchen, many other layouts can work. For instance, a large, open-concept kitchen with an island can still retain the core triangular placement of the three main elements. While a galley kitchen that serves as a thoroughfare in your home violates the traffic-flow rule, a galley that is closed off on one end can be a perfect example of the work triangle. An L-shaped kitchen can nicely accommodate the triangle concept as well.

The benefits of the kitchen work triangle

Even though the kitchen work triangle concept is now decades old, its appeal lives on. For a cook, having the three most important kitchen elements no more than a few steps away is as convenient as it ever was. The layout this concept dictates tends to lead to proper counter space surrounding the sink and major appliances. If you've ever worked in a kitchen where the refrigerator is placed right up against the sink, you will know how sorely that counter space separating the two is needed. From a safety perspective, it's important not to have cabinets or islands blocking the cook's path from one area to another. Minimizing foot traffic through the cook's working space also greatly increases productivity and convenience.