A busy household benefits from installing a U-shaped kitchen. When there are multiple people moving through the kitchen area, the last thing you want is a compressed corner that everyone is trying to get to, or a large island bench diverting and slowing down “traffic”.
As a DIY kitchen renovator, it is important to understand how this shape works. A U-shaped kitchen design refers to the shape that you see if you were looking down at the layout from above. Typically, the sink will be on one side, with a cooktop on the other and the main storage areas and pantry on the third. The specifics can vary depending on the preference of the renovator, but it makes sense to have each “major” area separated.
Design and Practical Benefits
A common benefit of a U-shaped kitchen is that one arm of the “U” can be left open and face a living area or an outdoor space. That means that U-shaped kitchens are ideal for those wanting an open plan layout. For example, the main food preparation area can face a lounge room or deck area. That brings the two areas together seamlessly and opens up the space.
It also means that things like lower benchtops, stool-seating and a breakfast bar become design options that you can consider to add to your kitchen renovation.
Pitfalls and Traps
Of course, no design and layout option is completely free of potential snags, and U-shaped kitchens are no different. Because of the larger total area in “corner” spaces in U-shaped kitchens, it is important to check that different areas work together, rather than against each other.
For example, when a dishwasher drawer is open and fully extended, you still want to be able to access the cupboard space that clean dishes normally live in. That will mean that you want to put your dishwasher far enough away from the corners in order to make this possible.
Other things to consider are how you want to use the side of the “U” that faces the open area. Do you want it to serve as an alternative dining area, or mostly as a food preparation zone? If it’s the first, then putting a sink off-centre is a better idea, while if it’s a food preparation zone, you can neatly divide a large benchtop with a sink and wet area in the middle of two smaller prep zones.
Practically, appliances take up the least counter space and are least obtrusive if placed in the corners or hidden away altogether in cupboards and cabinets.
More and more home renovators and those looking to utilise flat pack cabinets are looking at U-shaped kitchens as their primary option. Smart Kitchen are kitchen specialists for all shaped kitchens with showrooms conveniently located in Preston, Maribyrnong and Kilsyth. We can help you plan your kitchen before anyone picks up a hammer to help you figure out what will work best in your space.
A DIY kitchen renovation is a great project to get into, and Smart Kitchen has been helping renovators with these projects for years. Our showrooms are located in Preston, Maribyrnong, and Kilsyth. Contact one of our friendly, experienced designers about we can design your kitchen to suit your needs as well as your budget.